Cockerham, William D.

COCKERHAM, FARRENS

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 6/29/2019 at 08:01:56

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa, (Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp. 621-22:

"WILLIAM D. COCKERHAM resides on section 17, Morgan Township, where he settled in 1858. He purchased his farm of James Farrens. It first contained 120 acres, which were entered by Alfred Milton. He now has 242 acres. Mr. Cockerham was born in North Carolina, May 3, 1831. His father, Daniel S. Cockerham, immigrated to Polk County, Iowa, about the year 1848, where he remained during his life. In March, 1853, our subject married, in Appanoose County, Sarah Jane Farrens, a native of Virginia. Her father, George Farrens, settled in Appanoose County at an early day, and later came to Morgan Township, where he passed the remainder of his days. Mr. Cockerham enlisted in August, 1862, in the Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was in the battle of Cross-Roads and Resaca, and later was on detached duty, having charge of a mule corral. He rejoined his regiment at Goldsboro, North Carolina, but previous to this time, while en route to rejoin his regiment, he was engaged in the severe battle at Kingston, North Carolina. He marched on to Washington with his regiment, and participated in the grand review. He had several narrow escapes, but was never wounded. He came from the army with health very much impaired, and he now suffers from disease of the eyes, the result of his army life. Mr. and Mrs. Cockerham have two children -- William F., and Laura Jane. Two sons died in infancy, and Mrs. Mary E., wife of Charles Milton, is also deceased. Politically Mr. Cockerham is a Republican."

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com)