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John A. COCHRAN is of Scotch-Irish descent, and is a grandson of Thomas COCHRAN, who was a miller and farmer of Adams County, Penn., a portion of his farm being now the site of the famous battle of Gettysburg. He was married in Pennsylvania to Margaret KNOX, and by her became the father of twelve children. He died in Erie County, Penn., at the age of seventy years. His wife lived to be ninety-six years old. Thomas Cochran, their son, and father of John A., was born in Adams County, Penn., and worked at farming and milling in his boyhood days. He was married to Sarah ELLIOTT, who was of Scotch-Irish descent, and was born in Allegheny County, Penn., and became the parents of five children who grew to maturity: James E.,
Margaret I., William, George W. and John A. The family moved to Ohio about 1840, and settled in Guernsey County, but at the end of a few years went to Muskingum County, in the same State, and in 1849 moved to Audrain County, Mo, where they located on a farm consisting of 1,200 acres. They moved to Iowa in 1856, thence to Henry County, Ill., where the family lived until 1860, when they came to Lawrence County, Mo., and purchased a farm. At the breaking out of the war he moved to St. Louis, where he died at the age of sixty-one years. Before the war he was an old-line Whig, but afterward became a Republican. His son, John A., was born in Guernsey County, Ohio,
in 1844. He completed a commercial course at Bryant & Stratton's
Commercial College in St. Louis, and attended the State University at
Columbia, Mo., for one year. In 1861 he enlisted in the Militia, or Home Guard service, and was discharged directly after the battle of Wilson's Creek. In 1864 he recruited Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which company and regiment he served for about one year. July 4, 1871, he was united in marriage to Mary F. POAGE, daughter of Cyrus POAGE, Sr., and settled in Lawrence County; their union has been blessed with five children: Arthur A., Mary E., J. Everett, Mable M. and George P. Mr. Cochran resided on a farm until 1887, and then moved to Mount Vernon. He was county surveyor eight years, and has held a number of minor offices. In 1886 he was elected county clerk for four years, which office he is now satisfactorily filling. He is a Mason and Republican, and is well known and honored throughout the county.
Rev. W. B. COCHRAN, pastor of the Christian Church, and also real estate and insurance agent, at Aurora, Mo., was born in Clay County, Mo., April 13, 1846. He is a son of Hugh and Mary (STOCKTON) COCHRAN, who were born in Ross County, Ohio, and grandson of James COCHRAN, who was born in Scotland, and came to the United States at an early day, locating in Pennsylvania, and later in Ohio. He died in Lafayette, Ind. Hugh Cochran was born in 1805, and was reared and married in his native county (Ross County). In 1882 he moved to Tippecanoe County, Ind., but in 1837 came to Clay County, Mo., and in 1849 to Caldwell County, where he died in 1856. He was a successful farmer, a Whig in politics, and was an elder in the Old School Presbyterian Church. The mother died in Caldwell County, Mo., in 1871. They were the parents of seven children, only three of whom are living: Mary J. (wife of Josiah CROSSETT), James A. and William B. The latter was reared to maturity in Caldwell County, and received a liberal education in the common schools. In January, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Missouri State Militia, and served over three years. He rose to the rank of corporal, and was in a few skirmishes and one battle. At the close of the war he went to Greene County, Mo., where he was married, and remained until 1874, being engaged in farming and working at this printer's trade. He worked for about two years in the Government Printing Office, at Springfield, Mo., and in 1875 came to Aurora, where he has since resided. In October, 1873, he was ordained a minister of the gospel, and has been pastor of three churches in Lawrence county: Aurora, Verona and Mount Vernon. He was preaching at the former place when he was elected to the State Legislature, and served one term. He is at present one of the city council. In 1864 he was married to Martha HOLLINGSWORTH, a native of Greene county, Mo. by whom he is the father of two children: Eva (wife of Dr. COTTINGHAM) and Taylor. In 1882 Mr. Cochran engaged in the insurance business, and in July formed a partnership with J. D. CONRAD in the insurance and real estate business, and the firm is doing a paying business. He is a member of the Cornelia Mining Company, of Barry County, and is a member of the Masonic and A.O.U.W. fraternities.
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