Cochran Genealogy

JOHN WESLEY COCHRAN
(1819-1881)

John Wesley Cochran (Charles Wesley, Robert) was born 18 Nov 1819 in Edgefield County, South Carolina, the son of Charles Wesley Cochran and Sarah Ogilvie. He spent his childhood and youth in South Carolina, moving to Polk County, Texas with other family members in 1859.

John served in the Confederate forces during the the Civil War. He enlisted on August 24, 1861 at Livingston in Polk County, Texas under Captain Ike N. M. Turner as a Corporal in Company K of the 5th Texas Infantry but was hospitalized with pneumonia in Richmond, Virginia in November of that year and discharged on January 2, 1862 because of his illness.

After the war, he married Martha "Mattie" Frances Dunnam 02 Jan 1866 in Livingston, Polk County, Texas. Mattie was the daughter of Charles Dunnam and Eliza Carnes. She was born 03 Aug 1845 in Rapides Parish, Louisiana. John and Mattie moved to Harris County and then Williamson County, Texas. They were farmers and together reared a family of seven children - 6 boys and 1 girl - Thomas Roane, Charles Travis, Ernest Wesley, Arthur Eugene, Alva Lawrence, William Walton, and Olah Penelope. John died of pneumonia at the age of 61 years on 30 Jan 1881 in Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas and was buried in Liberty Hill Cemetery there. Mattie died 07 Dec 1911 in Anderson, Grimes County, Texas.

In 1882, John's nephew, James A. Bell, wrote an obituary honoring the memory of his uncle that expresses his admiration and affection in the typical lyrical style of the time:

COCHRAN--J.W. ---J. W. Cochran was born in Edgefield county, South Carolina, November 18, 1819. Professed hope in Christ and united with the M. E. church, just as he entered into manhood. Came to Texas, adopting it his home, spring of 1859. Scarce had the sullen notes of war been heard when he joined one of the first companies from Polk county, and enlisted in the Confederate service, August 1861. A shattered constitution soon drove him back to this genial clime. Though his sickness long and prostrating his patriotism never abated. Soon its glowing fires led him again to the gallant front.

The dirge of cruel war song, prosperity and peace, lending their smiles once more to a stricken people. He was united in marriage to Miss Mattie Dunnam, in Polk county, January 2d, 1866. She survives him with several dear children, near Georgetown where he was connected with the M. E. Church. The unrelenting disease pneumonia did its fatal work in eight days, when a happy family was overwhelmed with grief by death's visitation, January 30, 1881. We here offer our condolence to those so sorely bereft. While they feel most keenly the arrow of grief, we beg to share its crushing wound. Although this mortal frame has been cold in death more than one year--which sad news we received only a few weeks since--our esteem for him can never be lessened by time. One of our strongest earthly ties has been severed. As a devoted and bene volent uncle he was [...].

Having been bereft of a dear father in childhood's tender years, this devoted uncle was always full of fraternal like affection. So strong was his devotion that the writer nestled about him as seldom the child about its father. His presence was enough. So powerfully did I realize this that a dear mother's presence and love had to yield to his as I accompanied him to Texas, when a boy of nine summers. He was always ready to bestow a father's benediction. Would that I could have stood by and wiped the death-damp from that noble brow. A nobler soul never released its redeemed spirit. As a Christian he was modest and true. He was kind and generous to a fault. In all the walks of an unblemished life his influence was magnetic. All must say a noble and good man is gone. Mother sod never entombed better. In the words of his devoted wife, 'There never was a kinder husband and father.' Oftimes memories casket is full and precious. Dear bereft ones, we sorrow not as those who have no [...] reflection of his last and dying words and live in the blissful hope that they be yours. 'My way is clear.' Truly, 'the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more until the perfect day.' May he who tempers the winds to the shorn lambs deal tenderly with the bereft ones. May the dear little boys characterize while living, the noble traits of their dear father, and like him die with their way clear through faith in Jesus. --- J. A. Bell

CLINTON, Feb. 1882.

Children of John Cochran and Martha Dunnam are:
i. Thomas Roane Cochran, born 1867; died 1899 in Harris County, Texas.
ii. Charles Travis Cochran, born 1869; died 28 Apr 1948 in Burnet County, Texas. He married Viola Unknown.
iii. Ernest Wesley Cochran, born 1871; died Aug 1954 in Navasota, Grimes County, Texas.
iv. Arthur Eugene Cochran, born Abt. 1873.
v. Alva Lawrence Cochran, born 20 May 1876 in Spring, Harris County, Texas; died 12 Jun 1944 in Freeport, Brazoria County, Texas.
vi. William Walton Cochran, born Abt. 1877.
vii. Olah Penelope Cochran, born Abt. 1878.

Sources:

1. Dodd, Ella Frances Mainer. John Mainer (1759-1833) of South Carolina and Georgia: His Roots and Branches, Livingston, Texas, 1989.
2. Death Certificate for Alvah Lawrence Cochran, #26501, June 12, 1944, Texas Department of Health, Austin, Texas.
3. Obituary from unknown newpaper, by J. A. Bell [nephew], February, 1882.
4. Gravestone of John W. Cochran, Liberty Hill Cemetery, near Georgetown, Texas.
5. Census of 1860, Polk County, Texas.
6. Confederate Military Service File of J. W. Cochran, Co. K, 5 Texas Infantry, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C..
7. Marriage License of J.W. Cochran and Mattie Dunnam, Polk County, TX Marriage Book B-2, p. 162.
8. Census of 1870, Harris Co., TX.
9. Headstone inscription for Thomas R. Cochran, Willow Creek Cemetery, Harris Co., TX (on Highway 2920).
10. Gravestone of Charles T. Cochran, Liberty Hill Cemetery, near Georgetown, TX.
11. Gravestone of Ernest W. Cochran, Oakland Cemetery, Navasota, Texas.