USA > Ohio > History of the Upper Ohio Valley, with family history and biographical sketches, a statement of its resources, industrial growth and commercial advantages, Vol. I > Part 31
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Having glanced hastily at what may be termed the railroad career of our subject, we turn to other, and may be, more important phases
* The Wheeling Bridge & Terminal railway company is now (February, 1890,) rapidly completing a double track railway bridge over the Ohio river, at Wheeling. with an extensive terminal system on both sides of the river, including three double track tunnels in the city of Wheeling, aggregating over 4,200 feet in length. This road is intended to connect the Wheeling Bridge & Terminal railway company's bridge at Wheeling with various railways on the Ohio side of the river .- ED.
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of his busy and useful life, to-wit, his military, political and social career. From a pamphlet entitled " Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States," the writer learns that R. H. Cochran enlisted as a private soldier, August 13, 1861, in the Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infantry; that he was commissioned first lieutenant of his company, September 23, 1861; that he served for a time in the army of the Ohio, and later with the army of the Cumberland; and that on account of ill health he resigned his commission while at Murfrees- boro, Tenn., June 1, 1863. The record of his service under official detail is summarized as follows: "April 6, 1862-S. O. No. 10 to con- valescence barracks; April 10, 1862, to command of battalion; August 10-62, adjutant, Camp barracks, Nashville; September 12-62, adju- tant convalescent regiment during siege of Nashville; October 7, '62, aide-de-camp to Gen. John M. Palmer, battle of Lavergne, Tenn .; October 10-27, '62, judge advocate, garrison court-marshal, Nashville, to review proceedings of a general court-marshal; November 20, '62, board of survey, Nashville; November 23, board of investigation; November 24, to military commission to try a spy; December 2, per- manently to the staff of the Eighth division (afterward Second divis- ion) Fourteenth army corps, department of the Cumberland, and remained provost marshal until resignation; December 26-30, advance on Murfreesboro; December 31, January 3, '63, in battle of Stone River, as provost marshal and aide-de-camp; December 31, '62, Lieut. Cochran's horse was killed under him, and for gallantry in battle he was about this time recommended for promotion. February 3, 1863, he was detailed as judge advocate of general court-marshal, as he was again February 22, following, and on April 17th. He was about that time particularly distinguished by Governors Dennison and Todd, and Gen. George H. Thomas, and many other distinguished officers, who recommended him to President Lincoln, for appoint- ment in the regular army as a staff officer, but ill health and the sud- den death of his father, Robert Cochran, cut short his military career.
Returning from the army, Judge Cochran resumed the practice of law, and in 1863, was elected, and in 1865, re-elected to the office of prosecuting attorney of his native county. He was also, while yet a citizen of Ohio, chosen county school examiner of. Belmont county, and filled various other offices of public trust, in all of which it is written of him that he acquitted himself with the highest degree of credit. Removing, as has been seen, to Wheeling in 1869, his reputa- tion as a public spirited, trustworthy citizen had preceded him, and he was not long allowed freedom from public service. He was directly elected to the school board; appointed a school examiner, made chair- man of the committee on Rules and Regulations, and appointed to other committees governing the city schools, and was chiefly instru- mental in adopting. a system of graduation and awarding diplomas. In 1872 he was chosen a member of the republican state executive committee, and unanimously elected captain of the Wheeling blues, afterward known as the Goff guards. April, 1873, he, with the Hon. W. P. Hubbard, formed the law firm of Cochran & Hubbard, which
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continued until he was elected judge of the Ohio county court for a term of four years .* From the bench the judge returned to the prac- tice of law and to the manifold responsibilities of a citizen from whom much is expected, and whose highest ambition is to " act well his part." As to the social qualities of Judge Cochran, those who have met or been entertained by him will attest that they are of the finest, and par- take largely of the old time hospitality now almost obsolete and lost sight of in the desire of men to acquire wealth. By nature, warm hearted and generous almost to a fault, genial and urbane, gifted with fine sociability and tact, he is always courteous and pleasing alike to friends and strangers, and stands ever ready to extend that gentle- manly and courteous treatment both in a social and business way that is due from one gentleman to another. In response to business in- terests, and the railroad interests, of Wheeling, Judge