Percy Mark (PM) Cogswell:
From Box to USA
Sheila Bartlett
With thanks to my cousin, James Cogswell Holland, in Indiana, for his contributions.
June 2015
The story of a stone worker from Brookwell, Box Hill, who emigrated to USA in 1906 when the quarry trade in Box was in steep decline. It was a brave step to take and not without difficulties. Sheila tells us how he got on so far from home.
All pictures courtesy Sheila Bartlett
Left: PM Cogswell in middle age.
From Box to USA
Sheila Bartlett
With thanks to my cousin, James Cogswell Holland, in Indiana, for his contributions.
June 2015
The story of a stone worker from Brookwell, Box Hill, who emigrated to USA in 1906 when the quarry trade in Box was in steep decline. It was a brave step to take and not without difficulties. Sheila tells us how he got on so far from home.
All pictures courtesy Sheila Bartlett
Left: PM Cogswell in middle age.
Early Life
He was born at 10 am on 2 August 1882 at Box, Wiltshire and died from a stroke on 28 November 1945, Indiana, USA. Percy Mark (always known to his English family as PM) was the fourth and youngest child of William and Leah Cogswell.
He was born in Box where he went to school, a bright, artistic child, but when he was 11, his mother died and the family was understandably devastated. With the help of their extended family, his father, William, struggled on but eventually in February 1898 he got married again, to Annie Slade. Annie seems to have already been a family friend and life took a better turn. She became a much-loved stepmother and gran.
Stone Worker
As his father William was a stone carver / mason working in the nearby quarries so PM naturally gravitated towards similar work, using his artistic skills. We have no written proof, but we believe he worked on several cathedrals in his early years. But times became hard and work difficult to come by. Many quarries in the Box area were closing and laying-off men. Knowing that in parts of the USA, Indiana in particular, the quarried stone was similar to local Box stone, on 7 April 1906 on the SS Philadelphia, PM travelled across the Atlantic, accompanying his cousin Charles Page and his family. According to the ship’s manifest, PM had $80 in his wallet and they were all going to stay with draughtsman George Granville Sutherland Martin, Helen Page’s brother.
As his father William was a stone carver / mason working in the nearby quarries so PM naturally gravitated towards similar work, using his artistic skills. We have no written proof, but we believe he worked on several cathedrals in his early years. But times became hard and work difficult to come by. Many quarries in the Box area were closing and laying-off men. Knowing that in parts of the USA, Indiana in particular, the quarried stone was similar to local Box stone, on 7 April 1906 on the SS Philadelphia, PM travelled across the Atlantic, accompanying his cousin Charles Page and his family. According to the ship’s manifest, PM had $80 in his wallet and they were all going to stay with draughtsman George Granville Sutherland Martin, Helen Page’s brother.
PM’s original plan was to work in the stone quarries in Pennsylvania, a project he discussed with two other stone masons from Box (Alfred Harding and Harry Gale) who were planning to travel there too. Below: photos of the Harding and Cogswell Stone Mill, Ellettsville, Indiana, where they eventually settled.
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Above and left: examples of work.
Right: William G Cogswell, nephew of PM, who co-founded the business. |
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The epitome of an American gentleman
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Getting Used to Life in USA
However, PM didn’t stay in the US very long and was home by the end of 1907 for his sister’s wedding in Chiswick in1908. Around this time, Alfred Harding also bought a sea passage and left England to try his luck. PM met up with Alfred and they spent some time in Norfolk, Virginia, learning the techniques and practices of American stone cutting before PM took yet another trip home. Discovering that in the US his name, Percy, was the butt of many jokes and was associated with a sissy or gay man, PM made sure that he was always known by his initials: PM. However, his mother apparently always called him Percy. March 1909 saw PM return to the States, leaving Southampton on the SS Majestic, his destination Philadelphia, to visit his cousins once more. The ship’s document gives us some more information about PM: he was just over 5ft 9ins tall, with black hair, brown eyes, and a ruddy complexion. On this occasion he had $65 with him. Shortly after this the Labour Strikes began and a lot of the quarries closed, making work difficult to find. Making contact in1910 with Alfred Harding, who was working in Bloomington, Indiana, together they went on to work on several grand buildings. |
Once again, work started to get difficult so after several weeks without pay cheques, they pooled their resources, bought some second hand machinery and leased an old quarry and mill in Ellettsville, Indiana, which, after much hard work, led to the founding of the successful company of Harding-Cogswell Inc.
