Westmoreland-Fayette County PA Archives Biographies.....Cochran, Alva C. June 14, 1860

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ALVA C. COCHRAN. The material development of “Western Pennsylvania” is without a
parallel in the industrial history of the world; its oil regions, natural gas
districts, coal beds and coke fields have not their equal in either the western
or the eastern hemisphere. Coke manufacturing is young in years as an industry
and is principally the work of young men. Many of the large owners and
successful managers of the coke plants throughout the Connellsville region are
in the early prime of life. “They are approachable people and have not the
hard-shell conservatism and secretiveness of older men in an industry of older
growth.” Among these young and successful coke operators is Alva C. Cochran, of
Westmoreland county, who is descended from two of the old and substantial
families of southwestern Pennsylvania. He was born in Tyrone township, Fayette
county, Pa., June 14, 1860, and is a son of John M. and Hannah M. (Strickler)
Cochran. The Cochrans of Fayette and Westmoreland counties are descendants of
old world emigrants who settled in eastern Pennsylvania prior to the French and
Indian war. John M. Cochran was born June 15, 1833, and died June 20, 1880. At
eighteen years of age he engaged in boating coke down the Yonghiogheny,
Monogahela and Ohio rivers to Cincinnati and followed that business regularly
for fifteen years excepting what little time was necessary to be given to his
farm. In 1867 he built the “Jackson Coke Works” near Broad Ford, Pa., and in
connection with his brothers James, Isaac, Sample and J. H. Ewing, operated them
till 1877, when he disposed of his interest. In 1870 he and Christian Sherrick
and Judge John K. Ewing of Uniontown purchased land near Stauffer, in East
Huntingdon township, on which a year later they erected sixty coke ovens and
afterwards added one hundred more. In 1877 Mr. Cochran became sole owner of
these coke works and successfully operated them until he died in 1880. In 1856
he married Hannah M Strickler who is now living in Lexington, Kentucky, in the
fiftieth year of her age. They had twelve children, nine sons and three
daughters, of whom five are now living.

   Alva C. Cochran was reared on a farm and before he was eighteen years of age
became manager of his father's store at Stauffer. At the death of his father he
assumed full control of the works and the remainder of the estate of the latter
until it was divided among the heirs in 1888. Since the hitter year he has
successfully managed these works now known as the “Buckeye and Starr Mines”
owned by the A. C. Cochran Coke Company. They have one hundred and sixty ovens
and their daily production of coke is three hundred tons. Mr. Cochran is a
member of Moss Rose Lodge, No. 350, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Mount
Pleasant Council, No. 592, Royal Arcanum.

   He was married September 29, 1885, to M. Etta Murray. They have three
children, one Son and two daughters, Earnest R., born March 14, 1887, and twin
daughters, Iva and Pearl, horn July 1, 1888. Mrs. Cochran was born September 22,
1867 and is n daughter of William F. Murray, of Mt. Pleasant township, this county.

   A. C. Cochran received his education chiefly in the great school of business
life. He is a pleasant gentleman, a popular young business man and an honorable
and well respected citizen.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from
Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Compiled and Published by John M. Gresham & Co.
Samuel T. Wiley, Chief Assistant
1890


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