COCHRAN, David A. (1867-1908)

COCHRAN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 2/2/2016 at 18:40:31

David A. Cochran
(Sep 19, 1867 - Mar 10, 1908)

In Memory of Dr. David A. Cochran
Dr. Cochran was born near Lacona, Iowa, September 19, 1867, and died at Mercy hospital at Des Moines, Iowa, March 10, 1908, age 40 years, 5 months, and 20 days. He grew to young manhood on the farm where he now sleeps. Taught in the public schools for a few years and graduated in medicine at the college of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, in the spring of 1895 with the highest honors of a class of thirty-two, he located in Milo the same spring.
Dr. Cochran was one of our most useful and highly esteemed citizens, he was a friend of everybody and everybody was his friend. He leaves to mourn his sad and untimely death a mother, Mrs. E. E. Cochran of Lacona, two sisters, Miss Lizzie Cochran of Cummings and Mrs. J. W. Thorn of Lacona, four brothers, J. S. Cochran, C. S. Cochran , G. E. Cochran of Lacona, and Dr. A. L. Cochran of Cummings. Dr. Cochran’s death to our community was more than an ordinary loss, standing thus at the zenith of his worth and in the prime of his life, the fell stroke of the fatal destroyer came.

One of the greatest shocks that the people of Milo have had for some time was the death of Dr. Cochran, who died at Mercy hospital Tuesday evening at 10 o’clock. The Dr. had been sick for some weeks but too determined to give up, continued to attend to his large practice, driving day or night as the demands needed until at last his ailments reached such a stage when he could no longer attend to the sick. His conditions grew worse owing to much exposure and sheer exhaustion. Monday morning he was taken to Mercy hospital in Des Moines where it was thought an operation would be the means of saving his life. At the hospital it was pronounced that an operation was of no benefit. He rapidly grew worse until the end came at 10 p.m. the remains were shipped to Milo, arriving here Wednesday evening and were taken to the home of E. J. Burgess where over 500 people viewed the remains. Thursday morning the body was taken to his sisters home, Mrs. Thorne of Lacona. The funeral was held Friday at 11 a.m. at the M.E. church, conducted by C. S. Fair, after which the remains were laid to rest in the Cochran cemetery. This was the largest funeral that Lacona has ever witnessed, being over 500 people there. The I.O.O.F. and the M.B.A. had charge of the funeral.

Dr. Cochran was an upright, honest man and a true philanthropist. He came to Milo in 1895 and was not long in building up a very extensive practice. His genial spirit and ability as a physician enabled him to gain many friends and patrons. His health, by overwork, soon began to tell on him and during the past winter there was so much sickness which called him to double work and his health waning and he was too merciful and kind to say no or refuse to go so long as he could get into his buggy or straighten up with his grip in his hand. Some few months before his death he had a surgical operation and a growth was removed from the nasal passage and never got well and from cold and other influences produced an infection and finally septic meningitis intervened and took his life away. He certainly has left a host of friends with many relatives to feel the keen loss of a brother, son, and a friend.
[copied from a list of obituaries saved by Rev. Charles S. Fair]