Joseph R. Cockerill
Joseph Randolph Cockerill was a 19th-century American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. representative from Ohio for one term from 1857 to 1859.
Early life
Joseph R. Cockerill was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, January 2, 1818. He attended the public schools. Cockerill moved to Scott Township, Adams County, Ohio, in 1837 and settled in Youngsville. He taught school. He became County surveyor in 1840. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1851 and began the practice of law in West Union, Ohio. He served as clerk of the court of common pleas.Congress
He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1853 and 1854. Cockerill was elected as a Democrat to the 35th [United States Congress|Thirty-fifth] Congress. He was a delegate to the Charleston Convention.American Civil War service
Cockerill entered the Union Army during the American Civil War and served as colonel of the 70th [Ohio Infantry], December 20, 1861. Except for the periods between August 21, 1863, and September 19, 1863, and January 28, 1864, and March 11, 1864, he exercised brigade command in the Army of the Tennessee from October 26, 1862, to April 13, 1864. He resigned his commission on April 13, 1864.On March 18, 1867, President Andrew Johnson nominated Cockerill for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on March 28, 1867.