My Genealogy Hound

HON. EGBERT COCHRAN, Georgetown, Representative from Brown County in the Ohio Legislature; was born in Huntington Township February 26, 1838. His great-grandfather was a native of Ireland, and with three brothers came to America about the middle of the eighteenth century. They located in Pennsylvania, and at the outbreak of the Revolution enlisted in different regiments. When that conflict closed, Mr. Cochran was unable to find trace of either of his brothers, and never heard from them again. Robert Cochran is a grandson of Gen. John Cochran, whose biography appears in this work, and a son of Joseph Cochran, a sketch of whom appears among the biographies of Lewis Township. Robert lived on the old homestead in Huntington Township until nine years of age. He then accompanied his parents to a new farm in Lewis Township, where he grew to manhood. His early life was spent in assisting his father in the duties of the farm, attending, in winter months, the district school. On January 4, 1860, he married Sally Chunn, a native of Adams County, Ohio, and a daughter of Robert and Sally (Grimes) Chunn. After marriage, he decided to locate in Adams County, and, in 1861, bought a farm there, remaining four years. He was elected Lieutenant Colonel of the First Regiment State Militia of Adams County, serving in that capacity during the war. At its close, he returned to Pleasant Township, Brown County, where he purchased a farm of 200 acres, located on the Ripley pike, three miles southeast of Georgetown. Mr. Cochran is a practical farmer, and has made his profession a decided success. His farm is one of the best in the county, is well cultivated, and supplied with all modern improvements necessary to lucrative husbandry. Mr. Cochran also owns ninety acres of land in Lewis Township, and a tract of 500 acres in Adams County, Ohio. Mr. Cochran’s father and grandfather were Jacksonian Democrats, and it was but natural that our subject should follow in their footsteps. He has been an ardent Democrat through life, although never a politician. In the fall of 1879, he was nominated and subsequently elected to his present position, being re-elected, and commencing his second term January 1, 1882. During his first legislative service, he was an earnest advocate of the Eggleston tobacco bill, and introduced the Cochran substitute thereto. This bill provided for the regulation of the sampling and selling of tobacco on the market at Cincinnati. The bill and its substitute caused one of the strongest fights known in the House for years. Mr. Cochran has introduced many bills for the betterment of his constituents socially, financially and otherwise, and enjoys the satisfaction of seeing all but one become laws. He is a man of energy and force of character, of a frank, genial nature, and possessing a remarkably retentive memory. We desire to extend to him our thanks for favors shown to us while laboring on the compilation of this volume. Mr. Cochran is connected with the Odd Fellows Lodge and Encampment at Georgetown, and has passed all the chairs in both bodies. Himself and wife are members of Olive Chapel, of the Christian denomination, near their home. Four children have been born to them, three living — Charles H. (a cadet at West Point, of the class of 1883, and a young man of rare promise), Joseph S. and Jesse, an infant (deceased).