Hon. James S. Cochran, Freeport, was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., on the 22d of February, 1834. His father, James B. Cochran, was a man of liberal education, a physician by profession, and graduated by Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in the 1824. He married Miss Susan Cramer, a daughter of Zadoc Cramer, May 13, 1829. They became the parents of three children, Zadoc C., James S. and Mary E., the latter of whom married Mr. Joseph Emmert, and resides at Freeport. Mr. Cramer was an early settler in Pittsburgh, and started the first book publication house west of the Alleghany Mountains, in that city in 1800. He was a man of genius, ambition, industry and high reputation. In 1814 he visited Cuba for his health, where he died. A bound volume of old letters containing a history of his travels as well as the current history of the times, written by him, is now of much interest. The postage on these letters varied from seventeen cents to $1.25 each.

James S. Cochran, the subject of this sketch, attended by his older brother, Zadoc C. Cochran, entered Bethany College, Va., where they spent two years under that eminent scholar and divine, Alexander Campbell, the founder of what is known as the Campbellite Church. After that the two brothers became students of Jefferson College, Pa. Mr. Cochran commenced reading law in the office of Messrs. Shaler, Stanton & Umbstetter, at Pittsburgh, Pa., and afterward attended the law school of Judge J. W. Brockenbaugh, at Lexington, Va. In 1858 he was admitted to the practice of law at Pittsburgh, and on the 3d of July of the same year, came to Freeport, and entered upon the practice of his chosen profession.

In 1861 Mr. Cochran was elected City Attorney of the city of Freeport. In 1872 he was elected State's Attorney for Stephenson County, and continued to serve as such for twelve years, when in 1884 he was elected State Senator for the Twelfth Senatorial District, comprising the counties of Jo Daviess, Carroll and Stephenson, and has now just finished the second session of his first term in both of which he served with usefulness to his constituents and reputation to himself. Of his work in the Thirty-fifth General Assembly, it is said that the Journals of the Legislature will exhibit the fact that more of his public measures, pertaining to general subjects, became law, than those of any other member of either branch of the Legislature. He introduced nineteen bills, eight of which became law. Among the other public measures, he was the author of "An Act to encourage the planting of trees," by which the Governor is required by law to designate annually in the spring an "Arbor Day." "An Act to authorize the inmates of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home in the State of Illinois to vote at elections." "An Act to prevent telegraph, telephone, electric light and other companies, from acquiring a prescriptive right to the use of buildings or lands."

Of this Legislature the Freeport Journal of June 22, 1887, spoke as follows: "The Illinois Legislature adjourned on Thursday last. It is the general verdict that it was the most industrious and useful Legislature that has assembled in Illinois for many years. This Senatorial District is honored by being represented by Hon. James S. Cochran, one of the most sensible, practical and industrious members of either branch of the Legislature. No abler man has ever been sent to Springfield from Stephenson County, and we do not forget that T. J. Turner, John A. Davis, H. C. Burchard and John H. Adams are among those who have represented this county at Springfield. Not one of these gentlemen made a better reputation in the State legislature than has been made by Mr. Cochran. His constituents welcome him home with the plaudit of "Well done, good and faithful servant.'"

Mr. Cochran was married, in 1863, to Miss Eva Tarbox, daughter of Horace Tarbox, Esq., one of the early settlers of Stephenson County. In April, 1877, Mrs. Cochran died, leaving one daughter, Miss Mary E. Cochran, an accomplished young lady, and one son, James Agnew Cochran. Mr. Cochran is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Evergreen Lodge, and an attendant at the First Presbyterian Church. He has also taken an active and conspicuous part in the interest of education and the public schools of Freeport, and is now serving his second term as a member of the Board of Education of Freeport school district.

While in the Legislature Mr. C. framed and secured the passage of a law to regulate the attendance of teachers upon teachers' institutes, which seems to involve great possibilities of reform in county institutes in this State, providing that the teachers of the county can attend county institutes during term, time not exceeding three days in any one term, or five days in any one year, and that such time actually spent shall be considered as time lawfully expended in the service of the district where such teacher is employed, and no deduction of wages shall be made for such absences.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 205