Biographical Sketch of Isaac S. COCHRAN (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris <jmcdmorris@comcast.net>. *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 236-7. "ISAAC S. COCHRAN, a prominent citizen of Chester county, residing in West Chester, who enjoys the distinction of being the oldest and largest live stock dealer in the county, is the eldest son of William L. and Eliza (Stanley) Cochran, and was born near Media, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, January 28, 1826. His paternal grandfather, Isaac Cochran, was also a native of Delaware county, but in later life removed to Chester county, where he died about 1852. He was a farmer during his earlier years, but became an inn-keeper and for many years was proprietor of the Rose Tree hotel, near Media. In politics he was an old-time whig, and so popular in Delaware county that he was elected to the responsible position of sheriff, and served one term with entire satisfaction to the public and credit to himself. He married, and had a family of seven children. "William L. Cochran (father) was born in Delaware county in 1799, but removed to Chester county about 1832, where he continued to reside until his death, in 1869, at the ripe old age of seventy years. He was a cattle dealer and farmer in Willistown township, and possessing sound judgment and great business energy, he became successful and prosperous. In poli- tics he was first a whig and later a republican, always taking consider- able interest in public questions. He married Eliza Stanley, a daughter of Jacob Stanley, of England, and to them was born a family of eight chil- dren, four sons and a like number of daughters, of whom Isaac S., the subject of this sketch, is the eldest. "Isaac S. Cochran received his education in the academy conducted by Joseph Strode, in this county - at that time a well-known boarding school for boys and young men - and after completing his studies and leaving school he began life on his own account as a dealer in live-stock, buying and selling cattle. At one time he owned and operated a large stock farm near the borough of West Chester. He has handled stock more or less all his life, and is an expert judge of cattle. His business has grown to such an extent that it is perhaps true that he buys and sells a larger number of animals every year than any other man or firm in Chester county. "On December 31, 1851, Mr. Cochran was united in marriage to Phoebe Shimer, a daughter of Edward Shimer, of this county. To their union was born a family of four children, three sons (two sons are now deceased) and a daughter. The daughter, Laura, is now the wife of R. H. Johnson, a con- tractor and builder, of Wayne, Delaware county, this State. The son, Harry Cochran, married Clara Smith, and resides with his father, being also engaged in buying and selling live-stock. In politics Mr. Cochran is a republican, but is too busy with business affairs to take any active part in politics."