Charles A. Cogswell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles A. Cogswell
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Oregon State Senator Charles Cogswell, 1894
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| Member of the Oregon Senate from the 6th, 8th, and 9th district |
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| In office 1889 — 1896 |
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| Preceded by | C. M. Cartwright |
| Succeeded by | Bernard Daly |
| Constituency | Crook, Klamath, and Lake counties |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 3, 1844 Rutland, Vermont |
| Died | April 24, 1908 (aged 64) Portland, Oregon |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Attorney |
Charles Amos Cogswell (born January 3, 1844 – died April 24, 1908) was an American politician and attorney. He lived in the state of Oregon. Charles Cogswell served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
After the war, he moved to Lakeview, Oregon. There, he became the first practicing lawyer in the area. He also helped start the Lake County Examiner newspaper. Cogswell was elected to serve two four-year terms in the Oregon State Senate. He was known as a conservative Democrat. However, near the end of his second term, he joined the Republican party. After he stopped practicing law, Cogswell moved to Portland, Oregon. In Portland, he was active in business and public service.
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Early Life and Military Service
Charles Cogswell was born in Rutland, Vermont, on January 3, 1844. His parents were Amos and Maria Cogswell. In 1857, his family moved to Iowa. Charles went to public schools there.
When the American Civil War began, Cogswell joined the Union Army. He was only 17 years old. He served in Company B of the 26th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment. In 1864, he took part in Major General William Tecumseh Sherman's Savannah campaign. This was also known as Sherman's March to the Sea. He was promoted for being brave in battle. By the end of the war, Cogswell was a lieutenant. He was also the commander of an infantry company.
Pioneer in Oregon
In 1869, Charles Cogswell moved to south central Oregon. He was one of the first settlers in the Goose Lake Valley. First, he taught school. Then, he studied law. In 1879, he was allowed to practice law in Oregon courts.
When he opened his law office in Lakeview, Cogswell became the first lawyer in Lake County, Oregon. He worked for many different clients. These included the Southern Pacific Railroad and large ranches.
Business Ventures
Besides his law practice, Cogswell was a successful businessman. In 1877, he built a two-story building in downtown Lakeview. The first floor had a drug store. This was an important new business for Lakeview.
Later, Cogswell and Stephen P. Moss started the Lake County Examiner. This weekly newspaper published its first edition in January 1880. At first, the newspaper supported the Democratic Party. In 1883, Cogswell bought another newspaper, the State Line Herald. He merged it into the Examiner. After this, the Examiner began to support Republican ideas. Cogswell sold his share in the newspaper in 1885.
Over the years, Cogswell was involved in many other businesses. For example, he helped start the Bank of Lakeview in 1887. He also served as president of the Warner Valley Stock Company. This company owned a lot of land for ranching in Oregon and California.
Local Government Roles
Cogswell was also active in local politics. In 1887, he was elected County Judge. This was the top leader position in Lake County. Then, in 1892, the people of Lakeview elected him mayor. He was re-elected mayor in 1893 and again in 1895.
Serving as State Senator
In 1888, Cogswell decided to run for the District 6 seat in the Oregon State Senate. A state senator helps make laws for the entire state. His district included Crook, Klamath, and Lake counties. He won the election. He started his term in the Oregon Senate on January 14, 1889. He served through the 1889 session. During this time, he joined a committee that studied Oregon's tax system.
Later in 1889, Cogswell and other leaders opposed closing Fort Klamath. They wrote a letter to the United States Secretary of War. They said that the army at Fort Klamath helped keep peace. It stopped some ranchers from taking land that belonged to the Klamath Indians. Even though the fort closed in 1890, some soldiers stayed. They helped protect the Klamath Indian Reservation's land.
Since state senators serve four-year terms, Cogswell did not need to run for re-election before the 1891 session. His district number changed from District 6 to District 9. But he still represented the same counties. He served in the 1891 session from January 12 to February 20.
Cogswell was re-elected to the state senate in 1892. He won by a much larger margin than before. His district number changed again, to District 8. He still represented Crook, Klamath, and Lake counties. He served in the 1893 session from January 9 to February 17. At the start of this session, Cogswell was the Democratic choice for President of the Senate. However, the Republican majority chose C. W. Fulton. Fulton then made Cogswell chairman of the senate's federal relations committee.
In 1894, Cogswell ran for a seat in the United States Congress. He wanted to represent Oregon's 1st congressional district. However, he lost to the Republican, Binger Hermann. Because he had been elected to a four-year term, Cogswell kept his state senate seat. He continued to represent Crook, Klamath, and Lake counties in District 8 during the 1895 session. This session lasted from January 14 to February 14.
For a long time, Cogswell often voted with Republicans. Near the end of his four-year term, he officially left the Democratic Party. He then became a Republican.
Life After Politics
After leaving the state legislature, Charles Cogswell stopped practicing law in Lakeview. He moved with his family to Portland. In Portland, he continued to be involved in many businesses. He invested a lot of money in several large banks. He was a director of the Oregon Life Insurance Company. He also remained president of the Warner Valley Stock Company, which had land in Oregon, California, and Nevada.
In 1902, Cogswell helped start the Midway Telegraph and Telephone Company. That same year, he became a director of the new Columbia River and Northern Railroad. Other important people in this company included Rufus Mallory, Henry W. Corbett, and Henry Pittock.
Cogswell also became involved in Portland's city government. In 1902, Mayor Henry S. Rowe appointed him to the city's public works board. Three years later, Mayor Harry Lane appointed Cogswell to the City Executive Board. In this role, he was one of Mayor Lane's closest advisors. He served as chairman of the board's judiciary committee for three years.
Cogswell was also very active in several community groups. He was a member of the Sumner Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was also a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Both groups were for Civil War veterans who fought for the Union. He also belonged to several Freemasonry groups.
Death and Legacy
On April 24, 1908, Charles Cogswell had a heart attack. He was running to catch an electric trolley car near his home in Portland. After getting on the trolley, he told two friends he was out of breath. He then collapsed and died before doctors could arrive.
Cogswell's will left his property to his wife and children. At the time of his death, his property was worth over $100,000.
After Cogswell died, flags on public buildings in Portland were lowered to half-mast. On May 9, 1908, friends and colleagues honored him. They held a memorial service at the courthouse in Portland. The court and members of the Oregon State Bar passed a resolution honoring Cogswell. They had it read into the court record. A few days later, Portland's Executive Board also passed a resolution honoring him. The resolution praised his long history of public service. It mentioned his roles as a soldier, lawyer, lawmaker, and involved citizen.
