Cochran, William

COCHRAN, LYONS, WALLACE

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 9/9/2020 at 14:26:48

William Cochran, farmer and stock-raiser, residing now on section 25, Franklin Township, first became a resident of Washington County, Iowa, in 1856. He was born in Jefferson County, Ind., Feb. 4, 1824, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Lyons) Cochran, both of whom were natives of Mercer County, Ky. He was married, March 4, 1852, to Elizabeth Wallace, who was also a native of Indiana. They have one child, Alonzo W., living in Franklin Township. He was married, in 1876, to Cora E. McElroy, and has three children – Minnie A., J. and Earl.

On coming to this county, Mr. Cochran settled near Crawfordsville, Crawford Township, where he lived one year, and then moved to South English, where he engaged in milling six years. He then sold out and returned to Washington County, settling on his present farm on section 25, Franklin Township. All the improvements made upon the place are by him. In addition to a good, comfortable dwelling-house, he has a fine barn erected at a cost of $2,000, together with such out-buildings as are necessary in conducting a general farm. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran are members of the Baptist Church. In politics, he is a Republican, and has held several local offices, including that of Township Assessor, while a resident Keokuk County, and Justice of the Peace. Mr. Cochran’s father died Aug. 20, 1874, aged seventy-four years, and his mother Aug. 16, 1880, aged seventy-eight. They were members of the United Presbyterian Church.

For a period of thirty-one years, with the exception of the time spent in South English, Mr. Cochran has been a resident of Washington County, and has been going in and out among the people. His manner of life is well known, and no words of the biographer will add to the just merits of the man. All know him to respect him.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of William Cochran, pages 255-256.