Research Guide to MSS-0001M
Reverend Wilbur Israel Cogshall Collection

Provenance
History
Scope and Content Note
Series Description
Inventory

Inclusive Dates: 1854-1977
Bulk Dates: 1854-1901
1.0 Linear Feet

Processed by: Jennifer Fleischmann '06, February 2005
Edited by: Jennifer Thomas, Archivist, March 2005

PROVENANCE

The literary rights to this collection are assumed to rest with the person(s) responsible for the production of the particular items within the collection, or with their heirs or assigns. Researchers bear full legal responsibility for acquisition to publish from any part of said collection per Title 17, United States Code. The Albion College Special Collections Unit may reserve the right to intervene as intermediary at its own discretion.

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BIOGRAPHY

Wilber Israel Cogshall was born on February 13, 1850 in Concord, Michigan.  His father was Reverend Israel Cogshall, a well-known preacher who served four times as presiding elder.  Wilbur converted at the age of seventeen, while working at Berkey & Gay Furniture factory in Grand Rapids.  He soon felt the urge to follow in his father’s footsteps and moved to Israel Cogshall’s district at the age of twenty with his wife.  Soon after he joined the Conference on trial.  He was sent first to Parkville, but served in seventeen more communities before retiring in 1916, having spent a total of fifty-eight years in the ministry. 

He and his wife, Mattie Leavitt, had five children together, Nellie, Grace, Wilbur A., Fred C., and Mattie.  Nellie died in childhood, but the other four went on to success in academics. 

Wilbur received an honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Albion College where he was a trustee from 1890-1896.  He was one of the youngest people to be elected a delegate to the General Conference, and went on to be elected four times over.  He was also a member of the Committee on Conference Relations for thirteen years, served on the Conference board of Trustees for fourteen years, Assistant Secretary for seven years, and Secretary for another seven. 

Wilbur was often sought out by others to answer questions on church law as he had a legal mind and was considered one of the best councils during Conference judicial proceedings.  Those who knew him described him as funny, with a quick sense of humor.  He loved stories, both hearing them and telling them, and could generally be found entertaining a large crowd during Conference sessions.  He was skilled in the art of rhetoric, with extensive knowledge of the Bible, and both his debates and sermons left distinct impressions on those fortunate enough to hear them.

Wilbur Israel Cogshall died at the age of seventy-eight on October 13, 1928 in South Haven, Michigan.

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SCOPE AND CONTENT

The Reverend Wilbur Israel Cogshall Collection contains material from the years 1854-1977, the bulk of which is from 1854-1901.  The collection consists of a variety of materials related to the family, life, and work of Reverend Wilbur Israel Cogshall. 

The collection consists of five series:

Series I: Art
Series II: Correspondence

Subseries i. To Reverend Israel Cogshall
Subseries ii. To Reverend Wilbur Israel Cogshall
Subseries iii. About Reverend Wilbur Israel Cogshall

Series III: Newspaper Articles

Subseries i. Clippings
Subseries ii. Transcriptions


Series IV: Obituaries
Series V: Manuscripts

Subseries i. Books
Subseries ii. Documents

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SERIES DESCRIPTION

Art, 1941-1942

This series can be found in Folder 1.  It is a painting done by Mattie Cogshall-Taylor depicting a man on the porch of her cabin.

Correspondence, 1854-1977, n.d.

Series II contains three subseries: To Reverend Israel Cogshall, To Reverend Wilbur Israel Cogshall, and About Reverend Wilbur Israel Cogshall.  To Reverend Israel Cogshall consists of letters written to Rev. Wilbur I. Cogshall’s father, Rev. Israel Cogshall, regarding his ministry.  Reverend Wilbur Israel Cogshall, are letters written to Rev. Wilbur I. Cogshall regarding his work, ministry, family, and personal life between 1878 and 1921.  About Rev. Wilbur I. Cogshall consists of a variety of letters about Rev. Wilbur I. Cogshall’s life, ministry, work, and family.

Newspaper Articles, 1865-1914, n.d.

Series III contains two subseries: Clippings and Transcriptions. Transcriptions is comprised of newspaper articles saved by Rev. Wilbur I. Cogshall throughout his life. 

Obituaries, 1889, 1918

Series IV contains two obituaries, one of Jeremiah H. Bayliss and one of Sarah Anne Britton.

Manuscripts, 1866-1911, n.d.

Series V contains two subseries: Books and Documents.  Books contains a memo book, author unknown; a ledger belonging to Rev. Wilbur I. Cogshall’s son; and two scrapbooks. One of the scrapbooks contains mainly political articles and cartoons, while the other, political, personal, and religious articles. Documents consist of sermons and pamphlets Rev. Wilbur I. Cogshall collected during his life.  “The Centennial of Methodism,” a sermon delivered by J.H. Bayliss, a “Thanksgiving Proclamation,” a facsimile copy of the “Gettysburg Address,” and pamphlets regarding the Knights of Columbus and the Ritual of Third Degree.

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INVENTORY