Charles Amos Cogswell (January 3, 1844 – April 24, 1908) was an American politician and attorney from the state of Oregon. He served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. After the war, he moved to Lakeview, Oregon, where he became the area's first practicing attorney and was co-founder of the Lake County Examiner. Cogswell was elected to two four-year terms in the Oregon State Senate. During his tenure in the legislature, he was known as a conservative Democrat; however, near the end of his second term in the senate, he became a Republican. After retiring from his law practice, Cogswell moved to Portland, Oregon, where he was active in business and engaged in public service. Early life Cogswell was born in Rutland, Vermont on January 3, 1844. His parents were Amos and Maria (Johnson) Cogswell. In 1857, his family removed to Iowa. Cogswell attended public schools there. When the American Civil War broke out, Cogswell enlisted in the Union Army. He began his military career at the age of 17, serving in Company B of the 26th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment. In 1864, he participated in Major General William Tecumseh Sherman's Savannah campaign, better known as Sherman's March to the Sea. He was promoted for bravery in combat. By the end of the war, Cogswell had risen to the rank of lieutenant and was commander of an infantry company. Oregon pioneer In 1869, Cogswell moved to south central Oregon. When he arrived, he was one of the first settlers to make his home in the Goose Lake Valley. He taught school and then studied law. In 1879, he was approved to practice law in Oregon courts. When he opened his law office in Lakeview, Cogswell became the first attorney to practice law in Lake County, Oregon. As an attorney, he represented a wide range of clients including the Southern Pacific Railroad and a number of large ranches. In addition to his law practice, Cogswell was a successful businessman. In 1877, Cogswell built a two-story commercial building in downtown Lakeview. The building had a drug store on the first floor, a noteworthy addition to Lakeview's business community. Later, Cogswell joined Stephen P. Moss to found the Lake County Examiner. The weekly newspaper's first edition was published in January 1880. Initially, the newspaper editorials supported the Democratic Party. In 1883, Cogswell acquired the Republican oriented State Line Herald, merging