BIO:  Jacob Cocklin, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, Monaghan Township, Pg 146

JACOB COCKLIN was born January 30, 1797, in Upper Allen Township, Cumberland Co., 
Penn., and was reared a farmer.  At the age of twenty-four he began farming on 
his own account in his native township, continued for several years, and then 
came to this township, and, until 1827, followed the same vocation; he then 
engaged in pomology and arbor culture for about thirty years.  About 1855 he made 
a trip to Iowa, purchased 3,000 acres of land, returned to York County, and 
subsequently made twenty trips to Iowa, covering a traveled distance of over 
40,000 miles; he also had dealing with over 1,500 person; built seven houses, dug 
ten wells (four of which were over fifty feet deep), cut timber off 100 acres of 
land, burnt over 1,000 bushels of lime, built several hundred rods of stone 
fence, and planted three miles of hedging.  He commenced business with $10,000 
and increased is capital to $60,000, employing a host of laborers, who 
participated in his business gains.  He was a pioneer in the nursery business in 
the upper part of this county, and the country is filled with fruit trees of his 
introduction.  He has never had a law suit, never been ill for any length of 
time, and never belonged to any secret order.  He has assisted over fifty 
families to homes by advancing funds payable in from one to ten years, and in 
many other respects has proved himself a philanthropist.  January 29, 1828, he 
married Catherine, daughter of Michael Hoover, of Lancaster County, and of German 
descent.  This lady died March 13, 1872, the mother of six children, of whom two 
are living and have families:  Sarah C. and Eli H.  Mr. Cocklin’s father was born 
in Lancaster County, and was the son of a native of France.  On the maternal side 
Mr. Cocklin is of Welsh descent.  He has served as school director, constable, 
supervisor, collector, clerk, auditor, and in other positions of public trust, 
but has always been a “poor customer” to saloons, preachers, doctors and lawyers.  
Mr. Cocklin says of himself:  “I never was drunk, never used tobacco or opium, 
never was in a house of ill fame, nor gambled; have not eaten more than two meals 
a day – in the morning and noon.  From 1877 to this date, June 3, 1885, the 
following work has been done:  500 rod stone fence, four feet wide and four feet 
high; planted 1,500 locust trees along the fence, 3,200 locust trees in a grove 
of five acres, 6,800 fruit trees in orchard; ten acres of raspberries and 
strawberries; digging and hauling stones for fence; planted 400 grape vines, etc.  
My great-grandfather wrote his name Jacob Caquelin (French), my father wrote his 
in German, Gacklin.  Some write it Cockley, Gockley, Conklin, etc.”