William Aaron Cockrill was a corporal in Company C of the 8th California Voluntary Infantry during the Spanish American War.

At the time of his marriage with Lulu, W. A. was a “senior member" of Cockrill & Colburn "The Model Store", in Bloomfield. His wife's brother was Raymond C. Colburn. Ray Colburn and W. A. were in the general merchandise business for “a number of years past.”

I came across several program booklets from the 1920's for the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Valley of Santa Rosa, Orient of California, in the Sonoma County Historical Museum. Listed in a booklet from 1920 of the Officers of the St. John's Chapter Knights Rose Croix No. 11 was "Cockrill, William Aaron 32 Senior Warden."

W. A. was a Sonoma County Census taker in 1910, and took the census for the Analy Township.

In the 1920 Census for Sonoma Co., CA, he is listed living in Santa Rosa, as the head of the house hold at 746 Beaver Street, as William A Cockrill, a 41 year old lawyer born in California whose father was born in Missouri and mother in Canada. His wife is listed as 38 year old, Lulu I., born in California, whose father born in Illinois and mother in Iowa. Also enumerated, is 12 year old daughter, Willa I., 10 year old son, Homer J., 4 year old son, Wilbert D., and 24 year old brother, George B. all born in California.

At some time (probably around 1910 to 1918), W. A. had established himself as a lawyer. In 1918, he was Laura E. Badger's lawyer in the incompetency case for her mother (and his first cousin, once removed), Amanda (Cockrill) Fulkerson.

From The Press Democrat, Vol 12 #1, Saturday, July 1, 1922, p. 1:

W. A. Cockrill and S. Ikada sentenced to $750 fines. In Anti-Alien Land Case.

Denying both the motions for arresting judgement and for a new trail made by the counsel for the defense, Superior Judge Emmet Seawell gave judgement Friday of a fine of $750 each against W. A. Cockrill and S. Ikada, who were convicted Tuesday of a conspiracy to evade the anti-alien law of California.

In default of the payment of the fines, the defendants will be sentenced to a day's imprisonment in the county jail for each $2 of the fine, the jail term not to exceed 275 days. In handing down the judgement, Judge Seawell stated that after considering the case from all angles, he decided to reduce the offense from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Following the notice of appeal to a higher court, made by Attorney Algernon Crofton for the defense, the defendants were given the opportunity to produce bail of $1500 pending the appeal. Cockrill was released on bail bond late in the afternoon, but the Japanese, being unable to get all of his bail Friday, was held in county jail.

From The Press Democrat, Vol 12 #4, Thursday, July 6, 1922, p. 4:

COCKRILL OFFERS 10

REASONS IN SUPPORT

OF ANOTHER HEARING

Notice of appeal was filed Wednesday by counsel on behalf of W. A. Cockrill and Y. Akada. The grounds of appeal are:

That the court misdirected the jury in a matter of law.

That the court erred in the decision of a question of law arising during the course of the trial.

That the verdict is contrary to law.

That the verdict is contrary to evidence.

The grounds and points of the appeal from the final judgement of conviction follow:

That the grand jury which found the indicment had no legal authority to inquire into the offense charged.

That the court was without juridiction to try the case.

That the facts stated do not constitue a public offense.

That the indictment contained matter which if true would constitute a legal excuse of the offense charged.

That inadmisable and prejucial statements were made by witnesses for the prosecusion.

That the deputy district attorney made statements to the jury in his closing argument which were improper and prejusdicial to the defendants, and which prevented them from having a fair and impartial trial.

The court is asked to order that a copy of the phonographic notes of the proceedings including the closing argument of the deputy district attorney, be prepared and delivered to each defendant.

From the Sonoma County Deed Index:

Near the end of his life, W. A. wrote a series of documents which includes an autobiography, a family history, and a genealogy. This narrative contains several unique details about the Cockrill family history, some of which contradicts or is not supported by contemporary documentation. There is also a history of the Bellingham family which he gave to a columnist for the Oakland Tribune in January of 1962.

Obituary from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Oct 13, 1962:

Mr. Cockrill, who was born in Bloomfield, practiced law in Santa Rosa for many years before retiring and moving to Oakland. He was a Spanish-American War veteran and served on a pension board for veterans of the war in Oakland. Mr. Cockrill's late father, Dr. Bruce Cockrill, practiced medicine in Bloomfield for many years and also served as the Analy township justice of the peace. W. A. (Bill) Cockrill's grandfather also was the Analy township justice of the peace. Mr. Cockrill is survived by his wife, Martha [sic -- this was his mother’s name], Oakland; his sons, Homer and Donald Cockrill, Oakland; his daughter, Mrs. Willa Buckly [sic -- Buckley], Oakland; his brothers, Obe and George Cockrill, Santa Rosa, and several grandchildren.

According to Rebecca Aileen Cockrill, “William was given a six gun salute at his burial and Lulu is buried on top of him."