Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 910
SANFORD H. COCHRAN

Sanford H. COCHRAN, a well-known lawyer of Logan, Iowa, who is descended from militant and patriotic stock, is himself a man, who, in the peaceful pursuits of life, has given much to the cause of good government. Not that Mr. COCHRAN is an office-holder, for he has never held office, but he is a man, who, because of his broad informative knowledge, is regarded as a leader and looked to, by many of his fellow townsmen, for counsel. Mr. COCHRAN has enjoyed a long and interesting career, and few men of his generation were able to acquire a better training for his profession.

Born on May 20, 1852, at Carmi, in White county, Illinois, Sanford H. COCHRAN is the son of Sanford, Sr., and Martha E. (JOHNSON) COCHRAN. Sanford COCHRAN, Sr., was a native of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and his wife, who, before her marriage, was Martha E. Johnson, was a native of Clarksville, Tennessee. She came to Kentucky, and there met and married Mr. COCHRAN's father, who, after their marriage, removed to Illinois, where they remained the balance of their lives. Sanford COCHRAN, Sr., was a soldier in the Mexican War, having served as a private in Captain Lawler's company of independent cavalry. He, also, was a veteran of the Civil War, having at the outset of that war organized Company B, Fifty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. After the organization of the company he was elected its captain, and served in that capacity throughout the war. After the Civil War had closed, he returned to his home in Carmi, Illinois, and shortly afterward was made police magistrate, an office which he held until the time of his death.

Sanford, Sr., and Martha E. (Johnson) COCHRAN, were the parents of five children, three of whom are now deceased. Sanford H. and Isabelle, who married Capt. H. C. Reager, of Evansville, Indiana, are the only living children. William R., John S. and Janie are deceased.

Mr. COCHRAN's career, during the time he was pursuing an education, was very interesting. He was a student of many schools. After having graduated from the common schools of Illinois, he spent one and one-half years in the Southern Illinois Normal University, at Carbondale, in Jackson county, Illinois. After this, he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy, at West Point, and was a student, at this institution, for one year. Upon leaving West Point, Mr. COCHRAN decided to follow the law as a profession, and entered the Iowa State University Law School, at Iowa City. He was graduated from this institution in 1874, at the age of twenty-two years, and immediately began the practice of law in Harrison county. Having settled in Logan, in 1874, Mr. COCHRAN has lived here since that time, a period of more than forty years. During this time he has built up an extensive and lucrative practice, which practice extends to the county, state and federal courts of Iowa and Nebraska. He is not only considered a wise and judicious counselor, but likewise a profound student of legal principles as well as an able and successful practitioner in court.

Sanford H. COCHRAN was married, April 27, 1877, to Mary E. SHIMMINS, the daughter of Philip and Jane (WARE) Shimmins, both of whom came from Ramsey, Isle of Man. After coming to this country, they lived in New York city for a short time, then removing to Buffalo, New York, and later to Wisconsin, where they lived for some time, and then settled at Missouri Valley, Iowa. Philip Shimmins was a gold beater by trade, and followed that occupation while living in New York city. While living in Wisconsin he worked in the woolen mills at Darlington.

Mr. and Mrs. Sanford H. COCHRAN have had three children, Vernice, married George W. Egan, who lives at Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Camille and Hortence live at home. Mr. COCHRAN is not a member of any lodge and is not affiliated actively with any church. He has never held office.

Mr. COCHRAN is independent in politics, not only from choice, but for the reason that he believes he can thus serve the cause of good government in the best possible way. Very few men are so well known in Harrison county, Iowa, as Mr. COCHRAN, and not very many have lived in the county so long as he. During the many years he has lived in Harrison county, he has enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the people of this county, and today is an honored and respected resident and citizen.

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