COCHRAN-William, Jr. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

William COCHRAN, Jr. (deceased) a native of PA born in 1776 and is the son of William Cochran, Sr, one of 3 brothers who came to America from England in early times. The family originally came from Scotland. When a young man he acquired a good education, for the time and followed teaching school for several years. While making his way westward he taught school in SC, GA, KY and Indiana and in Terre haute one year. About the year 1820 he decided to locate in Fountain County and make a farm in the wilderness. He was married to Deborah CUSTER of VA in 1813. She was the daughter of Jacob & Elizabeth Custer, both of whom were natives of VA by whom he had 7 children. She died in 1852 aged 73. William Cochrain served as a soldier in the War of 1812 one year. He came and settled in 1822 in what is now Fountain County VanBuren township His family was one of the first of 3 families who settled in VanBuren. He and Jonathan Birch were the men who took the steps by which Fountain was formed. He was appointed postmaster but refused to accept office. Mr. Cochran took so active a part in christianity that he had not yet prepared a cabin for the reception of his family before his place was sought out and a Methodist Episcopal church society begun which met for several years at his house. When he was called from earth which occurred in 1849, Fountain County lost one of her respected citizens whom even now all love to speak of in terms of praise. His wife is no less honored for her piety than he. William L. D. Cochrain, their oldest son lives on the old home place settled by his father in 1822. He was married in 1854 to Sarah J. Walker, daughter of James and Jane Walker who settled in the same neighborhood as William Cochrain in 1826. They have two children: Edmund and Mary. WLD has a farm of 600 acres of fine land situated just south of Sterling. He and his family are no less respected for their honesty and integrity than was his father. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and have been from their childhood. One of his grandmothers was German descent, the other an English lady. His paternal grandfather was a Scotchman File.