BIOGRAPHIES: Clifton D. COCHRAN, Turtle Lake Township, Barron County, WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Vic Gulickson 11 December 2000 ==================================================================== Clifton D. Cochran, a representative Barron County farmer and dairyman, is one of the stirring citizens of Turtle Lake Township, president and manager of the Turtle Lake Co-operative Creamery, and one who is interested in everything pertaining to the good of the community in which he resides. He was born in Hall Township, Bureau County, Illinois, March 1, 1865, son of David A. and Melissa (Dewey) Cochran, and a grandson of David Cochran. It was in 1848 that the Cochran family came from New York State to Bureau County, Illinois, where in 1864 David A. Cochran married Melissa Dewey, born in New York State, of which state her parents were natives. She was a cousin to Admiral Dewey, the hero of Manila. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. David A. Cochran settled on a farm in Westfield Township, that county, and in course of time a family of seven children grew up around them, namely: Clifton D., of Turtle Lake Township; David, deceased; Fred, of Stanislaus County, California; Charles, who is operating a grain elevator at Utica, Ill.; Elizabeth, deceased; Jennie, who is unmarried and resides at Moline, Ill.; and Lillian, now Mrs. Fred Mouden, her husband being an Illinois farmer. David Cochran, the father, died July 1, 1881. His wife, Melissa, died in November, 1905. Clifton D. Cochran was reared on the home farm and acquired a common school education. After his father's death he remained at home with his mother, with the exception of two years or less, until he came to Barron County. On March 12, 1891, he was united in marriage with Sylvia S. A. Cheeseman, who was born in Bureau County, Illinois, July 15, 1863, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Parker) Cheeseman. Her parents were natives of England. They came to Bureau County, Illinois, prior to the Civil War. Mr. Cochran resided with his wife on his mother's farm until the fall of 1906, when he went to Ladd, Ill., where he remained until the spring of 1908. He then came to Barron County and bought a partially improved farm of 160 acres in Sections 7 and 8, Turtle Lake Township. Among the improvements was a good frame house. In 1910 he erected a good frame barn 36 by 70 by 18, with a stone basement under 56 feet of its length. In the spring of 1921 he bought an adjoining tract of 80 acres on Section 8. He has now about 90 acres under the plow and is doing a general farming and dairy business with profitable results, milking from 18 to 22 cows of Guernsey grades. Since December, 1917, he has been president and manager of the Turtle Lake Co-operative Creamery. He has identified himself closely with the affairs of his township and has been chairman of the town board since 1914. He is also serving as treasurer of his school district, No. 1, and his interest in educational matters covers a long period, as he served his school district in Illinois, in one capacity or another, for 21 years. For some years, Mr. Cochran was a member of Levi Lusk Lodge, No. 270, A. F. and A. M., of Arlington, Ill., and is now a member of Turtle Lake Lodge, No. 313, of which he was the first master. He also belongs to Turtle Lake Lodge, No. 328, I. 0. 0. F. Though not a member, he served the Baptist Church of Westfield Township, Bureau County, Illinois, for a number of years as trustee. To Mr. and Mrs. Cochran, five children have been born: Carrie, May 27, 1892; Walter J., July 8, 1895; Jean, March 5, 1898; Sylvia, Dec. 31, 1900; and David, Oct. 2, 1903. Carrie is now the wife of Walter Barber of Turtle Lake Township, and has three children, Dorothy, Clifton and Raymond. Walter J. married Martha Jones, daughter of William and Ellen Jones of this township andhas one child, Laura. Walter, who recently became his father's partner, is living on the home place. Jean and Sylvia, who are unmarried, were graduated from the Turtle Lake High School in the fall of 1919. The former is living at home and the latter teaching school. David resides on the home farm, assisting his father and brother. Mrs. Cochran is a member of the M. E. Church. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pg. 172-173.