C. V. COCKLIN.

Pg 396

         Success has rewarded the intelligently directed efforts of C. V. Cocklin, who for over twenty years has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in Grand View township. He was born in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, on the 24th of July, 1857, and is a son of Reuben F. and Margaret (Beck) Cocklin, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Soon after their marriage they came to Iowa, living in Burlington for a short time, and from there they removed to Pottawattamie county, whence they came to Louisa county. They located on a farm which Mr. Cocklin purchased in Grand View township and there they continued to reside until they retired to Grand View in 1908. He passed away on the 26th of February, 1910, but his wife still survives at the venerable age of eighty-four and in living in Grand View. Five children were born to them: Letitia, the wife of Benton Christie, of Grand View; Clark, who is a resident of Grand View township; Mary B., the wife of George Rexroth, of Grand View; C. V., the subject of this sketch; and George W., who is living in Muscatine.

         C. V. Cocklin was reared on the old homestead in this county, obtaining his education in the district schools. He began assisting with the work of the farm while still a very young lad and at the age of nineteen he became a wage . . .

Pg 397

. . . earner. For six years thereafter he worked as a farm hand, withdrawing from that employment when he was married to begin for himself. He subsequently rented land which he cultivated for nine years, during which time he acquired sufficient capital to buy thirty acres of land. This formed the nucleus of his present farm, to which he has since added at different times until the aggregate of his present holdings is three hundred and eighty-two acres. Mr. Cocklin’s homestead is located on section 36, Grand View township, and two hundred acres of it is under a high state of cultivation. The property is well improved and cared for, and the stock and grain adequately housed, while everything radiates an air of thrift and prosperity. In connection with the cultivation of his fields he raises and feeds stock, the latter having proven to be especially lucrative.

         The 4th of September, 1881, was the date of the marriage of Mr. Cocklin and Miss Millie Bernard, who was born in Port Louisa township on the 7th of January, 1863. She is a daughter of Charles and Mary (Schneider) Bernard, the father a native of Gallipolis, Ohio, and the mother of Germany, but they were married in this county. The father worked out for a few years after their marriage and then bought a farm, which he cultivated until his death in June, 1910. Mrs. Bernard still survives at the age of eighty and makes her home with her daughter. Of the nine children born to them six are deceased, those surviving being: Ella, who married Nicholas Yancy, of the state of Washington; Millie, now Mrs. Cockling; and Myra, who married James Haroff, of Louisa county.

         To Mr. and Mrs. Cocklin have been born five children: Charles R., who was born on the 21st of June, 1884, and is now married and living on a portion of his father’s homestead; George B., born on the 30th of March, 1889, who married Lucille Paris and reside on the home farm; Jessie L., born on the 28th of March, 1892; Howard, born on the 8th of October, 1895; and Bessie, whose birth occurred April 30, 1899.

         His political allegiance Mr. Cocklin accords the candidates of the republican party and he is now serving as a trustee, while for fifteen years he has been a member of the school board. He is one of the progressive and intelligent citizens of the community whose support is always given to every movement which will tend to better local conditions.