Fayette County PA Archives Biographies.....Cock, William January 5, 1841 - ????
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Marta Burns marta43@juno.com August 26, 2024, 1:53 pm

Source: Gresham and Wiley, 1889: Biographical & Portrait Cyclopedia, Fayette Co, PA, pg 255
Author: John H. Gresham & Samuel T. Wiley

    William Cock, one of the successful businessmen of 
Fayette county and the efficient manager of the Eclipse 
Flouring Mills, is a son of John Cock and Jane Faucett Cock, 
and was born in the borough of Bridgeport, January 5, 1841. 
    John Cock was a native of Hohue, County Westmoreland, 
England.  He was apprenticed to John Davison March 16, 1824, 
by his father, H Cock, to learn the trade of joiner, house 
carpenter, cabinet and wagon maker.  He served seven years 
as an apprentice.  
    In 1832 he came to Albany, New York, and in the 
following year removed to Brownsville, where he engaged in a 
machine shop and foundry with his uncle, William Cock, the 
maker of the first iron plow manufactured west of the 
Allegheny Mountains.  
    John Cock in 1846 entered into partnership with Leonard 
Lenhart, and engaged in building steamboats from 1846 to 
1858, and during that period built over one hundred boats.  
He retired from active life in 1858, and died in 1875 aged 
seventy five years.  
    Thomas F Cock, a fine mechanic and an extensive boat 
builder, was born at Bridgeport August 14, 1833.  He was 
educated in the common schools of Bridgeport and West 
Brownsville.  He learned the boat building business with 
Cock & Lenhart, and in 1858 in connection with D D Williams, 
bought the firm.
    The new firm, Cock & Williams continued till 1865 when 
they sold out. They built fifty one boats.  In 1872 Thomas F 
Cock and his brother, H B Cock, bought out the firm of Cock, 
Hutchinson & Williams.  They continued successfully in the 
boat building business until 1880.  For the last nine years 
Thomas F Cock has not been actively engaged in business 
beyond having an interest in the Brownsville & Geneva Packet 
Line.
    In 1854 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Snyder, 
daughter of Henry Snyder, a ship carpenter of West 
Brownsville.  They have four children: Jane Cock, John W 
Cock, Christian O Cock, and Henry B Cock.  
    Thomas F Cock served as captain of the steamboat 
Messenger in 1872.  He is a member of the Masons, Odd 
Fellows, American Mechanics, and is a republican and a 
member of the Episcopal church.  He is a prudent, watchful 
businessman and a useful citizen.  He resides in a 
comfortable and beautiful home in Bridgeport.  
    William Cock learned the trade of a machinist with John 
Snowdon & Sons. From 1863 to 1870 he was a member of the 
firm of J Herbertson & Co machinists and foundrymen.  From 
1871 to 1887 he was in the mercantile and grain business.  
In 1887 he became a partner in the Eclipse Milling Company 
and is now its president and general manager.  These mills 
have the roller process and capacity of fifty barrels per 
day.  
    He was married to Miss Harriett Lenhart, who died in 
1869, leaving one child, a daughter, Jane Cock.  In 1872 he 
married again to Margaret Mason, daughter of Harrison Mason. 
 They have two children: Mary E Cock and William F Cock.
    William Cock is a republican, has served thirteen years 
as a councilman and five years as a school director.  He 
attends the Episcopal church, and is one of Bridgeport's 
enterprising businessmen.

Additional Comments:
Originally submitted 2000.

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