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OCKRELL, FRANCIS MARION, son of a farmer and stock raiser; grandson of a Baptist minister; college graduate; professor of languages; attorney and counsellor at law; officer in the Confederate States army from captain to brigadier-general; United States senator from March 4, 1875; is one of America's best known senators. He was born on a farm in Johnson county, Missouri, October 1, 1834. His father, Joseph Cockrell, was a farmer and stock raiser, the first sheriff of Johnson county, a man of robust physique and sound judgment, and a successful man of business. He married Nancy Ellis, a devoted Christian woman whose influence was particularly strong on the life of her son, as her husband died when Francis was three years old. His paternal grandfather, Simon Cockrell, was a Baptist preacher of more than local reputation, who lived to the advanced age of ninety-seven years.

He worked on his father's farm when not attending sessions of the district school, which at that period were extremely short. This varied farm work developed strength of body, an active mind, good habits and a character that has served him well in later life. He was prepared for college at the best neighborhood schools, and was graduated from Chapel Hill college in his native county, in 1853, after pursuing the regular course for two and one-half years. He was professor of languages at Chapel Hill, 1853-54, and meantime took up the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in October, 1855, and practised at Warrensburg in his native county, 1855-75, except during the interim of the Civil war, 1861-65, when he served in the Confederate army, first as captain, being elected to that position three times between June, 1861, and May, 1862. In May, 1862, he was elected lieutenant-colonel of the second Missouri infantry, C. S. A., and soon after received promotion to colonel of the regiment. He commanded his brigade as colonel from April to August, 1863, and he was then promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, C. S. A., and commanded the 1st Missouri brigade, familiarly