My Genealogy Hound

James P. Cochran, of the firm of J. P. Cochran & Son, general merchants and dealers in farming implements, was born in De Kalb County, Tenn., in 1832. His parents were William T. and Jane K. (Duncan) Cochran, of Smith and DeKalb Counties, Tenn., respectively, being married in the latter place. The parents moved to Dresden, Weakley County, Tenn., when James was very young, and resided there until their decease, Mr. Cochran dying in 1862, and his wife several years after their arrival. The elder Cochran was a tailor and clothier, and, later in life, established a general merchandise store. He built up a large trade, and was one of the most popular merchants of that section in his day, bearing a reputation for honesty and enterprise that has been well guarded by his son. He fought in one of the Indian Wars, and was a member of the I. O. O. F. His father, Henry Cochran, of Scotch-Irish descent, died in Smith County, Tenn., where he had resided for a great number of years. The mother of James P. Cochran was a member of the Christian Church, and died in that faith. Her father, Josiah Duncan, was an old resident of De Kalb County, Tenn., where he died. James P. Cochran is the eldest of two sons and three daughters. He was educated at the Dresden (Tenn.) Academy and schools in the vicinity, receiving a good English education and business training. At thirteen years of age he held a position of trust with a firm in Dresden, and remained with them eight years. The experience gained in commercial life during that time made him one of the shrewdest business men in his section, although just attaining his manhood, and shortly afterward he entered into partnership with his father, in the same place, and continued with him until an excellent opportunity was presented at Hickman, Ky., to which place he removed and established a livery business. Mr. Cochran’s marriage occurred at Dresden, in 1857, to Julia, daughter of David and Harriet Shaver, natives of Tennessee, where Mr. Shaver died, when his daughter was very young. The mother afterward moved to Sharp County, where she died a few years later. Mrs. Cochran’s death occurred on the 27th of December, 1866; she was the mother of one son and one daughter. Mr. Cochran was again married on January 10, 1870, his second wife being Miss Martha M. Shaver, a sister of his first wife, this lady dying March 23, 1886. In 1861 he moved to Salem, and established himself in business, but was compelled to close up on account of the war. In 1865 he was appointed clerk of Fulton County, and in 1866 was re-elected, and held the office for three years. He moved to Sharp County, in 1869, and in 1872 was elected clerk of Sharp County, holding that office for four years. He next occupied the present building and commenced a commercial career, and since then has been one of the most successful business in Sharp County. The firm have a fine stock of goods valued at $5,000. Besides this, Mr. Cochran owns several good farms and some 2,000 acres of land in Sharp County. He is a representative merchant, a shrewd and fair-dealing business man, and one of the most progressive citizens of this section. He has in his possession the first dollar he ever earned, and has kept it as a memento of the early days when he had nothing in the world but his own pluck and determination to succeed. In politics Mr. Cochran is a Democrat, and in religious faith a Methodist, as also were his two wives.