Howard County IN Archives Biographies.....Cochran, Jacob A. 1859 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 5, 2006, 11:21 pm Author: Jackson Morrow JACOB A. COCHRAN. One of the influential citizens of Kokomo is the gentleman to whose career the attention of the reader is now directed, who is ranked with the city's leading councilmen and the county's most representative contractors. A man of excellent endowments and tip-right character, he has been a valued factor in local affairs and has ever commanded unequivocal confidence and esteem, being loyal to the upbuilding of his community and ever vigilant in his efforts to further the interests of his city along material, moral and civic lines. Jacob A. Cochran is the son of a contractor and was born in Lawrence county, Illinois, August 26, 1859. His father was an early settler in Adams county, Indiana, following his work as contractor in Decatur, where he built many of that city's most substantial buildings, later removing to Hamilton county, Indiana, and then to Lawrence county, Illinois, where he and his wife spent the latter part of their lives and where they were called from their earthly labors. Jacob A. Cochran spent his boyhood days on his father's farm in Illinois, attending the common schools in the meantime until he had acquired a sufficient education to enter the business department of the Southern Indiana Normal school, at Mitchell, from which department he was graduated in the fall of 1883, standing high in his class and ranking as one of the best students this institution ever turned out. After finishing his school work the subject returned to his native town in Illinois where he began work in a general store, post office and railroad office which prepared him for a practical business which he later entered. When the gas boom begun in Kokomo in 1887 he came here, and, being the son of a contractor, having learned a great deal about this work from his father, and after working in this line for a short time he was made foreman and in this capacity he served for eight years with credit to himself and benefit to his employer. So well had he served that in 1896 he began to contract for himself, having mastered all the details of this exacting business. He began in a small way and his business gradually grew until today he is one of the largest and most able contractors in his line in the city of Kokomo. In 1888 he was united in marriage with Etta East, who was born in Iowa, but came to Kokomo with her parents when she was a child and has been a continuous resident here since. To this marriage two very estimable daughters have been born, Fae and Ruth. Fraternally Mr. Cochran is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Red Men and Ben-Hur lodges. Although he is deeply interested in lodge work he has never passed the chairs in these orders on account of his numerous business engagements. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran are members of the Methodist Episcopal church in which they take an active interest, he being one of the stewards and a liberal supporter of the same. Our subject was elected a member of the city council of Kokomo from the third ward and is at present (1908) regarded as one of the most influential members of this body, having been from the first an ardent worker for temperance and was the instigator in putting many of the suburban saloons out of business in this city, believing that in this way the saloons would be in the business districts of the city directly under the police charge, where they could be properly looked after, and in many other ways he has been of great service to the city, all of which is much appreciated by the residents. Mr. Cochran has been successful in a financial way. Coming to Kokomo with comparatively nothing, he now owns a beautiful and commodious residence at 1009 West Taylor street, where he has resided for some time. Besides he has a well established credit with the men with whom he deals. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran are widely known for their honesty and uprightness and are highly respected citizens of Kokomo. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA BY JACKSON MORROW, B. A. ILLUSTRATED VOL. II B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (circa 1909) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/howard/bios/cochran145bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/infiles/ File size: 4.7 Kb