[p. 984] one of the best known and most successful farmers of Neshannock Township, resides on a farm of 200 acres of land, nearly all of which is under a high state of cultivation, and is engaged in general farming and the raising of small fruits. He was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, December 14, 1850, and is a son of Thomas K. and Harriet (Sterrett) Cochran.
Thomas K. Cochran was born in Cochranton, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, and was a man of superior educational attainments. He was engaged in teaching school some years in Cochranton, and later at Shakerville, of which village he became a resident. He, in partnership with a brother-in-law, T. C. Cochran, opened a general store in Shakerville, which he conducted until the early fifties, when he moved to Neshannock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. Here he purchased 400 acres of land, a part of which now forms the place of his son, George A., and engaged in extensive farming operations. He raised stock on a large scale, and his land was devoted to the culture of grains and hay. He was a very successful man, and one of the most prominent of the township at that time. He was originally a Whig in politics, and later a Republican, and frequently was called into public service in his township, serving as supervisor, school director and in other local offices. He died while in the prime of life. He and his estimable wife became parents of nine children, as follows: Mary, wife of A. F. Phillips, of Sterling, Ill.; Charles, of Fredonia, Mercer County; Rose, wife of Crawford White, of New Castle; William, of Mercer County; Sybil, who lives in Utah; Hugh, deceased; George Arnold; Catherine, wife of A. S. Moore, of New Castle, and Nevvie, who is the widow of Gail Kear and resides in Chicago. Religiously they were members of the Presbyterian Church.
George Arnold Cochran was educated in the public schools of Neshannock Township, and after his father's death worked out at farming in that vicinity. Late in the eighties he settled on the old home place, which now consists of 200 acres, and engaged in general farming. For some twelve years prior to 1907 he engaged in dairying on a large scale, conducting a milk route in New Castle, but he now makes a specialty of small fruits, having some four acres in strawberries, blackberries and raspberries. He has made a success of his various business ventures and is considered one of the substantial men of the township.
Mr. Cochran was united in marriage with Miss Rena McFate, a daughter of John McFate of Union Township, and they are parents of one son, Harry D. Politically he is a Republican in national politics, but inclined to be independent locally, voting for the man he deems best fitted for the office. Religiously he is a liberal supporter of the Methodist Church, of which his wife is a member.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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