Mathew Cochran

MATTHEW RUSSELL COCHRAN (Deceased)

According to family tradition, James Cochran, the earliest known ancestor of the family herein described, was a tailor by trade, born in Kilbarton, Scotland, and who lived to be a centennarian. His son James, of the second generation, followed the trade of weaver, was born in Kilbarton, and reached the age of ninety-eight years. General James Cochran, of the third generation, was born in the same place, became a manufacturer, removed to Ireland in 1788, and died in Dublin, at the age of about sixty years, being the father of three sons and four daughters. General James Cochran (2), son of the last-named, was the American progenitor of the family. He and Matthew Cochran returned to Scotland, the former home of the family, and came thence to America, some time later.

Matthew Russell Cochran, whose name stands at the head of this sketch, was a native of Glasgow, in "Bonnie Scotland," born March 6, 1828. He died in Johnson county, Iowa, March 22, 1896. He was a son of Matthew and Margaret (Russell) Cochran. The father was born September 23, 1793, and died in Johnson county in 1866. He was a Presbyterian in religious faith all his life. The mother, who was born in Scotland in 1798, and died in Johnson county in 1864, was a Congregationalist. These pioneers of Johnson county had made the voyage from the old world to the new in a sailing vessel, landing in New York when their son Matthew was a babe about six months old. They were parents of seven sons and two daughters, all of whom are now deceased. They arrived in what ie now Johnson county in 1843 and settled in Graham township. They made this interesting trip by canal and down the Ohio river, then up the Mississippi, finding the conditions in the new home to be the same as so ably described in the historical part of this work.

Matthew Cochran was some fifteen years of age when his parents located on the unsettled prairie. He did not then remain with them, but returned to St. Louis and worked with his brother-in-law, remaining until 1855, when he returned to make his permanent home in Johnson county. During this time he had made many trips back and forth to look after his land interests. He finally took up as a homestead the place now occupied by his widow, Mrs. Adeline Cochran. He erected a one story and a half log house, which was finished by his brother-in-law, J. M. Dixon, now of West Branch, and in that primitive home he and his bride, whose maiden name was Adeline Douglass, lived for a number of years, all their children being born there with the exception of Raymond and Grace, lie had six or eight yoke of oxen and in partnership with his next younger lirother, William, broke prairie for himself and many of his neighbors. They carried on their farming operations in partnership until 1876.

.Matthew Cochran kept adding to his holdings from time to time as he was able, and improved the place in every possible way, becoming one of the able and enterprising farmers of the county. He died on this place in 1896", in the second house which was erected there, being then the owner of four hundred acres of excellent farm land. His widow has 200 acres of land under cultivation and some eighty acres of timber land on Rapid creek. This is one of the oldest farms in the county and the homestead has never been transferred since it came from the government.

Mrs. Cochran was a teacher in the days when she was expected to make quill pens for her pupils. She taught the Pairview school, occupying a building erected in a very early day, 14 by ' feet, with seven foot posts, which stood just west of L. Douglass's farm in Section 2fi, Graham township. This was a frame building and Sunday school services were also held therein, under the auspices of the Methodist and later the Fairview Presbyterian church. Church services were also held there at irregular intervals, from May, 1855, during the ensuing two or three years. The location was selected by James Douglass, Sr., and there the people of the neighborhood gathered to listen to the preaching of Rev. F. A. Shearer and Rev. Conklin, a synodical missionary. While Miss Douglass was a teacher in this school she met Mr. Cochran and they were married at her father's house in Scott township, by Rev. F. A. Shearer, of Iowa City, January 22, 1857, after which they lived together nearly forty years. They were both charter members of Fairview church, Mrs. Cochran being one of the four charter members who now survive. Mr. Cochran was a man of superior intelligence, who took a keen interest in everything pertaining to the general welfare and prosperity, and was an active factor in promoting the best interests of his community. He kept well informed on current events and issues and had well defined opinions on subjects of public interest. He proposed that the township be named after Andrew Graham, and this suggestion met the approval of his neighbors and fellow-citizens, with the result that it was adopted. He was a farmer in primitive times and then often swung a cradle and used a single shovel plow. He also carried on agricultural operations in times when he was able to enjoy the advantages of modern machinery, and availed himself of them, for he was always the friend of progress. He left a record of a well-spent life and had the keen satisfaction of knowing that he had provided well for his family.

Eleven children were born to Mr. Cochran and his wife: The eldest died in infancy; Mary is the wife of Brewster W. Gardner, of Graham township; James A., of Cedar county, married Essie Spining; Miss Lura is housekeeper for the brother George L.; Agnes E. is the wife of Sydney Cozine; Charles D. lives near Wellman; George carries on the Lennoxfarm; Grace lives with her brother George L.: Raymond, the youngest, who is left with his mother and sister. The one brother and two sisters who live together near Elmira have a pleasant home. George L. Cochran has had this place since

Mrs. Matthew Russell Cochran is the only survivor of pioneer days in her immediate neighborhood and is a person of interest to all her neighbors. She has a host of friends and is held in great esteem for her fine qualities of mind and heart. Her children look upon her with love and reverence and appreciate her care and solicitude for their well-being. She remembers that when the family used to start for church they loaded firewood into the back part of the vehicle for heating the building. The sills for this church building were taken from the Matthew Cochran timber, Matthew and his brother William hauling the same May 23, 1855. Mr. Cochran and his wife gave the land for the site of the station at Ehnira, comprising the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 22, Town 80, Range 5, and this gift was made conditional, with the proviso that if the requirements or conditions were not complied with the land should revert back to their heirs. The building which was then erected was removed to the present site of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad, April 6, 1870. The deed making the gift of land was dated December 10, 1870, signed by Matthew and Adaline Cochran, before William Haddock, Notary Public, and witnessed by E. R. Morse and W. II. O'Hare. Mr. Cochran broke the land with oxen and made the harness from hickory bark. Mr. Cochran made the trip up the Iowa river from St. Louis by boat, the only one that was ever made.

As printed in Leading events in Johnson County, Iowa, history (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.