Cochran in 1882, moved to Toledo, and there was made a life member of the Toledo Soldiers' Memorial association, a director in the Lincoln Club and member of the Citizens' board of trade of that city. He became a member of the G. A. R. at the incep- tion of that order many years ago, and within the order, has held many honorable positions, such as member of the council of ad- ministration, department of Ohio; senior aide-de-camp to the com- mander in chief, etc .; has delivered probably twenty-five memorial day addresses in different parts of the country, and addresses on vari- ous topics in probably twenty states of the Union. Since 1873, he has been a member, and a part of the time, vice president of the society of the army of the Cumberland, and in ISSI delivered the annual oration before that organization at Chattanooga, an address which was warmly commended by the press, and printed in the society's annual volume. He is now (1890) chairman of the Executive com- mittee of the society. At the death of Gen. Grant he was appointed by Gen. Sheridan, then president of the society, chairman of the com- mittee on the "Grant memoir," and he also prepared the eulogy of the great soldier and statesman that was adopted by the G. A. R. de- partment of Ohio. This eulogy was copied by the northern press, generally, and received much favorable criticism. The Toledo Four- nal, in speaking of it, said: " Of all the eulogies that have been writ- ten in commemoration of the life, service and character of Gen. Grant, none will compare in beauty and grandeur with that from the pen of our own distinguished citizen, Judge Cochran." And Gen. Horace Porter, of New York, among other things said: " I, with many others, thank Judge Cochran for his eulogy upon Gen. Grant. I have not seen his whole character put in more compact space, or described in a more beautiful phrase."
Judge Cochran was an active organizer and is now a member of the society of the army of West Virginia, a Knight Templar Mason, member of the Union league, and of the military order of the Loyal
* This court was created specially by the legislature for this county, and had law, chancery and criminal jurisdiction .-. Ed.
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Legion of the United States; a senator in the fraternity of the National Union, and is past supreme dictator of the Knights of Honor. The membership of the last named organization embraces many of the leading and prominent public men of the different states of the Union, including members of congress, .governors, su- preme court judges and distinguished professional and business men generally, which fact enhances the respect and honor paid Judge Cochran in placing him in the highest official position of their highest body. Respecting this order we learn from an official organ that Judge Cochran was a charter member and first dictator of the first lodge organized in West Virginia; that he represented the state in the supreme lodge at Nashville in 1877; that in 1873 he was chosen supreme assistant dictator at Boston; that in 1880 he was elected vice supreme dictator at Charleston, S. C .; that he was re-elected thereto in Minneapolis in 1881: that in 1882 at Baltimore he was elected supreme dictator, and that at Galveston in 1883 he was unanimously re-elected to that exalted position. During this term he was tendered a reception by the fraternities at the Academy of Music in New York city, and on that occasion delivered a memorable address on fraternal insurance. In these two years of his administration, more than $6,000,000 dollars were paid to widows and orphans over his check, and he surrendered his office at the zenith of the order with 1 30,000 members. In 1877 at the two hundred and forty-ninth anniversary of the " Ancient and Honorable Artillery company," at Faneuil hall, Bos- ton, he was special guest and spoke to the sentiment "The Volunteer Soldiers," of which response the late veteran soldier and editor of Ohio, General James M. Comly, said: "We consider it one of the . very best after-dinner speeches ever made by a soldier." A sort of unauthorized ethics forbids the biographer of living men, the use of any conclusions. Therefore the writer is limited to almost a bare recital of the more salient facts obtainable with reference to this sub- ject. The foregoing sketch, however, needs no elaboration. The facts set forth must lead every intelligent reader to the one con- clusion. Judge Cochran, November, 1860, married Mattie M. Dakin, of Princeton, Ill., and they have eight living children, one of whom is managing editor and another is city editor of the Toledo Daily Commercial. His great grandfather, William Cochran, a patriot soldier of the Revolution, was killed by the Indians about 1780, near Wheeling, Va. (now West Virginia), and his grandfather, Ellis Davis, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Judge Cochran is the eldest of a family of thirteen children, six of whom were soldiers for the Union in the war of '61-'65, the mother of whom, Susannah, is still living. He is a hard worker, a practical scholar, an eloquent and inspiring orator; a republican in politics and a citizen of whom West Virginia is proud.
John George Coleman, of Wheeling, was born in Hesse, Germany, December 12, 1833, the son of Valentine and Mary Ann (Krock) Cole- man. The parents died in their native land, the father when the subject of this sketch was three years old, and the mother when he
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was aged fifteen. Four children were born to these parents: William, Peter, John George and Benedict. Peter is a resident of Germany, but the other three came to America, where the oldest and the youngest have since died. John George Coleman received his educa- tion during his childhood days in Germany, and he then worked upon a farm until he was twenty years of age. At that time, in the year 1854, he embarked at Bremen, in the middle of April, and in the latter part of June he reached Philadelphia, whence he came directly to Wheeling, where he has since resided. He found temporary employ- ment in a lumber yard, and then became engaged with the Belmont Iron works, leaving that establishment two months later to enter the employment of the Crescent Iron works, where he was occupied mainly for a period of eighteen years, being employed chiefly as a boiler. In 1869 he purchased a lot on the corner of Eighteenth and Wood streets, and there erected a two story brick building, in which he started a grocery store, which he has since conducted at the same place with notable success, having at the present time a large and profitable trade. Mr. Coleman was married December 9, 1855, to Eva Barbara Pappart, also a native of Hesse, daughter of John and Elizabeth Pappart, who passed their lives in Germany. Mrs. Cole- man came to America on the same vessel that brought her husband, and they were married subsequently at Wheeling. Five children have been born to them, Clara, Catherine (deceased), Barbara (deceased), Theresa (deceased), and John Joseph. The latter is now a leading druggist of Wheeling. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman are members of St. Alphonsus Catholic church; he is a member and treasurer of St. Alphonsus society and a member of the German pioneer society. Politically he is devoted to the interests of the democratic party. He and wife are widely acquainted and highly esteemed by all.
Charles W. Conner, of Wheeling, is well-known for his ability as an organizer of enterprises requiring the co-operation of capital, and is particularly distinguished for his active and successful efforts in the fields of insurance, and building and loan associations. Mr. Conner was born at Athens, Ohio, in 1845, the son of Rev. Calvin Conner. The latter was born and reared near Athens, where he was married and entered upon the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church. About the year 1847 he was transferred from the Ohio to the West Virginia conference, of which he was a member until his death in De- cember, 1886. His wife died in the year 1873. A large family of children were born to them, only one of whom survives besides the subject of this mention. The latter came to Wheeling about 1864, and here has ever since resided. He at first devoted himself to mer- cantile pursuits, being employed at the outset in the dry goods estab- lishment of F. W. Bassett. Then for five years he was in the service of the Crescent Iron works, and subsequently for sixteen years in the employment of Isaiah Warren & Co. In the meantime he had been active in the promotion of various corporate enterprises. For twenty years he has been prominently connected with different building as- sociations in an official capacity and as organizer. He was one of the
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promoters of the People's Mutual association, the first organized at Wheeling, and was secretary of the same. Subsequently he led in the organization and served as secretary of the American, Franklin, United States, Home, Standard, and Penn Mutual, the last two of which are now in operation, the other associations having been wound up after a successful career. In 1887 Mr. Conner . entered the insurance business as secretary of the Standard Insurance company,
as which he is now acting. He was one of the originators of the Wheeling Ice and Storage company, and when it began operations in 1889, he was made secretary and treasurer of the company. He is also one of the originators and a director of the Mountain Lake Park association. He is a member of the Chapline Street Methodist Epis- copal church. Mr. Conner was married in 1866 to Melissa E., daughter of John Porter, deceased, late of Brooke county, W. Va. Three daughters have been born to this union, one of whom is de- ceased.
Rev. William Henry Cooke, D. D., pastor of the Second Presby- terian church, of Wheeling, was born in Baltimore, Md., December 3, 1839. He is the son of John and Sarah (Brown) Cooke. Both par- ents are deceased. The father died in 1864, and the mother, in 1857. Dr. Cooke was reared to manhood in his native city. He graduated at the city college, and then taught school, while pursuing the study of law. This study he was constrained in conscience to abandon, very much against his own inclination, and the judgment of many friends. In 1855 he became a member of the Central Presbyterian church of Baltimore, then under charge of Rev. Stuart Robinson, D. D. In the fall of 1859, he entered the theological seminary at Danville, Ky., where he studied divinity. He was licensed to preach in April, 1861, by the presbytery of Transylvania; and on June 10, 1862, he was or- dained by the presbytery of New Castle, as pastor of the Fort De- posit church, Md. His next charge was at Havre de Grace, in the same state, where he was pastor from 1867 until 1882. He was in- stalled in his present position, October 29, 1882, and in the years that have since elapsed, has labored with great zeal and efficiency for the up-building of his charge. In general church work he has had a large share; and has had frequent occasion to acknowledge the confidence of his brethren when selected for posts of honor or trust. On all questions in debate relating to doctrine, or order, or worship, he has always taken a decided and prominent part in the church courts. The degree of doctor of divinity was conferred upon him by Centre col- lege, Ky. June 30, 1868, Dr. Cooke was married to Mary M. Hitch- cock, of Havre de Grace, Md. She died at Wheeling, November 17, 1883. She was the daughter of Charles B. and Mary (Bartol) Hitch- cock, the former a native of Utica, N. Y., and the latter of Havre de Grace. There are three children: Charles Bartol, William Brown and Mary Hitchcock.
