Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 7).djvu/100

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74
COOK
CORNSTALK

sion as well as in the affairs of the Protestant Episcopal church. He was for nearly fifty years a lay deputy to the diocesan convention of Pennsylvania, and for twenty-five years a lay deputy from that diocese to the general convention of the church, serving for years on the committee on canons. From 1868 till 1871 lie was the president of the American church missionary society. He was for two years a member of the legislature, and in 1840 was appointed president judge of the court of common pleiis for Luzerne county, holding the olfiee for thirty years. He was a member of the American philosophical society, and received the degree of LL. D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1869. He published several addresses. He was the father of John B. Conyngliam and the brother of Redmond Conyngliam (vol. i., p. 713).


COOK, Francis Ames, naval otlieer, b. in Northampton, Mass., 10 May, 1843. He was graduated at the naval academy in 1863, was appointed ensign, and served with Parragnt for two years during the civil war in the West Gulf squadron. He became a master in 1866, a lieutenant-commander two years later, and a commander in 1881. He was appointed a captain in 1896, and soon after assigned to the command of the "Brooklyn," flagship of Commodore Schley, commanding the flying squadron, which played so important a part in the naval battle and victory of Santiago in July, 1898. He is now on duty in Washington.


COOLIDGE, Thomas Jefferson, merchant, b. in Boston, 26 Aug., 1831. After graduating at Harvard, he began business as an East In<lia mer- chant, later becoming interested in New England cotton-mills, lie was also connected with bank- ing and railway enterprises; was presi<lent of, and is now a director in the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railway. In 1892 President Cleveland ap- pointed him minister to France, where he re- mained for four years. In 1899 Mr. Coolidge was made a member of the commission to adjust dis- putes between this country and Canada.


COPE, Hilbert, genealogist, b. in East Brad- ford, Chester co.. Pa., 17 Aug., 1840. He was edu- cated at the Friends' select school in West Chester and at the Friends' boarding-school in Westtown, and for a few years followed farming. He is a member of the Pennsylvania historical society and of the New England historic-genealogical society, and has published "A liecord of the Cope Family" (Philadelphia, 1860); "The Browns of Notting- ham" (1864); "Genealogy of the Dutton Family" (West Chester, 1871); and, with J. Smith Futhey, " History of Chester County " (Philadelphia, 1881) and "Genealogy of the Sharpless Family" (1887).


COPPINGER, John Joseph, soldier, b. in Queenstown, Ireland, 11 Oct., 1834. He was edu- cated in a private school, and in early manhood he left for Italy to join the papal army during the struggle with Victor Emmanuel. He won a lieu- tenancy, and for heroism in the defence of La Roeea gateway, in Rome, he received a decoration. At the outbreak of the civil war he came to this country, and ft'as made captain of the 14th infan- try, 30' .Sept., 1861, serving throughout the war, and was appointed colonel of the 15th New York cavalry on 27 Jan., 1865. He served in several Indian campaigns, and was made major of the 10th infantry, 20 March, 1879, and lieutenant- colonel of the 18th infantry on 31 Oct., 1883. In April, 188.'), he became brigadier-general, and when the war with Spain began he was appointed major- general and put in command of the 4th army-corps, with its headquarters at Camp Wheeler, II unts- ville. Gen. Coppinger was retired 11 Oct., 1898.


CORBIN, Austin, financier, b. in Newport, N. II., 11 July, 1827; d. there, 4 June, 1896. He was gi'aduated at Harvard law-school in 1849, prac- tised in his native village, and in 18.')2 removed to Daven|iort, Iowa, and in 1866 to New York, where he engaged in banking business, and in 1880 be- came president of the Long Island railroad. In 1886 he was chosen president of the Philadelphia and Reading railroad company. Mr. Corbin was actively as.sociated in various organizations that had for their objects the development of artistic and philanthropic purposes in New York city and elsewhere. His sudden death was due to an acci- dent while driving with a pair of s])irited liorses. There has been much litigation over his very large estate, which is still unsettled.


CORBIN, Henry Clarke, soldier, b. in Clermont county, Ohio, 15 Sept., 1842. He served through the civil war, receiving the appointment of 2d lieutenant in the 83d Ohio infantry on 28 July, 1862. He was transferred to the 79th Ohio on 29 Aug. following. On 11 May, 1863, he was promoted 1st lieutenant. He resigned on 13 Nov.. 1863, and was appointed major in the 14th United States colored cavalry on 14 Nov., 1863. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 4 March, 1864, and colonel on 23 Sept., 1865. He received the brevet of brigadier-general of volunteers 13 March, 1865; was honorably mustered out 26 March, 1866. On 11 May, 1866, he was appointed 2d lieutenant in the 17th infantry. He was promoted captain of the 38th infantry on 28 July following. On 11 Nov., 1869, he was transferred to the 24th infantry. He was promoted major and appointed assistant adjutant-general on 16 June, 1880, made lieutenant-colonel on 7 June, 1889, and colonel 26 May, 1896. In 1892 he was detailed to duty in the war department at Washington; later he was made chief of staff of the department of the east, stationed upon Governor's island, and in 1897 he was ordered back to Washington to the adjutant-general's office. On 25 Feb., 1898, he was made brigadier-general and appointed adjutant-general of the army, and in August appointed major-general of volunteers, which commission he declined.


CORNSTALK, Shawnee chief, b. in Mason county, Va. (now W. Va.), about 1720: d. in Point Pleasant, W. Va., in the summer of 1777. He was the chief of the Shawnee Indians, and at the battle of Point Pleasant, 10 Oct., 1774, his plan of alternate attack and retreat occasioned the principal loss of the whites. After the battle he convened his tribe to consult what must next be done, and, after upbraiding them for not suffering him to make peace with the settlers the day before the fight, struck his tomahawk in the post in the centre of the town-house and said: “I will go and make peace.” He kept his treaty with the Americans till 1777, when the Shawnees, being incited by the British, began to disturb the frontier settlement. One day Cornstalk appeared at Point Pleasant, and, summoning the principal settlers, told them that he could make no secret of the disposition of the greater part of his tribe toward them, but that, although he was opposed to the British, he was afraid they would force him “to run with the stream.” The council then determined to detain him as a hostage, and while in confinement he and his son were murdered by colonists in retaliation for an outrage by Indians. The governor offered a reward for the apprehension of the murderers, but without effect. Cornstalk was regarded as the ablest soldier among the Indians on the Virginia frontier.