In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1879
From History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people (1915)
FRED COCHRAN.
Fred Cochran, who is farming on section 14, Grand River township, was born upon the Cochran homestead, in this county, on the 25th of April, 1879, a son of Wesley and Elizabeth (Hamblin) Cochran, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. He was reared under the parental roof and as soon as old enough began assisting in the work of the farm, being thus prepared to win success as an agriculturist in later life. His formal education was acquired in the public schools in the neighborhood of the homestead..After he reached years of maturity his father gave him a good farm, comprising two hundred and forty acres in Grand River township.
Mr. Cochran married Miss Blanche Livingston, who was born in Union county, Iowa, and is a daughter of W. C. Livingston. Her father is now farming in Grand River township, this county, and is well known and highly esteemed. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran have four children, Esther, Katherine, Martha and Kirk.
Mr. Cochran is a democrat in his political belief and finds time to take the interest of a good citizen in public affairs.
As printed in History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1915. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.