James M. Cockefair pictured on left
James M. Cockefair was born in New Jersey on January 3, 1820 to unknown parents.
By 1847 James was living in Fayette Co., Indiana and had been appointed a postmaster there. On March 11, 1848 James married Catherine (last name currently unknown) in Union County, Indiana.
According to the 1850 census James and Catherine were living in Jackson Township, Fayette Co. Indiana with their one-year-old daughter, Mary, and five other members of the community. James indicated that he was a cabinet maker.
On May 18, 1857 a son was born to James and Catherine.
On May 6, 1858, James was appointed a postmaster for Cambridge, Wayne Co., Indiana.
According to the 1860 census, James and Catherine were living in Cambridge City with their 3 children, Mary, Henriette and Charles. James listed his occupation as a furniture dealer, and he had a real estate value of $2,000.
James mustered into service with the 3rd Indiana Light Artillery on August 24, 19861 as a First Lieutenant. He went with the battery when it moved to St. Louis, Missouri in September and was promoted to Captain on December 9, 1861. He was not with the battery section when it participated in the Battle of Lone Jack. He continued in service until late 1864 when he was Court Martialed for disloyalty and discharged on October 14, 1864.
After leaving the 3rd Battery, James enlisted in the 13th Indiana Infantry on October 14, 1864 and served on the Field and Staff as the Quartermaster Sergeant. By November 1865, James was out of the service and living in Cambridge.
James never filed for a pension, and he died on February 16, 1867. He is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Cambridge City, Indiana.