https://www.amazon.com/Presidents-Message-Recognition-Independence-Republic/dp/0526555637/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?keywords=The+President%27s+Message+%26+the+Recognition+of+the+Independence+of+the+Republic+of+Cuba+Francis+Cockrell&qid=1579683214&s=books&sr=1-1-fkmr0
Francis Marion Cockrell was born on October 1, 1834, near the little village of Columbus, fifteen miles from Warrensburg, Missouri, United States. He was the son of Joseph and Nancy Ellis Cockrell. His father came from Kentucky to Missouri in 1831 and was the first sheriff of Johnson County. Francis was reared on a farm.
Francis attended the rural log school-house, entered Chapel Hill College, Lafayette County, Missouri, and graduated with honor in 1853. He then studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1855.
Cockrell began the practice of law at Warrensburg. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he allied himself with the Southern cause and enlisted. He served under General Sterling Price. In a single year, he rose from the rank of private to that of brigadier-general. He took part in many of the important battles of the Civil War from Carthage to Vicksburg and from Vicksburg to Mobile, was five times wounded, and was three times taken prisoner. When not in battle, he drilled his troops so well that "Cockrell’s Brigade" of fighting Missourians was said to be one of the best- drilled and most courageous brigades in the Southern army.
After the war, he returned to Missouri and again began the practice of his Cockrell profession in partnership with Governor Thomas T. Crittenden, but his ambition soon led him into politics. In 1872 he became a candidate for governor of Missouri and although he was defeated in the Democratic state convention by Charles H. Hardin it was only by one-sixth of a vote. He made such an earnest campaign for his successful rival that in 1874 he was chosen United States senator to succeed Carl Schurz. He served in this capacity from 1875 to 1905.
In the latter year, a Republican legislature, after a factional deadlock, elected William Warner to succeed him. President Roosevelt’s comment on this change was that the people of Missouri had lost a faithful servant but that the government would not lose him. On the day Cockrell left the Senate, he was appointed by Roosevelt a member of the Interstate Commerce Commission and remained a member until December 31, 1910. He was appointed United States commissioner to adjust the boundary between Texas and New Mexico in March 1910. Later he served as a civilian member of the Board of Ordnance and Fortifications. In the Democratic National Convention in St. Louis in 1904, he was nominated for the presidency by Champ Clark and William J. Bryan.
Cockrell was a staunch Democrat. He was a prominent member of the famed South-Cockrell-Hargis family of Southern politicians.
While the greater part of Cockrell’s service in Congress was as a minority member his opinion was valued as much by his Republican colleagues as by those of his own party. There was something about the man that drew people to him and made them repose confidence in his integrity, honesty, and ability. His political opponents in Washington were glad to grant him any personal favor, while in Missouri he was idolized. Cockrell was intelligent and far-seeing and his indorsement of any enterprise was evidence of its merit. An uncompromising Democrat, he held positions of honor and trust under two Republican administrations. He had a remarkable memory and could call his acquaintances by their first names without hesitating.
Physical Characteristics: Francis was commanding in appearance, being over six feet tall and weighing two hundred pounds. He usually wore a linen duster and preferred a corn-cob pipe. Simple in manner and dress, his figure was a familiar one in every county in his state.
Cockrell was married three times: first, in 1853 to Arthusa Dorcas Stapp; second, in 1866 to Anna E. Mann; third, to Anna Ewing Coddington. He had seven children.
1803-1883
1832-1915
1842-1924
1848-1858
1830-1859
1840-1871
1846-1894
unknown-1860
1856-1892
1874-1962
1875-1973
1877-1972
1888-1971
1889-1943
