The Kentucky Death of Ezra Cockill, Formerly of Tremont

Posted By Norman Gasbarro on October 31, 2018

Ezra Cockill, Civil War veteran, died on 17 December 1932, and is buried at the Middleboro Cemetery, Middleboro, Bell County, Kentucky. Two Lykens Valley area newspapers noted his passing:

The Pottsville Republican, 20 December 1932 stated the following:

Ezra Cockill Died in Kentucky

Ezra Cockill of the old time Llewellyn Branch Township family, is dead at Middleboro, Kentucky, and was buried Monday. He was a relative by marriage of E. G. Faust, the well known retired banker of Pottsville and had many acquaintances in this section.

The West Schuylkill Press and Pine Grove Herald of 23 December 1932 gave a slightly more extensive tribute:

Former Resident Dies

Ezra Cockill of Middleboro, Kentucky, a former resident of Tremont, passed away at his home on Friday, December 9th.

Mr. Cockill was born in Llewellyn and lived for many years in Tremont. He was employed by the P. & R. C. & I. Company as a breaker builder.

Thirty years ago the family moved to Kentucky where he operated a soft coal mine. Mr. Cockill was married to Elizabeth Sensill of Llewellyn, who, with the following children survive: Mrs. Allen, Mrs. C. W. Evans; Harry Cockill; Joseph Cockill; and Howard Cockill. A sister, Mrs. Edward Faust, of Pottsville, and a brother of Girardville, also survive.

The deceased is pleasantly remembered in town, by the older citizens.

At the time of Civil War, Ezra Cockill first volunteered for service in a militia regiment, the 53rd Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1863), Company E, as a Private, from July 1863 to about 20 August 1863. As shown on the above Veterans’ Card from the Pennsylvania Archives, his regular service was with the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company F, as a Private. At the time of his enrollment, he was 19 years old, stood nearly 5 foot, 4 inches tall, had black hair, a fair complexion, and hazel eyes. He also indicated that he was born in Branch Township, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. His credited dates of service were from 24 February 1864 through his discharge, given in another record as 5 September 1865. At the time his company was mustered out, he was absent and in the hospital at Macon, Georgia, where he had been since 18 August 1865.

The Pension Index Card from Fold3, shown above, gives an incorrect discharge date, but confirms the other information about Ezra Cockill previously given here, including his date and place of death. It also shows that he applied for an invalid pension on 25 March 1878 and received and collected it until his death. His widow also applied and she collected until her death.

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