Michael Coughlan, of Wheeling, was born at the city of Bannahar, Kings county, Ireland, September 15, 1830. He is the second born, and now the only survivor of three children of Francis and Cather-
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ine (Lantry) Coughlan, who passed their lives in Ireland. lle and his sister Bridget came to America in 1853, embarking at Liverpool September 15, and reaching New Orleans November 12. In Febru- ary, 1854, he came to Wheeling, where for fifteen years he found em- ployment in a limestone quarry. On the 3d of September, 1869, he entered upon the duties of night watchman at the La Belle Iron works, a position he has held during the past twenty years, discharging its duties in a most satisfactory manner. "On the Ist of September, 1889, he embarked in the grocery business at No. 115 McCulloch street, which is now conducted by his daughters. Mr. Coughlan was mar- ried April 12, 1857, to Catherine Daley, who was born in Ireland, and came to this country in 1853. To this union seven children have been born: Mary Ann, Catherine, Francis P., Ellen, Elizabeth, and two who died unnamed. Parents and children are members of the Cath- olic church.
W. J. W. Cowden, for several years prominent in the political af- fairs of West Virginia, now postmaster at Wheeling, was born May I, 1846, in Lawrence county, Penn., at the home of his parents, near the Ohio line. Mr. Cowden is a grandson of Dr. Isaac P. Cowden, a native of Cannonsburg, Washington county, Penn. The latter was a graduate of Jefferson college, Penn. After leaving college he re- moved to Poland, Ohio, where he practiced his profession for many years, and until his death. He was a man of prominence in both Ohio and Pennsylvania. Three sons and two daughters were born to him and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary McBride, and the youngest of the children was Isaac P., father of the subject of this mention. He was born at Poland, Ohio, in 1812. By occupation he was a farmer and merchant. He was married to Sarah D. Waugh, who was born at New Wilmington, Penn., in 1810, one of triplets, of which she was the only survivor, born to William and Hannah (Jordan) Waugh. She died in September, 1874. Her parents were natives of the Juniata valley, Penn., whence they removed to New Wilmington, but while their daughter was young, returned to the Juniata valley, where they remained until about 1825, when they went to Pulaski, Penn., where the father was a merchant. Isaac P. Cowden and wife had five daughters and one son, all of whom are living. The father now resides at his old home in Lawrence county, Penn., whence he removed in 1840.
W. J. W. Cowden, son of the above, when only seventeen years of age enlisted in a Lawrence county, Penn., company, and was engaged in guard duty about one year. Subsequently he entered Westminster college, New Wilmington, Penn., and was graduated, with the degree of A. M., in June, 1871. In the following September, having con- cluded to adopt the profession of law, he came to Wheeling, and be- gan reading with Hon. W. P. Hubbard. In October, 1872, he was admitted to the bar and began a successful practice. The arena of politics, in which he became distinguished, was entered by him in 1874, and he began a career of most distinguished service for the re- pulican party. He was appointed secretary of the state central com-
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mittee in 1876, and again in 1880. During the memorable campaigns of 1884 and 1888, he held the important position of chairman of that committee. He was also chairman of the first congressional district committee during the campaigns of 1878 and 1886. Mr. Cowdan has taken a prominent part in various local enterprises, was one of the organizers of the Warwick China company in 1887, of which he is now a stockholder, and was one of the organizers and is a stockholder of the Dollar Savings bank of Wheeling. He was married in 1875, at Dallas, Marshall county, to Sallie Kimmins, who died in January, 1877, leaving no children. In April, 1882, he was married to Lucy, daughter of Rev. Dr. McClure, of Wheeling, and they have one daughter.
