Hancock County IL Archives Biographies.....Cockern, Lothaire Bruce December 18, 1838 - 
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Sandy Morrey sandymorrey@yahoo.com November 13, 2009, 6:13 pm

Source: Hancock, McDonough and Henderson Counties, Illinois
Author: Unknown

LOTHAIRE BRUCE COCKERN is one of 
the honored veterans of the late war, who 
went to the front and valiantly stood for the 
preservation of the Union. He now makes his 
home in Carthage, Ill., and for a year past has 
been engaged in the publication of the Hancock 
County Journal, of which he is now editor and 
proprietor. He was born at Hillsboro, Ky., on 
the 22d of December, 1838, and is a son of John 
P. and Mary A. (Crawford) Cockern, who were 
natives of Ohio and Kentucky, respectively. The 
Cockern family came originally from England, 
and settled in Pennsylvania. Later, its repre- 
sentatives became residents of the Panhandle Dis- 
trict of West Virginia. The father of our subject 
is a carpenter by trade, and has followed that pur- 
suit through much of his life. He is now living 
in California, whither he removed in March, 
1863. The mother died in Carthage, Ill., Jan- 
uary 24, 1861. In the family were eight chil- 
dren, six of whom are yet living, namely: L. 
B., of this sketch; Mrs. Sarah A. Gilham, who 
resides in Live Oak; Mrs. Eliza B. Gray, of 
Marysville; Mrs. Zerelda A. Bartlett, of Suisun; 
Mrs. Aramanda A. Creighton, of Glenburn; and 
George W., who is located in Fairfield, Cal. 

We now take up the personal history of our 
subject, who was reared in the usual manner of 
farmer lads, spending his summer months at labor 
in the field, while in the winter season he attended 
the public schools of the neighborhood. The 
year 1851 witnessed his arrival in Hancock 
County, where he has made his home continu- 
ously since. At an early age he began working 
as a farm hand at $8 per month, and was thus 
employed for several seasons. 

The Union found in Mr. Cockern one of its most 
zealous defenders during the late Civil War. 
Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he enlisted on 
the 6th of May, 1861, in his country's service, and 
joined the boys in blue of Company D, Sixteenth 
Illinois Infantry. His first season's service was 
in northern Missouri. This was light service — 
he having only to chase the rebel cavalry just 
enough to keep the horses poor. In 1862 he was 
under the command of Gen. Pope until after the 
siege of Corinth. He participated in that siege, 
was later stationed at Tuscumbia, Ala., until that 
line was abandoned, and then went to Nashville, 
where with his command he lay for ten months. 
He later did service under Gens. Rosecrans and 
Thomas, and went with Sherman as far as Rome, 
Ga., in the campaign against Atlanta, just prior 
to the ever memorable march to the sea. His term 
of service expired while at Rome, Ga. He was a 
non-commissioned officer, having been made Cor- 
poral on the day of his muster in, while later he 
was promoted to be Sergeant. He was ever found 
at his post of duty, faithful to the trust and confi- 
dence reposed in him. Through the heroic efforts 
of the private soldiers, the Union was preserved, 
and to them the country owes a debt of gratitude 
which can never be repaid. 

After his return to Hancock County, Mr. Cock- 
ern was engaged in the recruiting service until 
the close of the war. He was married on the 
28th of March, 1866, to Miss Emily A. Symonds, 
daughter of Frederick W. Symonds, a native of 
New Hampshire. Five children were born to 
them, but two of the number, Robert and an in- 
fant sister, are at rest. Those still living are 
Mary, Isabel and John. 

In 1869, Mr. Cockern was appointed Postmas- 
ter at Carthage, Ill., by President Grant, and held 
that position for five years, proving a capable and 
efficient officer. He now devotes his entire time 
and attention to the publication of his paper. In 
politics, he was first a Democrat, following in the 
political footsteps of his father, and on attaining 
his majority voted for Stephen A. Douglas. Dur- 
ing the war, however, he became a Republican, 
and has generally supported its men and meas- 
ures. Socially, he is connected with the Masonic 
fraternity, and is an honored member of the Grand 
Army of the Republic. He is a valued citizen of 
the community, who manifests the same loyalty 
to his duties of citizenship in days of peace as he 
did in days of war. Through the columns of his 
paper he exerts his influence for all that promotes 
the best interests of the community, and his co- 
operation is given to all worthy and commendable 
enterprises. 

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