New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-14
F. vi. COCKRELL
DEAD AT 81
Was Missouri Senator for
80 Years-Served as Con
federate General.

Washington, Dec 13.-Ex-Senator
Francis VI. Cockrell, Of Missouri. died
here to-day. InGrmities Of old age, re-
sulting in serious illness during the
last two weeks, caused death.
Mr.. Cockrell, a Democrat, served five
terms in the United States Senate
from 1875 to 1905 inc day he left
the Senate he was appointed a member
OF the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion by President Roosevelt. and re-
NAMED a member until December 81
1910. In March, 1911, he was appointed
United States Commissioner TO adjust
the boundary between Texas and New
Mexico. He was eichty-one years old.
During the Civil War Mr.. Cockrell
was a Confederate army officer. rising
from captain to brigadier general. His
home was in Warrensburg, Mo.
"Uncle Frank" as Francis Marion
Cockrell was long known in all Mis-
souri,, had for years been to the mer-
curial memory of the general public a
name and nothing more Yet for years
he was one Of the dominant figures in
the United States Senate, and was
strongly put forward, in his fifth SEN
atorial term az candidate for the
Presidency Of the United States on the
platform: "Tho nations best is the
nations choice, no matter what uniform
he wore years ago" He was also called
the watchdog Of the Treasury" and
was noted as the Senator who made his
daily luncheon on two red apples and
who stopped at "A market stall and car
r.ed home an assortment of vegetables
on his arm.
Mr.. Cockrell was born in Johnson
County, Mo, on October I, 1884. son Of
Joseph and Nancy Ellis Cockrell, and
was graduated from Chapel Hill Col
lege, in his native state, in 1858. I'M
mediately after leaving college he mar
ried Miss Stapp, who died in 1860,
leaving him free to leave the bar, to
which he had been admitted in 1855,
and to enter the Confederate army at
the outbreak Of the Civil War. He
had brilliant career, rising from cap
tain 10 brigadier general. commanding
the Missouri Division in the Confeder-
ate Army Of the Tennessee. and win
ming the highest honors of the day in
Hoods III fated campaign against Nash
vile.
After the war Mr.. Cockrell returned
10 his profession. and married again, in
1867. his second wife being Miss Anne
f. Mann. She died within the year.
and in 1874 he was married to Miss
Anna Ewing, of st. Louis. In 1875 he
was elected TO the United States Senate
to succeed Carl Schurz, and by success
sive reflections remained there for
thirty years, retiring in 1905. He was
n hard working and useful Senator.
and had the faculty Of keeping more
closely in touch with his constituents
than most of his colleagues
In 1896 Senator Cockrell was con
spicuous in the free silver ranks. and
was the original supporter Of Henry
NJ. Teller for nomination in the Demo
cratic National Convention on a free
silver platform. lie supported William
J. Bryan when the latter was nomi-
mated and followed his disastrous for
tunes through that campaign and the
subsequent campaign of 1900, though
in the latter year he was himself put
forward for the nomination by some
OF the most influential journals of the
West. Two years later. however, he
dropped the bimetallic issue and de-
clared that il was no longer wise nor
iudicious, nor for the best interests Of
the country, 10 urge the restoration Of
free coinage Of silver
On his retirement from the Senate
Mr.. Cockrell became a member Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, and
served in that place for more than five
years. retiring at the end Of 1910.
Three months later he became United
States Commissioner 20 reestablish the
boundary line between Texas and New
Mexico. and in 1913 he was made a
civilian member of the Board Of Ord
nance and Fortifications. He was a di-
rector Of the Columbia Institution for
Deaf and Dumb. His home was al
Warrensburg. Mo, but for forty years
most Of his time had been spent in
/ Washington.