My Genealogy Hound

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 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.