Middletown transcript., 1898-12-31
HON. JOHN PRICE COCHRAN.

Ex-GoY. John P. Cochran, Sr, after q
brief illness at his home near Middletown,
died early Tuesday morning; December
9th. His death follows closely after
several Others of the Oldest and most highly
respected citizens of st. Georges hundred.
all of them occasions of sincere regret. The
governor. as every body called him, got a
fall on Saturday of Thanksgiving week in
front of the post Office, it being bis custom
to come to town every fair day and many
not so fair, and taking cold developed grip
and pneumonia. He had not strength to
stand the strain.
John Price Cochran, son of Robert Coch.
ran, was born on Feb 7th, 1909, on one OF
the farms which he owns on the Levels in
Appoquinimink hundred now tenanted by
Mrs. Benz Gibbs. The governors early
years were spent on the farm, and from
his 18th to 26th years in mercantile pur-
SUITS He clerked for Charles Tatman in1
Odessa and for Lockwood d Garrison in
Middletown, and afterwards was in busi-
ness for himself. He returned to the farm
and was very successful in growing grain
and also in the sale of the fine timber, the
noble forest trees which years ago covered
these fertile fields. In '45 he moved TO
Cochran Grange where he died, though
almost half century ago he ceased to farm
for himself. His lands embrace 13 or IA
of the finest farms of New Castle county
and of Kent county, Md.-400 acres. esti-
mated to be worth 100000 or more. The
estate is supposed to have in bonds and
mortgages besides 500, ,o0o-nearly all the
result of farming and good business
methods, the patrimony and wedding dover
neither having been very large. This is
most unusual testimony to good farming.
The governor was always interested in |
politics. From 1888 to 1846 he served in |
the Levy Court. In 1874 he defeated the |
late ex-Gov. John w. Hall by narrow |
vote in the gubernatorial nomination, |
though New Castle county had not had |
Governor for 40 years, the last Democratic |
candidate, Levi jefferson, having been
defeated by William Cannon in 1862. At
the election his competitor was DIR. Isaac |
Jump, of Dover. In the nomination the |
MIDDLEToWN TRANSCRIPT was perhaps his |
best friend. advocating his cause in season
and out of season. The friends of its /
editor, Mr.. Edward REYNOLDS, thought he
should be rewarded with Court House
Office but Mr.. Charles Beasten secured the
appointment sought by Mr.. Reynolds.
The governor was twice married, his first
wife and mother of his children was Miss
Eliza Polk, daughter of William Polk, of
Odessa. The present wife was Miss Mary
Tomlin, daughter OF James Tomlin, of Mil
ford. The deceased leaves three brothers
MIR. Thomas Cochran, aged "a; Mr.. w.
A. Cochran, aged 80; Mr.. Richard w. Coch-
ran, aged n. They were four remarkable
well-preserved men--now three. OF the
governors first marriage there six children:
Wm.R. Cochran, who has four sons and two
daughters; Charles Polk Cochran who has
a son and daughter; John Cochran, deceas-
ed, who left three sons and daughter; Mrs.
Eliza Green, who has five sons and dau-
ghter; and Julian. Cochran, who has two
daughters.
Rev. F. H. Moore, D. D. had charge of
the funeral services. assisted by Rev. W..
Wilkie. They were held at the residence
at 2 O'clock yesterday afternoon; interment
in Forest Cemetery. The day was bright
and balmy, and the attendance quite large.
The three ex-Governors of the State and
the present Gov. were in attendance; also
Senator Gray, Judge 1. T. Grubb,
Judge W. G. spruance, E, T. Warner, Esq;
!. G. Vandegrift, Esq. and John G. Gray,
Esq, of Wilmington; Hon. John W. eau
sey, of Milford; Gen. R. L. Holiday, of
Dover; Hon. W. D. Hazel, of Smyrna;
Thomas Craven, Esq, of Salem, N. J.
The honorary pail bearers were ex-
Gov. Charles G. Stockley. of Georgetown,
ex Gov. Robert J. Reynolds, of Petersburg;
ex-Gov. W. 7. Watson. of Milford Gov.
Ebe w. Tunnel, of Lewes; Judge l. T.
9rubb, who was Secretary Of State to the
deceased; and John d. Rodney, Esq, of
New Castle. Six grandsons served as active
pail bearers: John P. Cochran, Jr., c. NAL
,olm Cochran, DIR. J. c. Sites, DR.. J. C.
Green, Victor Cochran, Warren Cochran.