There is a lovely family story about a grand bank building. One day PM, his daughter Leah and her husband, along with Bill Cogswell, travelled north to spend some time together at Griswalds resort located on Butternut Lake, Wisconsin. On their way they passed through Antigo, Wisconsin and there, on Main Street, was a bank for which they had cut stone. Since it was rare they were able to see their efforts in person, they spent time looking the building up and down and stood close to the front, lovingly caressing it. After a while, thinking they might look suspicious, they returned to their car with big smiles on their faces, satisfied with their handiwork.
There is a lovely family story about a grand bank building. One day PM, his daughter Leah and her husband, along with Bill Cogswell, travelled north to spend some time together at Griswalds resort located on Butternut Lake, Wisconsin. On their way they passed through Antigo, Wisconsin and there, on Main Street, was a bank for which they had cut stone. Since it was rare they were able to see their efforts in person, they spent time looking the building up and down and stood close to the front, lovingly caressing it. After a while, thinking they might look suspicious, they returned to their car with big smiles on their faces, satisfied with their handiwork.
Taking American Naturalisation
In 1911 PM married Nelle Blanche Burke aged 22 who was born in Putnam County, Indiana and their only child, Leah Catherine Cogswell, was born in Bloomington in January 1913. Harding-Cogswell Inc was doing reasonably well but never quite made the fortune they hoped for.
PM’s Enlistment Registration card dated 7 September 1913, shows he signed on for duty at the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia. On 8 February 1923 Percy Mark Cogswell became a US Citizen.
In 1911 PM married Nelle Blanche Burke aged 22 who was born in Putnam County, Indiana and their only child, Leah Catherine Cogswell, was born in Bloomington in January 1913. Harding-Cogswell Inc was doing reasonably well but never quite made the fortune they hoped for.
PM’s Enlistment Registration card dated 7 September 1913, shows he signed on for duty at the Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia. On 8 February 1923 Percy Mark Cogswell became a US Citizen.
Fastest Crossing Ever
PM made several more trips back home to visit his much loved family in England. In the summer of 1939 he travelled with his daughter Leah, her small son JC (James Cogswell Holland), her husband Charles Holland, and her mother-in-law, on the Queen Mary. Their stay was curtailed somewhat, as war was about to be declared in Europe, and they hastily returned to the USA on the Queen Mary: the fastest crossing she ever made. Passengers were confined to their cabins, not easy with an 18 month old child. Escorted by the Royal Navy the ship was also carrying gold bullion from the Bank of England for safe keeping. PM was unable to get a passage with the family and travelled back from Avonmouth to Philadelphia on the US Freight ship, The Challenge.
PM made several more trips back home to visit his much loved family in England. In the summer of 1939 he travelled with his daughter Leah, her small son JC (James Cogswell Holland), her husband Charles Holland, and her mother-in-law, on the Queen Mary. Their stay was curtailed somewhat, as war was about to be declared in Europe, and they hastily returned to the USA on the Queen Mary: the fastest crossing she ever made. Passengers were confined to their cabins, not easy with an 18 month old child. Escorted by the Royal Navy the ship was also carrying gold bullion from the Bank of England for safe keeping. PM was unable to get a passage with the family and travelled back from Avonmouth to Philadelphia on the US Freight ship, The Challenge.
On board the MV Georgia in 1933
Final Journey
James Cogswell Holland, grandson of PM Cogswell, records his memories of his grandfather and an incident which occurred when he was seven years old.
Today, 25 May 2015, is Memorial Day in USA, and the country pays respect to those who have fallen in battle and to our loved ones who have passed. My wife, Norma, and I visited the graves of PM and his wife Nelle. Bill Cogswell, nephew of PM, designed the headstone and he let the world know whence this English gentleman had come. For, as we all know, Bill also had made that journey from the little village of Box in the hills of England’s West country to hills of Southern Indiana.
But not everyone knows of the death defying journey PM made near the end of his life. No, I am not talking of the voyage returning from England to the US in 1939. That was indeed a journey that must have made PM’s heart race now and again. The journey I am talking about was in November 1945. World War II had ended three months before. In support of the war effort PM had closed the stone mill and went to work in the Navy’s Crane supply depot. During the war the US Navy stored most of its munitions in the centre of the US at Crane, Indiana.
