Bios: MRS. NANCY COCHRAN: Lawrence County, Pennsylvania

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  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lawrence Co transcribers.
  Coordinated by Ed McClelland

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
 
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  Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
  Lawrence County Pennsylvania
  Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
  
  An html version with search engine may be found at 
  
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/lawrence/1897/
  
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    MRS. NANCY COCHRAN,
    
    [p. 183] one of the best-known and most highly respected women of Lawrence
  County and North Beaver township, was born at Hilltown, and is the widow of
  the late James Cochran. She is the daughter of Robert and Jane (Miller)
  Lochlin, and the granddaughter of Robert and Nancy (Anderson) Lochlin, both
  born in County Down, near Donegal, Ireland. Robert Lochlin, the grandfather
  of the subject of this article, came to America with his wife, making the
  trip on a sailing-vessel, and being for seven weeks out of sight of land.
  They settled in North Beaver township, about two miles from what is now known
  as Mt. Jackson. Later on, Mr. Lochlin and his family resided in Moravia, and
  finally moved to New Bedford, where he died aged eighty-nine years. His
  faithful wife, the companion through a long and singularly happy married
  life, lived until her sixty-eighth year. Their children were: Martin, Polly,
  William, Alexander, Martha, John, James, and Robert, the last the father of
  Mrs. Cochran. Robert Lochlin, the younger, was born in North Beaver township,
  and at an early age began studying for the Christian ministry. His health
  failed him, however, to his great disappointment, and he had to give up his
  studies for some outside employment that would put health and vigor into his
  constitution. He chose civil engineering as a pursuit and followed it for
  several years, finally embarking in mercantile lines. But he soon found this
  too confining, and accordingly taught school in Lawrence County and across
  the line in the State of Ohio for a number of years. He died at the early age
  of thirty-six years, and the grass had grown green over his grave but a few
  summers, when his wife, the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Law) Millet,
  followed him. William Miller, the maternal grandfather of the subject of this
  biography, was a well-known and patriotic citizen; he served in the army at
  Fort Erie during the War of 1812, and sickened and died there; his widow drew
  a pension after his death. Robert Lochlin left four children: William and
  Robert, both deceased; John, who resides in the State of Kansas; and Nancy
  (Mrs. Cochran).
    
    James Cochran was born in Allegheny Co., Pa., and resided there many years.
  When a young man he learned and became very proficient at the silver-plating
  trade, and followed that trade for a long time. Later on he turned his
  attention to farming and bought a place, where he supported himself and
  family by agricultural operations. He was upright, industrious, and
  progressive. Success seemed to crown his efforts from the start. Before many
  years had passed he was enabled to retire to Edenburg, where he passed away
  in 1878, aged sixty-eight years. Mr. Cochran was twice wedded before he
  married his last wife, Mrs. Nancy Cochran, the subject of this article. First
  he was united to Sophia K. H. McFarland, who died leaving six children:
  Margaret Ann, William, Andrew M., Hannah E., R. Sylvester, and Mary Ann. Mr.
  Cochran's second wife was a Miss Jane Needler, who died leaving no issue.
    
    Mrs. Nancy Cochran has always been a bright, active woman. From her father
  she inherited a good mind and scholarly instincts. She received a good
  education, and was trained in the art of dress-making and millinery, lines in
  which she became very skilled and successful. Her bright, cheerful ways have
  always made her very popular, while her shrewd, business-like methods gained
  her the respect of all. After the death of her husband Mrs. Cochran settled
  down at Mt. Jackson. Always of a vigorous, restless temperament, she desired
  to busy herself at something. She was the possessor of an ample competence,
  sufficient to keep her in comfort the remainder of her life, but her thrifty
  habits would not allow her to idle any time away so she began nursing people
  that were ill. It is safe to say that no poor, suffering, tortured mortal
  ever had a more tender, motherly attendant, or one whose touch was more
  gentle, or whose voice was more soothing. She has taken many elderly ladies
  to care for. So simple and unostentatious has Mrs. Cochran been in her ways,
  yet such a power for doing good to them in need, that there is nothing to be
  wondered at in the fact that she is so widely known, loved and esteemed. Her
  property she manages wisely and well. She owns considerable real estate in
  and about Manhoningtown, as well as some houses and lots at other points. She
  enjoys most excellent health, being the possessor of a very strong
  constitution. It is the unanimous wish of her exceedingly wide circle of
  friends that she be spared to them for many years to come.
    
    On a preceding page we present the portraits of Mrs. Cochran and her late
  husband.