An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 329-330
	
	
	JAMES W. COCHRAN, one of the pioneers of the State of Washington, was born
in Boone county, Missouri, April 3, 1831, was reared and educated in that
county, receiving only a common-school education in the schools of that
locality. His father, John G. Cochran, was a native of Madison county, Kentucky,
born in 1799, and his grandfather, William Cochran, was a native of Virginia who
removed to Missouri when John G. was but seventeen years of age. After Mr.
Cochran became of age he was married to Miss Delina Jane Wilcox, also a native
of Kentucky, and then took up 160 acres of land in Boone county, near Rocheport,
improved this place and made it his home as long as he lived. He died in 1865,
at the age of sixty-four years, his wife having preceded him in 1856, at the age
of forty-eight.
	Mr. and Mrs. Cochran had a family of ten children, of whom, our subject,
James, was the fourth, and there are yet seven survivors, all approaching
advanced age. Our subject was married in Missouri in 1853, to Miss Jane Goodwin,
of Randolph county, Missouri, and began his business career by taking a
homestead and using the money which his father gave him to prove up his claim.
Here he lived for a number of years, but Mrs. Cochran died in 1857, leaving her
husband with two children. They are now both grown. Delilah J. married R.D.
Calvert, now of Boone county, Missouri and John W. now lives in California.
	Our subject married again, December 27, 1859, expousing Mrs. Cyntha A.
(Angel) Moss, also a native of Boone county. She had one daughter, Ida, who died
at the age of thirty-six. After our subject had farmed for several years and saw
that his efforts did not bring him the returns he desired, he concluded to
remove to the coast country, not determining just where he would stop. Hence he
fitted himself with three yoke of oxen, one yoke of cows and a wagon, and sold
his farm for what he could realize out of it. On April 14, 1864, he started with
his family to cross the plains. Five months of weary travel, with incidental
hardship, brought them to Grand Ronde valley, Oregon, September 14, 1864, and
here they remained for one month, and then moved to Walla Walla valley. They
remained a short time there and then went to the Willamette valley in Oregon,
where he remained one year; but not liking the country as well as he wished for
a place where he should made his permanent home, he returned to the beautiful
Walla Walla valley. Here he arrived without a cent of money, and his team had
dwindled down to one yoke of oxen and an old wagon. He took up a claim at the
head of Dry creek, where he lived until he had proved up and deeded his land. He
then sold and went down the creek a few miles, where he bought 367 acres of time
land where he now lives. At the present he owns 670 acres ten miles from Walla
Walla adjoining Dixie, a nice little town which has grown up since his location
here.
	Our subject and his boys do all the farming and raises on an average 8,000
bushels of grain yearly. Like many others among the successful farmers of
Washington our subject has made his fortune since coming here. Many men miss
their opportunities and others know how to seize them. The great opportunity of
our subject was his location in this State, and his good judgment taught him
what kind of land to select, and industry and economy have done the rest. Not
only has he a fine farm, but he has just completed a large and handsome
residence which would do credit to any farming community in the State.
	Mr. and Mrs. Cochran have a fine family of sturdy, manly sons, all of whom
are yet at home. Their names are, Isadore, Adelbert, George, Samuel and Jesse.
They manage the farm and desire their father to take his ease. He has made one
visit to his native State. In 1890 he took his good wife across the country they
had once gone over with so much trial, and continued back to the old home on a
visit to the old acquaintances who were left. It took but four days to cover the
distance that they had consumed five months in crossing, and on the way were
fine farms where twenty-eight years before wild animals were roaming. The trip
was enjoyable in many ways. Our subject was Postmaster of Dixie for eight years,
this being the only public office he has ever held. Politically he is a
Democrat.
	
	
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
	
	
	
	
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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.