PM lived on the base and was going to work one morning when he felt ill and weak. Soon he had lost all feeling in his right side. We don’t know why, but instead of seeking help there in Crane he managed to reach his car. It was a 1941 Ford Coupe with a floor stick shift. Somehow he started the engine and began the 45 mile trip to Bloomington. The road between Crane and Bloomington was hilly and had several dangerous curves.
How he managed to shift the gears with his left hand and foot we do not know. But manage he did and with every ounce of his body’s will to live he drove those 45 miles to Bloomington. I heard a car's horn blasting loudly outside the house. Mom (Leah) heard it too and we ran outside to see what was going on.
James Cogswell Holland, grandson of PM Cogswell, records his memories of his grandfather and an incident which occurred when he was seven years old.
Today, 25 May 2015, is Memorial Day in USA, and the country pays respect to those who have fallen in battle and to our loved ones who have passed. My wife, Norma, and I visited the graves of PM and his wife Nelle. Bill Cogswell, nephew of PM, designed the headstone and he let the world know whence this English gentleman had come. For, as we all know, Bill also had made that journey from the little village of Box in the hills of England’s West country to hills of Southern Indiana.
But not everyone knows of the death defying journey PM made near the end of his life. No, I am not talking of the voyage returning from England to the US in 1939. That was indeed a journey that must have made PM’s heart race now and again. The journey I am talking about was in November 1945. World War II had ended three months before. In support of the war effort PM had closed the stone mill and went to work in the Navy’s Crane supply depot. During the war the US Navy stored most of its munitions in the centre of the US at Crane, Indiana.
PM lived on the base and was going to work one morning when he felt ill and weak. Soon he had lost all feeling in his right side. We don’t know why, but instead of seeking help there in Crane he managed to reach his car. It was a 1941 Ford Coupe with a floor stick shift. Somehow he started the engine and began the 45 mile trip to Bloomington. The road between Crane and Bloomington was hilly and had several dangerous curves.
How he managed to shift the gears with his left hand and foot we do not know. But manage he did and with every ounce of his body’s will to live he drove those 45 miles to Bloomington. I heard a car's horn blasting loudly outside the house. Mom (Leah) heard it too and we ran outside to see what was going on.
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As we rushed out of the house we were met by a neighbour
who was running toward a car in front of our house. He opened the
driver’s door and found PM passed out, his head on the steering
wheel which caused the horn to blow. Help soon came and they took PM to
the hospital.
The Doctors were able to stabilize him and mom brought him home. Home, to the place he had built for Nelle. It was home he wanted to go that morning. It must have been the thought of home that gave him the will to make that dangerous journey. Finally, his body exhausted and weak from stroke, he was home, his journey ended on 28 November 1945. |
Extracts from US Censuses
US Census for 1910
Percy Mark is a boarder, aged 27 (along with Alfred Harding) with Mr Edward and Mrs Lillian McNally in Ward 5, Galesburg, Knox, Illinois.
US Census for 1920
Living in Richland Township, Monroe County, Indiana, Percy Mark, aged 37, and his wife Nelle (nee Burke), 31, and their daughter Leah Catherine, 7, are living in Ellettsville, Indiana. PM says his date of first entry to USA as 1906. Their home is rented and he works as a stone cutter at Stone Mill.
US Census for 1930
In Monroe County, Indiana, Percy Mark, 47, and his wife Nelle, 40, with Leah, now 17, are living at North Lincoln Street, Bloomington. Age when married is given: PM was 29 and Nelle 22. They own their house and paid $12,000 for it. They have a radio. Also with them is William George Cogswell, 24, nephew, who first arrived in the US in 1922. He is a draughtsman and working with PM at Cut Stone Company. Both he and PM worked the previous day.
US Census for 1940
PM was living with his daughter Leah Catherine, 27, and son in law, physician Charles Holland, 31, and their 2 year old son, James Cogswell Holland. PM was now a widower, his wife Nelle having died on 15 November 1937. He has lived with the Hollands since 1937. He says he was employed 52 weeks during the previous year with zero income but income from private source, which is he owns the Stone Mill. They have a maid, Dorothy Page, 19, born in Gosport, Indiana.
Occupation: Cut stone contractor (stone mason / carver).
US Census for 1910
Percy Mark is a boarder, aged 27 (along with Alfred Harding) with Mr Edward and Mrs Lillian McNally in Ward 5, Galesburg, Knox, Illinois.
