COCHRAN, R. L., DR.

COCHRAN, HOLLAND, SWENY, GRIFFITH

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/12/2025 at 17:14:25

BURLINGTON CITY.
(P. O. BURLINGTON)

COCHRAN, R. L., DR., was born in Wrightsville, York Co., Penn., Dec. 18, 1843; his parents moved to Philadelphia when he was 3 years old, remained there about nine years, and then returned to Wrightsville ; from their old home they went to Mechanicsburg, where R. L. commenced the study of dentistrv, which he continued at the Pennsylvania College, where he matricuulated; he practiced in Mechanicsburg one year and a half; in September, 1863, he came to Burlington. The struggle, the absolute poverty endured by him ; the hard battle fought for success, without, as he then imagined, even the shadow of a chance, is known and no doubt well remembered by some men prominent in Burlington to-day. George Sweny recollects how he slept in an omnibus standing in front of the Lawrence House, one night; how he went hungry for the want of a few cents ; how he was induced upon the young man's frank and open representation of his case to rent him a bare room in which to undertake to establish a practice. We might here mention the fact that previous to his advent in Burlington, he worked in a grocery store, in Philadelphia, owned by Isaac Griffith, as errand boy ; Mr. Griffith also practiced dentistry up-stairs, and the compensation of Dr. Cochran was the privilege of having access to his (Griffith's) library and the observation of his operations. Dr. Cochran has known privations of the severest nature, which the friends of his present well deserved prosperity would hardly credit. He graduated regularly at the Missouri Dental College in 1873. Dec. 19, 1866, the Doctor married Miss Maria Holland; they have two children—Maud Z. and Willie L. He was elected Vice President of the Iowa State Dental Society in 1877, and made its President in 1878. No doubt Dr. Cochran has as fine a practice as may be found in the State ; through merit and perseverance he has risen from absolute poverty to position and ease.

Source: BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY IOWA
CHICAGO: WESTERN HISTORICAL COMPANY, 1879

Transcription typed/proofed as article was originally published in 1879