William Craig, a venerable and esteemed citizen of Wheeling, was born in the parish of Alston, county of Cumberland, England, Au- gust 7, 1812. His parents were John and Isabel (Watson) Craig, the latter of whom died when her son William was five years old. Two years later he began the occupation of his life, as a miner, and was steadily engaged in that pursuit during his residence in England. At the age of twenty-six years he was married to Mary Stubbs, who was born in Northumberland county, England, in 1812, the daughter of William Stubbs. In 1849 he and his wife embarked at Liverpool, August 7, and reached New York on the 4th of September following. They proceeded at once to Steubenville, Ohio, and thence removed to Wheeling in 1851. Here Mr. Craig has since resided with the ex- ception of two years spent at Triadelphia. In this country he con- tinued to be occupied as a miner, and having acquired great skill in his calling, was made manager of the Belmont Nail company's coal bank, a position he filled quite satisfactorily for twenty years. After many years of activity and industry, he was compelled to retire from business on account of increasing age, and is now passing his declin- ing years in quiet, highly respected by all. Mrs. Craig died March 27, 1882, leaving seven children: Isabel, Jane, William, John, Jacob Henry, Mary Hannah, and Charles Fremont. Another, Joseph Thomas, died in infancy.
Gibson L. Cranmer, the subject of this biographical sketch, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he resided until he reached his seven- teenth year, when he came to Wheeling, Va., now West Virginia, and entered upon the study of law with his relative, Daniel Lamb, Esq. His father, Dr. John Cranmer, was at the time of his death (which occurred during the cholera epidemic of 1833), the oldest practicing physician in Cincinnati. His death resulted from overwork in his profession during the prevalence of the cholera in that city. Our subject remained in Wheeling, devoting eighteen months to the study of his chosen profession, at the expiration of which time he located at Springfield, Ill., where he formed a partnership with Antoine Camp- bell, Esq., in the practice of law. Within a year thereafter, with the approval of his partner, he entered into a partnership with James C. Conkling, Esq., of the same city, in which, together with the practice of law, they combined the real estate business. The latter business
A. L. Branner.
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demanded his constant attention. During the summer and fall sea- sons he was engaged in hunting up lands, describing their topographi- cal location, etc. During the winter and spring months he was engaged in the payment of taxes. At this period there were no rail- roads in Illinois, and the country was sparsely settled. All of his traveling was done on horseback, and he was necessarily absent from his home for weeks and months at a time. When at home he trav- eled the circuit, attending court in company with Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, Judge Logan and others, the most, if not all, of whom have since passed away. On the 22nd day of May, 1849, he was married to Miss Oella Zane, the daughter of the late Daniel Zane, at Wheeling. Upon returning to his home at Springfield, his wife suffered from an attack of inflammatory rheumatism, from the effects of which she was confined to her bed for several months. Upon her recovery the attending physician advised a change of climate for her, and in accordance with this advice Judge Cranmer returned to Wheeling, where he located permanently and has since continued to reside. In the spring of 1855 he was nominated by the American party as one of the representatives of Ohio county in the Virginia legislature, and was elected by a large majority. When the state of Virginia seceded from the Union he was a member of the Popular convention which met at Wheeling in May, 1861, to deliber- ate and take such steps as might be deemed advisable to keep the western portion of the state in the Union, and was by that body elected one of its secretaries. After the adjournment of the above mentioned convention a new convention was called to meet at Wheeling, on June 11, 1861. Of this convention he was also chosen secretary. Among other proceedings of this body was the re-organ- ization of the government of Virginia. Provision was also made for the election of members to the legislature and a time fixed for the meeting of the same. When it convened he was unanimously elected clerk of the house of delegates, which position he continued to hold until the state of West Virginia was admitted into the Union. He was also appointed by the governor to represent the state of West Virginia on the board of directors of the Antietam National Ceme- tery association, of which body he was subsequently chosen president. In addition to the offices named he has also held a number of other positions of trust and honor, among which we may mention that of attorney for the city of Wheeling, a member of the city council and judge of the municipal court of the city of Wheeling, which last position he held for the period of eight years. He has been a firm friend of education, and shortly after the adoption of the public school system, was connected with it in the capacity of trustee and commissioner. He is now a member of the board of trustees of Washington and Jefferson college, in which institution he is deeply interested. Mr. Cranmer, in religious belief, is a Presbyterian, of which denomination he is a member and ruling elder of the First Presbyterian church of Wheeling. A man who commands the pro- foundest respect and warmest esteem of his fellow citizens. His 17-A.
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