Benjamin F. & John C. Cogle
 

BENJAMIN F. and JOHN C. COGLE. These brothers are honored veteran soldiers of the Civil war, both having risked their lives in some of its hardest-fought battles, out of which neither came unscathed, or without sacrifice and suffering. Benjamin F. Cogle was born in Frankfort, Ky., in April, 1840, and gained a common school education. He was at New Castle, Ky., when the war broke out, and came to Silver Creek, Camp Jo Holt, Ind., and on August 13th, 1861, enlisted in company C, Second regiment Kentucky cavalry, serving until July 17th, 1865, when he was honorably discharged, at Lexington, N. C., as corporal. During this long and gallant service he was in the following battles: Shiloh, Chattanooga, Perryville, Frankfort, Atlanta, Savannah, Munfordsville, Ky., and in many skirmishes. He was also in all the battles of the Atlanta campaign, and on Sherman’s march to the sea. While skirmishing between Goldsboro and Lexington, Corporal Cogle was thrown from his horse, badly spraining his right ankle, injuring it so greatly that he was sent to the hospital at McDougal, sixteen miles from New York city, where he remained about two months, returning to his regiment at Lexington, N. C., where he was discharged on account of the closing of the war. After the war he returned to New Castle, remaining until he came to Boone county, Ind., about 1870, and engaged in farm work. He also receives $12 per month pension. In politics he is a republican. He is a hard-working man and respected citizen.

John C. Cogle was born March 15, 1843, at Frankfort, Ky., received a common education, and learned the candy and bakery business, which he followed in New Castle, Ky. At the early age of nineteen years he enlisted at Eminence, Henry county, Ky., in August, 1862, in company H, Ninth Kentucky cavalry, and served until discharged at Eminence, Ky., September, 1863, with rank of sergeant. He was in the battle of Perryville, Ky., but was principally engaged against Morgan. He was in the famous chase after Morgan through Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, and when Morgan made his famous invasion of the latter state Sergeant Cogle’s battalion captured the rebel general and his men on the Ohio river. At the battle of Perryville Seargeant [sic] Cogle was severely wounded and his horse was shot dead from under him. The corporal’s [sic] spine was injured and he lost the sight of his right eye. After the war he carried on a confectionery establishment at New Castle, Ky., until he came to Boone county, Ind., in 1876, and engaged in farm work. July 31, 1883, Mr. Cogle was united in marriage to Mary A., daughter of Elias and Susan (McIntire) Garner. Mr. Garner was a farmer and a native of Jefferson township, Boone county. He died at the age of about fifty-five years. He was a much respected citizen, and to him and wife were born six children – Samuel R., William, Albert, Charles, Mary A. and Eva. After marriage, Mr. Cogle and wife settled down to farm life. He bought his present farm of fifty acres in 1892, and has a comfortable and pleasant home and $16 per month pension. Mr. and Mrs. Cogle are the parents of four children – Stella M., Bessie E., Ula (died at three years of age) and Egbert.

Mr. Cogle votes with the republican party. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. of New Castle, Ky., and was treasurer of his lodge for several years. He is also a member of Thorntown lodge, F. and A. M., and both of these brothers are members of the G. A. R., of Advance, Ind. They were both in a hostile state when the war broke out and were surrounded by rebels, when it was dangerous to express Union sentiments, but they loyally stood by their conscience and the country in the time of her greatest need, when it required great courage both moral and physical. The father of these soldier boys was Benjamin F. Cogle, born in Pennsylvania, of sterling Dutch stock. He learned the baker and confectionery trade, and when young went to Kentucky, where he married Martha Kincaid of Frankfort, and she became the mother of these two soldiers. Mrs. Cogle died, and Mr. Cogle married Amanda Brewer, who bore three children: Amanda, Mary, and William. This wife also died, and Mr. Cogle married Jennie Suddith. Mr. Cogle died at fifty-six years of age. He was an industrious, upright man, and respected member of the Christian church, honorable in all his dealings.
 

Note from Contributor: "The biography does not name all the siblings of the brothers John and “Frank,” the missing siblings being known from census and other original records. Also, it is highly probable that the daughter “Amanda” herein is correctly America Cogle, who in 1869, at New Castle, Kentucky, married George Threlkeld of Boone Co. IN, and preceded her brothers in moving to Indiana. It is not mentioned in the biography, but Mary, the wife of John, died after childbirth in 1891."

Transcribed and submitted by: Vernon L. Threlkeld - December 9, 2006
(great-grandson of John, and grandson of Stella Cogle Threlkeld)
Source / Citation: "A Portrait and Biographical Record of Boone and Clinton Counties, Ind." Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1895, pp. 357–358.
Repository: Lebanon Public Library, Lebanon, Indiana.