Spencer Cosby of Maryland Appointed from Kentucky, Cadet, United States Military Academy, 16 June 1887 (1) Additional Second Lieutenant, 12 June 1891 Second Lieutenant, 12th Engineers, April 1894 First Lieutenant, 13 October 1895 Major of Engineers, U. S. Volunteers, 13 June 1898 Honorably discharged from the volunteer service, 31 December 1898 Captain, U. S. Engineers, 2 February 1901 Colonel Spencer Cosby served as White House administrator and commissioner from March 1909 to October 1913. Cosby was "first" in his West Point class and well versed in the social graces. Shortly after his appointment Cosby oversaw design and construction of new executive offices at the White House. One new office for President William H. Taft’s use became known as the Oval Office. Cosby remained commissioner into the early months of President Woodrow Wilson’s administration. He not only helped guide the new president through his first inauguration, but also worked with his family on remodeling their quarters. Cosby went on to become military attaché to the American Embassy in Paris, France, as World War I began in Europe. After additional diplomatic and military service, Cosby retired in 1928 as Division Engineer of the Lakes Division in Cleveland, Ohio.

COLONEL SPENCER COSBY WEDS Military Aide to President Taft Takes Miss Shepard as Bride SOUTHAMPTON, Long Island – September 15, 1909 – In St. Andrew’s-Dune Church here today Miss E. Yvonne Shepard, daughter of the late Dr. Charles R. Shepard of Washington, D.C. was married to Colonel Spencer Cosby, U.S.A., senior military aide to President Taft, by the Rev. Dr. Herbert Shipman of New York City. The bride wore white satin and a long tulle veil and carried a shower bouquet of clematis. He only attendant was her cousin, Miss Schenck of Lenox. The bridegroom was attended by his brother, Arthur Fortunatus Cosby of New York City, as best man. The ushers were Lieutenant Colonel Charles P. Echols of West Point, Pay Director John S. Carpenter, U.S.N.; John Cadwallader, Jr., of Philadelphia, and Frank B. Keech of New York City. After the ceremony, a wedding breakfast was served as the residence of the bride’s mother, Mrs. Charles R. Shepard, at The Mill. Among the guests were Mrs. Frank C. Crosby of Washington; Mrs. Frederick Schenck of Lenox, Massachusetts, and representative from the Summer colony at Southampton. After an extended wedding tour, Colonel and Mrs. Cosby will reside in Washington. Among the wedding gifts was a handsome silver centerpiece from the President and Mrs. Taft.

SPENCER CROSBY, 94, DIES Colonel Directed Planting of Cherry Trees in Capital WASHINGTON, March 27, 1962 – Colonel Spencer Cosby, who directed the planting of the famed Japanese cherry trees in Potomac Park fifty years ago, died yesterday at the age of 94. Colonel Cosby was military aide to President William Howard Taft when the Mayor of Tokyo offered the trees to the people of Washington. As District Engineer Commissioner, he had become interested in developing Potomac Park, then “just a mudhold,” and it was at his suggestion that the trees were planted there in 1912. He served in Puerto Rico during the Spanish-American War and from 1913 to 1917 was military attaché in Paris. Colonel Cosby returned to this country to help organize and train engineer regiments after this country entered World War I. He retired from the Army in 1928. His widow survives. NOTE: His father, Frank Carvill Cosby, Rear Admiral, United States Navy, and his brother, Arthur F. Crosby, Captain, United States Army, are also both buried in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery.