Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 366-367; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
William H. Cozine is known as one of the most skillful and
intelligent machinists and blacksmiths in all Fulton County, and his
business as such, which he is conducting in Lewistown, is extensive and
lucrative. He is prominent in the public life of this municipality as a
member of the City Council, and his active interest in its welfare and
sagacious, well-trained mind make his aid invaluable as a civic
official.
January 4, 1841, was the date of the birth of our subject in
Hendricks County, Ind. His great-grandfather, Garrett Cozine, was a
native of Pennsylvania and was of early German ancestry. He was reared
and married in Pennsylvania and removed from there to Kentucky. He
became a pioneer of Mercer County, where he dwelt until 1835. Once more
he became a pioneer, removing from thence to the wild of Hendricks
County, Ind., where he bought land and improved a farm. He there died
at the ripe old age of eighty-four years, his wife having died two
years previously at the same age. Her maiden name was Shuman and she
was born in Germany.
Cornelius Cozine, the grandfather of our subject, was a farmer
and spent his entire life in Kentucky. The maiden name of his wife was
Jennie Vanarsdale, and she was also a native of Kentucky. Their son
Garrett, father of our subject, was born in that State, near
Harrisburg, in Mercer County. He emigrated from there to Indiana, and
became an early settler of Hendricks County. He was accompanied thither
by his wife and children, and they took up their abode on a tract of
timber land, which he had leased. He cleared much of it, and lived on
it until 1852. Again he became a pioneer and in that year started
westward with his wife and five children, and came to Fulton County. On
his arrival here he leased a farm for a time, and then bought one in
Lewistown Township, which he developed into a fine piece of property
and there death rounded out his busy life in 1888. His wife had
preceded him in death, dying in 1872. Her maiden name was Susan R.
Beadles. She was a daughter of John Beadles and a granddaughter of Niel
Beadles. For her family history see sketch of N. Beadles (page 621).
William Cozine, of whom these lines are written, was one of
thirteen children, and was a lad of ten years when he came to this
county with his parents. He has a vivid remembrance of his early home
in Hendricks County, and of the incidents of pioneer life there. There
were no railroads in Indiana when he was a child and that section of
the country where his people lived was sparsely settled. The nearest
mill was at Indianapolis, twenty-six miles distant, and it was operated
by a tread power. The highways of travel were rough and at times almost
impassable, and a rude corduroy road extended most of the way from
Hendricks County to Indianapolis. William attended school and assisted
on his father's farm until he was eighteen years old, when he engaged
with Joseph Yarnell as an apprentice to learn of him the trade of a
blacksmith. He subsequently went into the plow shops of Thomas
Stanbury, and worked under his instruction a year and a half, his
motive being to more thoroughly learn the trade of a machinist, for
which he seemed to have a particular genius. He then opened a machine
and blacksmith shop in Lewistown and with the exception of three years,
has carried on business in this city continuously since that time. He
is celebrated as a fine workman and he employs only the most skilled
men and has built up an extensive trade.
In 1862 Mr. Cozine was wedded to Ann Eliza Herbert. The
estimable lady is a native of Lewistown and a daughter of James and
Anna (Olmstead) Herbert. Harry, the first child of our subject and his
wife, died when six years old. They have three children living: Charles
H., Willard C., and Blanche.
Mr. Cozine is classed among the best citizens of the city, both
as regards his private life, which is irreproachable, and his civic
capacity in which he has acted without stain. His fellow-citizens
appreciating his worth, his sound business talent and genuine integrity
have called him to take part in the management of municipal affairs and
he is now serving his eighth year as a member of the City Council. He
uses his political influence in favor of the Democratic party.
Religiously, he and his wife, who are sincere Christian people, are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
