BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Page 574.

WILLIAM C. COCHRAN, ex-sheriff of Belmont county, Ohio, was born in
Belmont county in 1834. His parents were James and Nancy (McCord)
Cochran, natives of Ohio and West Virginia, respectively. James was
the son of James, Sr., who was a brother of Robert Cochran, the
grandfather of the eminent Judge John S. Cochran, whose biography
appears elsewhere in this book. James, Jr., first saw the light of
day in Pease township, in the year 1801, he received a limited
education in the schools of his native town, after which he began
farming, which he followed to the time of his demise in 1854. He was
a man of prominence in the community in which he lived, having held
several offices of public trust during his lifetime. His marriage
resulted in the birth of thirteen children, of which there were six
boys and seven girls, ten of the children are now living. The wife
died in 1887, aged seventy-eight years. William C. Cochran obtained
his schooling from the common schools of Pease township, afterward
spending some years at farming, he then learned the cooper's trade,
working at it for about fourteen years, the last three years of
which time he was manager of the keg department of the Wood Iron
works. Leaving this company he erected a saw-mill near Heatherington's
Coal works, operating the same for two years. In 1872 Mr. Cochran
sold the mill and was elected sheriff of Belmont county, holding this
highly coveted office for two terms. In 1878 his brother Thomas was
elected probate judge. Mr. Cochran married Miss A. M. Davis, in 1855,
she is a native of Bellaire, and daughter of Jacob Davis, founder of
the City Fathers' Union. Four children have come to bless their home:
Martha J., Amanda M., Emma V. and Theodore C. The first two named are
dead. After the term of his office expired Mr. Cochran was engaged for
a short time in the livery business. In 1880 he took charge of the keg
works of the Bellaire Nail company and still holds this position. In
connection with his son Theodore he established a wharf-boat, at
Bellaire, in 1889, and they now conduct this enterprise meeting with
success. He is a member of the Masonic order, being a Knight Templar.
He is also one of the leading republicans of the county.