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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
SANFORD COCHRAN is a farmer and stock-raiser on section 32, White Oak Township. He was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, Dec. 21, 1817, and is the son of Larkins and Christina (Warner) Cochran, who were natives of Virginia. They removed to Ohio in the early settlement of that State, pursuing the occupation of farming. The father died in Ohio, in the year 1820, and the mother in McLean County, Ill., in 1859. The subject of this sketch, Sanford Cochran, emigrated to Wisconsin from Ohio in 1851, coming to Mahaska County, in 1855, where he has resided ever since. He was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Vandevender in the State of Indiana, in 1839. She is the daughter of Louis and Mary (Evans) Vandevender, both of German descent, and both of whom are now deceased. The former died in 1877, and the latter in 1847. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran are the parents of nine children: George W., born Jan. 11, 1841, is married to Anna Baitsel, and lives in Cedar Township; Amanda, born Feb. 19, 1843, was the wife of R. W. Caldwell, now deceased; Wilson S., born Oct. 14, 1846, died Feb. 26, 1848; Lewis C., born Dec. 4,1848, was married to Lillian Perkins, and died in California in May, 1875; Oliver C., born Nov. 28, 1850, was married to Ellen Rice and resides in Cedar Township; John W., born Dec. 6, 1855, lives with his parents; Laura, born Nov. 8, 1857, is the wife of J. C. Williams, residing in Taylor County, Iowa; Clara, born March 3, 1862, lives with her parents; Mary E., born July 8, 1864, is also at home. Mrs. Cochran is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Politically Mr. Cochran is a Democrat, but has never been an office-holder, beyond the position of Township Trustee. His homestead consists of 223 acres of fine land, all in cultivation, with good house and barn, and excellent improvements of all kinds. Mr. Cochran has lived in the county a third of a century and has been a witness of its development to a very high type of civilization. He has passed through the struggles and privations incident to pioneer life, and now enjoys the fruits of those early struggles and trialo. He has prospered well, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his numerous friends and acquaintances.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy