"The Oregonian's Handbook of the Pacific Northwest." Portland, OR: Oregonian
Publishing Co., 1894.  pg. 224.

HON. CHARLES A. COGSWELL
     As stated in the article on Lake county and Lakeview, 25 years ago there
were scarcely more than 10 residents in what is now Lake county, Oregon.  Hon.
Charles A. Cogswell, the distinguished senator in the last three sessions of the
Oregon state legislature from the remote southeastern part of the state, was one
of the 10 hardy pioneers above referred to.  Senator Cogswell was a mere youth
with but $25 in his pockets when he decided to brave the hardships of a frontier
life in the then wilds of Southeastern Oregon.  He hailed from Vermont, where he
was born in 1844.  His parents removed to Iowa in 1857, where he received the
benefit of a common school education.  During the war with the South, he fought
under Gen. Sherman's command, and subsequently removed to Goose Lake valley, in
Lake county, Oregon, where he has since resided.  For 25 years Senator Cogswell
has striven, and not in vain, to bring about a development and civilization of
one of the most remote corners of the continent.  The results have been worthy
of his indefatigable and well-directed efforts.  After the rough corners of his
frontier existence had begun to wear smooth, Senator Cogswell took up the study
of the law, and was admitted to practice in the Oregon courts.  In 1887 he was
elected to the office of judge of Lake county.  In 1888 he received a flattering
majority for state senator and was re-elected to the same office in 1892 by
double his former majority.  During his term in the senate, Mr. Cogswell was a
leading spirit, and many of the important measures that became laws during that
session originated with him.  He received the Democratic vote of the members of
the Senate for the office of president of that body, and he was made chairman of
the committee on federal relations.  The name of Senator Cogswell is often
mentioned in connection with the gubernatorial honors of the state, but this has
been done without his sanction.  Senator Cogswell is now the mayor of Lakeview.
He enjoys a most lucrative law practice besides having large stock as well as
other interests in Southeastern Oregon.  He is a man of marked ability, an
ardent Democrat in politics and he is honored by an admiring constituency from
both parties alike.