Obion-Marshall County TN Archives Biographies.....Cochran, James Lindsey 1847 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tn/tnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com October 30, 2005, 4:14 am Author: Will T. Hale COL. JAMES LINDSEY COCHRAN. The world is wont to measure success in life by wealth acquired, or social prominence or political position. These are but the gauges of qualities which have enabled their possessor to overcome obstacles and push aside hindrances. The true tests of human greatness are the building up of character into symmetrical manhood, and the faculty of contributing to the well being of the community in some of the many lines which affect the welfare and perfection of society. The signal services which are being rendered to the state of Tennessee by the Hon. J. L. Cochran, representative of the counties of Obion, Dyer and Lake in the state legislature, entitle his name to a place in the forefront of the representative men of his section. Mr. Cochran was born at Cherry Creek, Pontotoc county, Mississippi, in 1847, the ninth child and seventh son in the family of fourteen children born to S. M. and N. L. Cochran, who were natives respectively of Alabama and Tennessee. Mr. Cochran was reared in his native state and there received excellent educational advantages, subsequently taking an academic course at Belfast, Tennessee. In 1863, although but sixteen years of age, he espoused the cause of the Confederacy and offered himself as a sacrifice on the altar of his beloved South by attaching himself to Company G, Forrest's Eighth Mississippi Cavalry, being one of seven sons in the Confederate army. He was soon made fourth corporal of this company, serving as such through many bloody engagements. The regiment became so reduced through the fortunes of war that it was later consolidated with the Sixth Mississippi, and in addition to skirmishes too numerous to mention, Mr. Cochran was connected with this organization in the battles of Fort Pillow, Brices Cross Roads, and Harrisburg, in the first of which he was wounded in the head. Mr. Cochran was a gallant and faithful soldier, faithfully discharging the duties imposed upon him, and on May 14, 1865, at Gainsville, Alabama, surrendered, and returned to his home to take up the occupations of peace. He came to Tennessee in 1868, and has since been a resident of Union City. In Belfast, Marshall county, Tennessee, in 1873 Mr. Cochran was married to Miss Ophelia Harding. She was born in Marshall county, Tennessee, a granddaughter of Col. Robert Hardin, a colonel in the Revolutionary war, and Hardin county was named for him. Two children have been born to this union: Amy, who married Mr. H. B. Horner, a real-estate dealer in Union City, and "Tommie," who is the wife of Dr. C. P. Patterson, who now holds the chair of history in West Tennessee University. Mr. Cochran was married in 1890, in Lexington, Henderson county, Tennessee, to Mrs. Bettie Brooks, the widow of William Brooks. Mr. Cochran has been prominent in Democratic politics for some years. In 1890 and 1891 he was the representative from Henderson county, in the latter year entered the senate as representative from Henderson and Madison counties, and at this time he is taking care of the interests of Obion, Dyer and Lake counties in the state legislature. He is inspector general with rank of colonel of the Confederate organization of Tennessee. A member of an old and honored family, representatives of which have been prominent for generations in social and public life, and in the professions, Mr. Cochran is a worthy bearer of his name, and his duties in every sphere of life's endeavor have been discharged in a conscientious and able manner. He holds the entire confidence of his constituents and his friendships are only restricted by the limits of his acquaintance. Additional Comments: From: A history of Tennessee and Tennesseans : the leaders and representative men in commerce, industry and modern activities by Will T. Hale Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1913 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/obion/bios/cochran272nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/tnfiles/ File size: 4.4 Kb