The COCHRANE FAMILY
Page 157

The following extract from the Bellevue Local News, published at Bellevue, Ohio, refers to the family of the writer's father, and as the paper is published at the old home of the family, is intended only as local information, but is equally appropriate in the Biographical department of this work: CHAT ABOUT THE OLD FOLKS The Cochrane Family Joseph Cochrane, Sr., was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, April 11, 1771. His father, Alexander Cochrane, emigrated from Ireland when quite young, and settled on a farm in Mifflin county, where he lived and died, raising a family of 12 children. Joseph, the subject of this sketch, was the next to the youngest, and by an arbitrary and eccentric will of his father, he became the owner of the old homestead, and in the same house raised a family of ten children. About 1827, he sold the old homestead and moved to Dry valley, in the same county. After a residence there of seven years, the last three of which were spent in western travel in the pursuit of health, he sold out and removed to Seneca county, Ohio. Bought a farm of Job Wright, on the Kilbourne road, four miles from Bellevue, and moved his family there about 1834. Elizabeth Hooven, his wife, was born in central Pennsylvania, near Carlisle, April 8th, 1785, and at the age of sixteen was married to James Campbell. By him she had two children, one of whom died in infancy, and Mary Jane, born December 6, 1806, of whom we shall speak hereafter. Mr. Campbell died in 1806 or 1807, and in 1808 she married Mr. Cochrane. They lived together twenty-eight years, and had ten children-six sons and four daughters. Mr. Cochrane died of pulmonary consumption, August 4, 1836, on the old farm, and was buried in the cemetery of the old German Reformed church in Thompson. He was a man of good business ability and great mental vigor, and he held many important and responsible official positions before his removal to the west. These he always filled with fidelity and credit to himself and friends. An army commission from old Governor Simon Snyder, dated August 1, 1814, and a post-master's commission from Amos Kendall, dated September 1, 1835, are now in the possession of the writer, neatly framed and standing on a hall table-cherished relics. He was self-educated, never attended school three months in his life. This he always spoke of as his misfortune and not his boast. He was set and determined in his opinions, which were only liable to be changed when his judgment was convinced. A kind and accommodating neighbor, generous to a fault, impulsive and sometimes hasty, watchful as to the want of the poor, whom it seemed his delight to favor. This description we believe has the merit of candor. Elizabeth, his wife, was a model woman, as wife, mother, friend and neighbor. The ruling element of her nature was kindness. In her prime of life, she possessed a vigorous, robust organization, and almost always enjoyed excellent health. She was a model of good, cheerful, healthful country life. "Her children shall rise up and call her blessed." She never knew what an enemy was. It might be asked if she had no faults. She had: they were excessive kindness and charity for all God's creatures. "All her failings leaned on virtue's side." A deep, religious feeling pervaded her entire life. She died March 7, 1846, at Fremont, Ohio, and was buried in Thompson beside her husband. She died as she lived, as calmly, sweetly and peacefully as an infant goes to sleep. No pain, no disease; but that vigorous frame was worn out, and gradually gave way, and her spirit returned to God who gave it. Mary Jane, her daughter by her first husband, resides in Jefferson county, Pa., the wife of Robert Witherow; is 70 years of age, and resembles her mother, not only in kindness and amiability of disposition, but also in personal appearance. She has seven children, two sons and five daughters, also several grand children. Her husband is eight years her senior. Both have lived to a good old age, models' of rectitude, and "all of the days of their appointed time will they wait till their change come." All their descendants reside in their immediate vicinity. Nancy, the oldest of the family by the second marriage, married Rudolph Sherck, an old-time farmer in Thompson township. She had several sons and one daughter. They removed to Michigan, many years ago, and a singular fatality has attended the family. She died in 1864, and all the family are now dead, I believe, but two sons, who reside in Michigan. Thomas, the oldest son, married Nancy, daughter of Samuel Clark, a Thompson farmer, and removed to Monroe county, Michigan, had three sons and two daughters. He went to Oregon in 1850, and a few years later sent back for his family, who made the journey to him by water in 1853. They now reside at Amity, Yamhill county, Oregon. He is now 65 years old, hale and hearty. He and his wife returned for a visit for the first time in 1875, after an absence of twenty-five years, and spent the summer among his friends East, returning in the fall. Their youngest son resides in San Jose, California. Rosanna married Samuel P. Clark, a brother of Thomas' wife, and has a family of fine daughters. They enjoy this world's ways of wagging along on a farm in Monroe county, Michigan, raising fine horses, cattle and sheep, and big apples. Her age is 63. Elizabeth married Philip, son of John Miller, an old resident on a farm south of Bellevue. She now resides with her son James B. Miller, Esq., in Bellevue. Philip Miller died at Flat Rock, Ohio, January 15, 1874. The old farm in Thompson is occupied by Mary, her only daughter, who is married to Henry Zeiber. Catharine married George Gear, of Fostoria, Ohio, but during recent years has resided in Findlay, Ohio. The war made sad havoc with her family as with that of Mrs. Sherck. Our information in regard to them is not complete, but a son and two or three daughters comprise the family. William A. is an old settler in Fremont, Ohio. After the death of his father, in 1836, he learned the carpenter trade with Benjamin Moore, in Bellevue, and then went to Fremont, where he has since resided. He married Mrs. P. Smith, in 1846, and has three children-Henry, Frank and Rosa. He is now 56 years old, but time's hand has touched him very gently. He is so very fortunately balanced that he will neither wear out nor rust out, but bids fair to see many more years. Samuel, the next son, died in infancy, before the family left Pennsylvania. Joseph, named after his father, was sometime in the employ of Harkness and McKee, in Bellevue, but went to Fremont, where, in 1846, he married Rebecca, daughter of Rev. Frederick Rahouser, pastor of the German Reformed church, in Thompson, adjoining the old farm, and where the parents are buried. From there he moved to Tiffin, Ohio. In the spring of 1856 he removed to Havana, Illinois, where he has since resided. They had a daughter and two sons, and have six grandchildren. The daughter married O. C. Town, an extensive jeweler in that city. The oldest son is also married, and both reside adjoining their parents' home. The youngest son has been for nearly four years in Pittsburg, Pa., and during three years was cashier of the Franklin Bank, of that city, and is now in the employ of Jones & Laughlin, the most extensive iron workers in the United States. Joseph is now fifty-one years old. The productions of his pen are extensively circulated by the Illinois State Board of Agriculture, and the Illinois Horticultural Society. For six years he has been in the employ of the Signal Service, and was assigned to work, by Prof. Henry, of the Smithsonian Institute, of ascertaining the height above sea of the principal points in Central Illinois. His tastes have ever inclined him to scientific pursuits. He was educated in and graduated at the old log school house near Decker's, in Thompson, at the age of eleven years. John R. is aged forty-eight years, and resides at Laporte, Indiana. He married Miss Francis Young, a daughter of Rev. Mr. Young, a missionary to Iceland, where Francis was born. They have five children living. He learned the carpenter trade with David Moore in Bellevue. His wife possesses remarkable musical talents, as do also the daughters. As is the case of William and Joseph, so with John R., he refuses to grow old as the years roll by. Henry H., the youngest son, died in Thompson, December 12, 1846, aged fifteen years. His remains sleep by his parents in the old church yard. Plain slabs of Italian marble mark the resting place of those three as they await the final summons. This family have long been separated. Mrs. Witherow and Joseph did not meet for forty years. Thomas and Joseph have not met for thirty-two years. In two other cases almost equal time has elapsed since members of the family have met.

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