US Census for 1920
Living in Richland Township, Monroe County, Indiana, Percy Mark, aged 37, and his wife Nelle (nee Burke), 31, and their daughter Leah Catherine, 7, are living in Ellettsville, Indiana. PM says his date of first entry to USA as 1906. Their home is rented and he works as a stone cutter at Stone Mill.
US Census for 1930
In Monroe County, Indiana, Percy Mark, 47, and his wife Nelle, 40, with Leah, now 17, are living at North Lincoln Street, Bloomington. Age when married is given: PM was 29 and Nelle 22. They own their house and paid $12,000 for it. They have a radio. Also with them is William George Cogswell, 24, nephew, who first arrived in the US in 1922. He is a draughtsman and working with PM at Cut Stone Company. Both he and PM worked the previous day.
US Census for 1940
PM was living with his daughter Leah Catherine, 27, and son in law, physician Charles Holland, 31, and their 2 year old son, James Cogswell Holland. PM was now a widower, his wife Nelle having died on 15 November 1937. He has lived with the Hollands since 1937. He says he was employed 52 weeks during the previous year with zero income but income from private source, which is he owns the Stone Mill. They have a maid, Dorothy Page, 19, born in Gosport, Indiana.
Occupation: Cut stone contractor (stone mason / carver).
Family Tree
Mark Cogswell Senior (1783-1832)
Mark Senior was born in Batheaston, Somerset, in 1783; died in Box 1832. He married Mary Gay (1788-1845) who was born in Box and died there on 5 April 1812.
They had five children: Elizabeth (b August 1813, Box, d 1851); James (b Dec 1818); Mark Junior (b 25 April 1819, d 27 April 1905 Box); Ann (b1821); (Sarah b July 1824).
Mark Cogswell Junior married Elizabeth Jerome Draper, born in Theale, Berkshire 1821, on 21 May 1845. They also had five children: Frederick (b 1846, Wellington, Somerset. d Feb 1941); William (b 4 January 1848 Wellington d 30 June 1918 Box); Harry (b1853, Warminster. d 1922); Mary (b1856 who married Robert Goddard); Kate Annie (b1859, Box d March 1946, Chelsea).
She married George Batts.
William Cogswell (1848 - 1918)
William married Leah Reason (b May 1850 in Ramsbury, Wilts) on 28 October 1873 at St Michael’s Without, Bath. She died on 4 Jan 1894.[1] They had four children: 1. Alice Maud Kate (b 18 May 1874 Box d 9 October 1958, Watford); 2. Albert (Bert) Frederick William (b July 1876 and died May1948); 3. Harry James (b 1879 and d Dec 1948); 4. Percy Mark (PM) (b August 1882 in Box and d 28 Nov 1945 in Bloomington, Indiana, USA)
William married again in February 1898 to Annie Slade (b Upwey, Dorset in 1854). They had no children. She died in March 1947.
1. Alice Maud Kate married Percy Thomas Tew on 1st August 1908 at Turnham Green Church, Chiswick.They had one child: Percy William Jack (b February 1910. He died in October 1963 in Northwood, Middlesex).
Jack married Lily Kathleen Firmin on 14 November 1936 also at Turnham Green.
They had three children.
2. Albert (Bert) Frederick William married Florence Alice Canham born in 1881 in Blything, Suffolk where they were married in 1901.She died on 17 April 1949. They had three children: Winifred Leah (b in Box Oct 1904: d November 1979); Charles Alexander (Alec) b November 1920 in Box and died there in 2004; Edward James (b Nov 1906 in Box, d March 1983).
Winifred Leah married Sidney Hatcher in 1935. One son: Geoffrey Charles b 1939.
Charles Alexander (Alec) married Glenese Stinchcombe (b July 1925 in Chippenham, d Feb 1990 in Weymouth) on 31 July 1948 in Box. They had four children.
3. Harry James married Ellen Slough (b in March 1881 in Leverstock Green, Herts and d September 1958 in Chippenham) on 15 June 1905 in Watford. They had three sons: William George (b October 1905, d April 1965 in Bloomington, Indiana, USA); Reginald Mark (b June 1908 in Box, d 1976); Percival (Perce) Harry (b 1917 in Box and d in Bath in 1979).
William George married Edith Abigail Bauer born in June 1902, on 28 December 1935. No children.
