[p. 451] a prominent farmer of North Beaver Township, is the owner of a fine farm of 125 acres, located about a mile and a half from Moravia, on the Moravia and Mount Jackson road, which in the early days was the old Western Trail. He was born two miles south of Wampum, in Big Beaver Township, September 26, 1854, and is a son of James and Hannah (McKim) Cochran.
James Cochran was born in Chippewa Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, to which his father had come from Ireland, in pioneer days. He was reared there, and after his marriage moved to Big Beaver Township, Lawrence County, where he became a large landowner. A valuable vein of coal underlaid his land and was developed and he became one of the substantial men of the community, and was ever among the foremost in advancing its interests. He died on his farm there in 1898 having survived his wife some years. They were parents of seven children, five of whom are living, namely: Margaret, wife of Thomas Gill, who lives on the old Cochran homestead; Sarah, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Francis Wilson, James, who lives in Columbiana County, Ohio; Samuel, deceased; Daniel H., and Lettuce, who died as a child.
Francis Wilson Cochran was reared on the home farm and attended the district schools of that neighborhood. Farming has been his chief occupation since boyhood. He and his wife set up housekeeping on the farm now owned by David H. Cochran, on the Moravia-Mahoningtown road, it being one of his father's farms, and they continued to reside there some seventeen or eighteen years. At the end of that time they sold out and moved to California, where one year was pleasantly passed. They then returned eastward, and for a short time lived in Moravia. In 1904 they located upon their present farm, which comprises 125 acres, and he engages in general farming and dairying, usually keeping from twelve to fourteen cows.
Mr. Cochran married Emma Pratt, a daughter of John Pratt, whose farm lies in both Beaver and Lawrence Counties, being located on the line. Two children were born to them: Carl and James. In religious attachment they are members of the Moravia Presbyterian Church.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
Previous Biography | Table of Contents | Next Biography
Explanation/Caution | Lawrence Co. Maps | Lawrence Co. Histories
Updated: 23 Oct 2001