Cochran, John Wesley

COCHRAN, SAUNDERS, BRYANT, HOWARD, BARBER, CUTLER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/29/2012 at 11:42:17

POP 2 p 333

JOHN WESLEY COCHRAN

John Wesley Cochran, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Union township, where he owns a farm of sixty-eight acres, was born in Jackson township, Poweshiek county, on the 4th of November, 1860. He is the eldest son of Hiram and Mary Jane (Saunders) Cochran, the father a native of Indiana, having been born in the vicinity of Fort Wayne, and the mother of Ohio. Hiram Cochran was reared and educated in his native state, where for a time he engaged in farming. In his early manhood he removed to Iowa, locating upon a farm in Jackson township, Poweshiek county, and here he met and subsequently married Miss Saunders. He later disposed of his land in this county and bought a farm in Union township, Mahaska county, where he passed away on the 24th of August, 1874. Mrs. Cochran survived him until 1882, continuing to reside upon the the homestead in Union township. Five children were born of their marriage, those beside our subject being: Frances Elmira, deceased; Selkirk Saunders, who is a resident of Jackson township; William A., who is living in Union township; and Mary Alfretta, the wife of Elliott Bryant, of Montezuma. The father voted the republican ticket and served one or two terms as school director. His wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

The education of John Wesley Cochran was begun in the district schools of Poweshiek county and completed in those of Mahaska county. Although he was only a lad of fourteen years when his father died he was assisting in the cultivation of the home farm, and being the eldest of the family naturally his duties became quite heavy during the early widowhood of the mother. After leaving home he worked for an uncle for a time, but being desirous to engage in farming for himself he later rented land in Jackson township, which he cultivated for years, and also ran a threshing machine. In 1891 he bought his present place in Union township and has ever since continuously resided there. He has remodeled and built additions to many of the buildings and effected various other improvements, all of which have added greatly to the appearance as well as value of the property.

Mr. Cochran established a home by his marriage on the 24th of January, 1882, to Miss Fannie Howard, a daughter of James and Martha (Barber) Howard, of Mahaska county. Her parents were both natives of England, who emigrated to the United States and located south of Oskaloosa. There the father, who was a traveling man, passed away, but the demise of the mother occurred in Union township, Mahaska county. In politics Mr. Howard was a republican. Mrs. Cochran is also a native of England, her natal day being the 2d of May, 1862. By her marriage she became the mother of six children; William E., who is a resident of Colorado; Vergie Jane, the wife of Calvin Cutler, also of Colorado; James Hiram, who is living in Colorado; Charles Edwin, who is at home; Frederick, deceased; and Ernest La Verne, at home. They also have one grandchild, Theron John, who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Cutler.

The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Cochran is a member, and fraternally Mr. Cochran is affilitated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, being identified with the lodges of Montezuma. His right of franchise he exercises in support of the candidates of the republican party and for the past four terms has been township trustee. He as well as his wife, is favorable known in Union township among whose citizens they have many friends.