Wesley Cochran

As printed in 1915

WESLEY COCHRAN.

Wesley Cochran gained an unusual measure of success as an agriculturist, accumulating nineteen hundred and twenty-five acres of land in a body. He was born in Perry county, Ohio, on the lath of November, 1834, and when but a child was left an orphan. In 1851, when a youth of seventeen, he accompanied his uncle, M. D. Alartin, to Madison county and in that year entered eighty acres of land in Grand River township. He then returned to Illinois and worked for two years, carefully saving his money. He then came again to Madison county and purchased a piece of timber land, after which he went back to Illinois and worked there in order to earn money with which to improve his land. As soon as he had saved sufficient capital he returned to Madison county and established his permanent home here. His first residence was a log cabin, which remained the family home for nine years. At the end of that time he purchased an adjoining eighty acres, on which was a frame house. He removed the building to the site of his original residence and nine years later built the commodious frame house which still stands. Although the land which he originally purchased was totally unimproved when he settled thereon, it was not long before he had it under cultivation and from the first he found farming a profitable occupation. From time to time he bought other land and eventually held title to nineteen hundred and twenty-five acres of fine land all in a body. Although he was such an extensive landowner, he never purchased land to speculate on, but only for the use of his family. Before his death he gave each of his children a good farm and they are well known and prosperous agriculturists of this county.

Mrs. Cochran still lives upon the homestead, which is excellently improved. Not only are the buildings commodious and well adapted to their respective uses, but there are also a good orchard and a beautiful grove, which add both to the value and beauty of the place, while the fields are inclosed with strong, durable fencing. She has resided there for more than fifty-three years and takes a personal pride in the farm, as it was but a tract of wild prairie land when she and her husband first located on it and as its development was accomplished by their work and planning. Although she endured many hardships in the early days, she is still in good health and takes a keen interest in all that is going on. When she and Mr. Cochran came to this county a half century ago the conveniences that are now taken as a matter of course were unthought of and it was necessary to work long hours and to endure many discomforts. However, there were compensations, as the wild prairie land was rich and productive and when brought under cultivation yielded bountiful crops, and the early settlers had the satisfaction of knowing that they were not only developing properties that would insure them of material prosperity but that they were also contributing to the progress of the state as a whole.

On the lath of November, 1861, Mr. Cochran married Miss Elizabeth Hamblin, who was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on the 20th of March, 1842, of the marriage of Simeon and Eleanor Hamblin, who in 1854 became residents of Monroe township, Madison county. Both passed away in that township. To Mr. and Mrs. Cochran were born nine children. Kate became the wife of J. T. Steele and died August 26, 1896, leaving two sons. Jay and Ed, the younger but an infant. They have made their home with their grandmother since their mother's demise. J. H. married Estelle Polk and resides in Winterset. William is a banker of Lorimor, Iowa, and Frank, the next in order of birth, died when twenty-one years of age, October 29, 1892. Walter L., Forrest Lee and Fred are represented elsewhere in this volume. F. W. is the next in order of birth, and Mattie, the youngest of the family, is the wife of J. Ira Tucker.

In his early manhood Mr. Cochran was a member of the Methodist church, but at length his sincerity and honesty revolted against what he believed to be hypocrisy and he withdrew his membership. His conduct always measured up to high standards of morality and he never took advantage of a fellowman or cheated anyone out of even the smallest amount. His political belief was that of the democratic party and he took a commendable interest in the public welfare. His demise, which occurred on the 15th of March, 1912, was sincerely regretted by many and his memory is still cherished by those who knew him intimately.

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.