Reginald Mark married Agnes Mary Forsyth (b July 1912 in Keith, Scotland, d December 1981) on 28 April 1933 in Inverness. They had three daughters.
Percival (Perce) Harry married Rosemary Hillier (b 1922 in Gt Somerford, d July 1998) on 21 June 1947 in Dauntsey. They had three children.
4. Percival Mark (PM) married Nelle Blanche Burke (b March 1889 in Indiana and d 1937) on 4 June 1911 in Ellettsville, Indiana. They had one daughter: Leah Catherine (b 1913). Leah had two children with her husband Charles Holland:
Mark Cogswell Senior (1783-1832)
Mark Senior was born in Batheaston, Somerset, in 1783; died in Box 1832. He married Mary Gay (1788-1845) who was born in Box and died there on 5 April 1812.
They had five children: Elizabeth (b August 1813, Box, d 1851); James (b Dec 1818); Mark Junior (b 25 April 1819, d 27 April 1905 Box); Ann (b1821); (Sarah b July 1824).
Mark Cogswell Junior married Elizabeth Jerome Draper, born in Theale, Berkshire 1821, on 21 May 1845. They also had five children: Frederick (b 1846, Wellington, Somerset. d Feb 1941); William (b 4 January 1848 Wellington d 30 June 1918 Box); Harry (b1853, Warminster. d 1922); Mary (b1856 who married Robert Goddard); Kate Annie (b1859, Box d March 1946, Chelsea).
She married George Batts.
William Cogswell (1848 - 1918)
William married Leah Reason (b May 1850 in Ramsbury, Wilts) on 28 October 1873 at St Michael’s Without, Bath. She died on 4 Jan 1894.[1] They had four children: 1. Alice Maud Kate (b 18 May 1874 Box d 9 October 1958, Watford); 2. Albert (Bert) Frederick William (b July 1876 and died May1948); 3. Harry James (b 1879 and d Dec 1948); 4. Percy Mark (PM) (b August 1882 in Box and d 28 Nov 1945 in Bloomington, Indiana, USA)
William married again in February 1898 to Annie Slade (b Upwey, Dorset in 1854). They had no children. She died in March 1947.
1. Alice Maud Kate married Percy Thomas Tew on 1st August 1908 at Turnham Green Church, Chiswick.They had one child: Percy William Jack (b February 1910. He died in October 1963 in Northwood, Middlesex).
Jack married Lily Kathleen Firmin on 14 November 1936 also at Turnham Green.
They had three children.
2. Albert (Bert) Frederick William married Florence Alice Canham born in 1881 in Blything, Suffolk where they were married in 1901.She died on 17 April 1949. They had three children: Winifred Leah (b in Box Oct 1904: d November 1979); Charles Alexander (Alec) b November 1920 in Box and died there in 2004; Edward James (b Nov 1906 in Box, d March 1983).
Winifred Leah married Sidney Hatcher in 1935. One son: Geoffrey Charles b 1939.
Charles Alexander (Alec) married Glenese Stinchcombe (b July 1925 in Chippenham, d Feb 1990 in Weymouth) on 31 July 1948 in Box. They had four children.
3. Harry James married Ellen Slough (b in March 1881 in Leverstock Green, Herts and d September 1958 in Chippenham) on 15 June 1905 in Watford. They had three sons: William George (b October 1905, d April 1965 in Bloomington, Indiana, USA); Reginald Mark (b June 1908 in Box, d 1976); Percival (Perce) Harry (b 1917 in Box and d in Bath in 1979).
William George married Edith Abigail Bauer born in June 1902, on 28 December 1935. No children.
Reginald Mark married Agnes Mary Forsyth (b July 1912 in Keith, Scotland, d December 1981) on 28 April 1933 in Inverness. They had three daughters.
Percival (Perce) Harry married Rosemary Hillier (b 1922 in Gt Somerford, d July 1998) on 21 June 1947 in Dauntsey. They had three children.
4. Percival Mark (PM) married Nelle Blanche Burke (b March 1889 in Indiana and d 1937) on 4 June 1911 in Ellettsville, Indiana. They had one daughter: Leah Catherine (b 1913). Leah had two children with her husband Charles Holland:
Notes
[1] The story of Maud Cogswell and her mother Leah Reason to be published in later issues
[1] The story of Maud Cogswell and her mother Leah Reason to be published in later issues