Sacramento Valley Biographies

Robert Cosner

Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, March 2009.

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

         Robert Cosner. The lineage of the Cosner family is traced to
Germany. whence the first of the name in America crossed the ocean to
Virginia during the colonial period of our nation's history. The cause of
independence had in him a devoted ally. Through seven years of struggle with
England he followed the fortunes and suffered the misfortunes of the army of
the patriots, enduring hunger and thirst, privation and cold, the hardships
of forced marches and the perils incident to warfare with an enemy
numerically stronger. On many a fiercely contested battle field he proved
his loyalty to the land of his adoption. The struggle ended, he returned to
his Virginia home and took up the life of a planter. His son, Adam, who was
born in Germany, came with him to America and during middle life moved from
Virginia to Pennsylvania, settling upon a farm in Lancaster county, sixteen
miles from the city of Lancaster. There occurred the birth of his son,
Joseph, and grandson, Robert, the latter of whom forms the subject of this
narrative. In 1840 Joseph Cosner removed to Richland county, Ohio, and took
up farm land near Haysville. From there he went to Illinois in 1852 and
settled upon a tract of land in Bureau county near Princeton, where he
remained until his death at seventy-six years. His wife, Mercy Ann Wiggins,
daughter of Robert Wiggins, was born in Maryland and died in Illinois. Of
their twelve children, nine sons and two daughters attained mature years and
seven are now living.
          The twelve children comprising the parental family were named as
follows: Robert, who was born March 22, 1831, and is now a resident of
Colusa, Cal.; Adam, living near Clarks, Neb., and a veteran of the Civil war
serving as assistant quartermaster in an Illinois regiment; Mrs. Sarah M.
Terwilliger, of Utica, Mo.; Charles Franklin, who enlisted in an Illinois
regiment and was killed in battle at Fort Donelson during the Civil war;
James Harvey, of Oklahoma, who was a soldier in an Illinois regiment;
William, also a soldier from Illinois, serving with distinction on the
secret service, and now living at Clarks, Neb.; John, who enlisted from
Illinois and was killed near Paducah, Ky.; Samuel Porter, a soldier in an
Illinois regiment, now living at Rock Island, that state; Joseph Paxton,
whose home is at Clarks, Neb.; Andrew Marion, who served with an Illinois
regiment until he was killed in Kentucky; Harrison, who died in boyhood; and
Mrs. Amanda Emeline Adams, of Clarks, Neb.
         After completing the studies of the district school, Robert Cosner
attended Vermillion Institute at Haysville, Ohio, and also taught school for
a time. At an early age he also acquired a thorough knowledge of the
building business and the cabinet-maker's trade. March 5, 1853, he set sail
from New York on the steamer Georgia for Aspinwall, where he crossed the
isthmus by rail and on muleback. He was a passenger on the first voyage of
the John L. Stevens from Panama to San Francisco, where he arrived April 4,
1853. During his first summer in California he mined at Sears' Diggings and
on the north fork of the Feather river. Next he started a store at Drytown,
Amador county, hauling all his goods for the store from Sacramento by
wagons. In 1860 he was elected sheriff of Amador county on the Democratic
ticket and entered upon his official duties in March, 1861. By re-election
in 1862 and 1864 he served in the office for six years.
        While Mr. Cosner's entire active life has been one of helpfulness to
others, in no respect has he accomplished more for his fellowmen than
through his labors in the interests of land reclamation. His first direct
connection with this praiseworthy movement dates from 1869, when he removed
to San Francisco and bought tule land in Yolo and Colusa counties. In 1870
Reclamation District No. 108 was formed and soon afterward he was chosen
secretary of the Sacramento Valley Reclamation Company and District No. 108.
Four years later he was appointed superintendent of Reclamation District No.
108 and agent for the Sacramento Valley Reclamation Company. Having
meanwhile perfected himself in civil engineering, he superintended the
engi-neering work  and construction of levees in District No. 108 and
Reclamation District No. 124, continuing to act as superintendent,
superintending engineer and secretary of Reclamation District No. 108 from
1874 until January, 1893.
        In February, 1874, his family established their home at Grand
Island, Colusa county, remaining there until 1886, when they removed to
Colusa. Under Mr. Cosner's supervision the levee was built along the west
bank of the Sacramento river from Knight's Landing, in Yolo county, to
Jacinto, in Glenn county, a distance of more than sixty miles, affording
protection and reclamation for seventy thousand acres in District No. 108,
and eighteen thousand acres in District No. 124. When the vast amount of
acreage thus reclaimed is taken into consideration it will be recognized
that he has been one of the great benefactors to the landowners of the
Sacramento valley. It is often said that he is a true philanthropist who
makes two blades of grass to grow where only one grew before; still more is
he a benefactor of mankind who causes fruitful harvests to be gleaned where
nothing could grow before. It is such men who are our country's truest
benefactors and the world is better for their having lived in it.
        In 1892 Mr. Cosner was elected sheriff of Colusa county on the
Democratic ticket, and this office he held until January, 1895. At the
expiration of his term he resumed farming and improved with buildings and
fences the tract of nine hundred acres lying five miles from Grand Island,
and still owned by him, all being under cultivation and in wheat. In
Jackson, Cal., February 5, 1866 Mr. Cosner married Miss Lydia Cleveland
Mussett.
       Initiated into Masonry at Drytown, Cal., in 1857, Mr. Cosner is Past
Worshipful Master of Colusa Lodge No. 240, F. & A. M.; a member of Colusa
Chapter No. 60, R. A. M., and Past Commander of Colusa Commandery No. 24, K.
T. With his wife he holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church
South, in which he officiates as a trustee. Their kindness of heart has been
evidenced in the work they have done toward educating children and preparing
them for the responsibilities of life, and more than one young man and young
woman owe their start in life to the generous disposition of Mr. and Mrs.
Cosner. During April of 1869 he started on a trip east, traveling via stage
and railroad, and returning on the 4th of July, the same year to California.
Since then he has made several visits to the east. In 1888 he went to St.
Louis as delegate from California Congressional District No. 2 to the
national Democratic convention. In 1893, accompanied by his wife, he visited
the World's Fair in Chicago. Frequently he has been a delegate to state
conven-tions of the Democratic party. For twelve years he was a member of
the Democratic county central committee of Colusa county, and during much of
that time acted as chairman. Since 1896 he has served as city trustee of
Colusa, having been re-elected to the office every two years, and he has
officiated as chairman of the board from the time he took his seat until
June, 1904. The Colusa Board of Trade also numbers him among its members. At
Sacramento, in 1892, he assisted in the organization of the State
Anti-Debris Association, which has been of incalculable benefit to the state
in preventing illegal hydraulic mining in the mountains and also preventing
injury to navigable streams and adjacent lands. He was elected secretary of
the association at its organization in 1892, and has been re-elected
annually ever since. He and his wife are also members of the River
Improvement and Drainage Association of California. Mr. Cosner has always
led a busy and active life, and notwithstanding his advanced age he feels an
almost irresistible inclination towards increased activity.

"History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento 
Valley, California," J. M. Guinn, The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1906,
Pages 337-338.