From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 685-686.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


VINCENT L. COCKAYNE

Vincent L. Cockayne, deceased, born in Ohio county, Va., in 1807, 
died at his home near Moundsville, September 21,1886, was one of the 
prominent business men of the county.  Samuel Cockayne, his father, 
was one of the first comers to this region from Maryland, engaged in 
farming and kept a hotel where his son afterward resided.  The father 
died in 1856, leaving five sons, William, Samuel, Hiram, Bennett and 
Vincent.  Vincent L. Cockayne devoted his life to farming, at which 
he was highly successful, and he became known as one of the 
enterprising and prosperous men of the region.  He held an important 
position in relation to the business of the community, was the first 
president of the Ohio Valley Iron works, and at his death was one of 
the directors and president of the Marshall County bank.  He was 
generally liberal with his means in promoting public enterprises.  In 
1838, Mr. Cockayne was married to Louisa J. Lynn, near Brownsville, 
Penn., and by this union had three children.  The eldest, William L., 
died of consumption at the age of thirty-two; Alcinda C., married 
Shepherd McMechen, who died in 1874; and John R., who died in 1864.  
The mother of these children died in 1862, and in 1864, Mr. Cockayne 
was united to Lydia, daughter of Joseph and Margaret McKee of Ohio 
county.  By this marriage were born two daughters, Caroline A. and 
Emily V., who are both graduates of the Wheeling Female college.  
Mrs. Cockayne and daughter are members of the Episcopal church.  
Joseph McKee, father of Mrs. Cockayne, was a farmer of Pennsylvania, 
was married in Maryland, and soon afterward moved to Ohio county, 
where he died in 1841, his wife surviving until 1868, when she died 
at the age of seventy-six years.  Their five(?) children were: 
Caroline M., married Jonathan E. Meredith, of Kittanning, Penn., a 
distinguished citizen, surveyor as early as 1835, member of the state 
senate for two years, a prothonotary for many years, who was born in 
1812 and died in 1889; Sarah E., widow of Dr. G. W. Moore; Robert H., 
who went to sea and was lost; and Samuel A., captain of the 
Pittsburgh Blues, killed before Petersburg, in 1864.

  
(Linda Fluharty)