The sun., 1898-12-28
John P. Cochran, Dies at His
Home Near Middletown Of
General Debility.
BIOGRAPHY OF The DECEASED
He Was Born in Appoquinimink Hun
dred, New Castle County, and
Amassed Fortune by
Farming-Said to be
Worth $5OO,OOO.
Special to The SUN.

MIDDLETOWN, DEL, dec. ZI-AS a re-
suit of fall in front of the Middletowr
post office about month ago, ex-Gov
ernor John p. Cochran died at his home
short distance from this place about
o'clock this morning.
Shortly after his fall Mr.. Cochran, who
was well advanced in years, became il
and he sank rapidly until death ensued
John P. Cochran was born in Apo.
quinimink hundred, New Castle county,
Del, on February 7, 1909. He was OF
Scotch-Irish lineage, his ancestors hay.
ing settled first in Maryland and then
moved to Delaware. He was brought ur
to the labors of the farm, with only
limited opportunities for obtaining an
education, and from his 18th to his Goth
year was engaged in mercantile pur-
suits.
He then returned to farming, in which
he was very successful. The patrimony
he inherited was very moderate, but by
industry and intelligent management he
became one of the largest landhoders
and most prominent agricuturists in the
State.
Mr.. Cochran was always an ardent
Democrat and for years active in poll
tics. For two terms, from 1888 to 1876
he was member of the Levy Court Of
New Castle county.
In 1874, after an exciting preliminary
contest, Mr.. Cochran was nominated fol
Governor of Delaware by the Democratic
State convention, upon the issue that
the nomination should go to New Castle
county, that section of the State not
having had Governor in forty years.
He was elected at the election of the
following November by a majority OF
l.229 over DR.. Isaac Jump. His ad.
ministration as Governor was marked
by faithful regard to the interests OF
the people, particularly with respect
to appointments to office, in which his
Judgment was most admirable. One
of his appointments was that of the
late Chief Justice Comegys. He also
kept a careful eye upon legislation,
although the Governor did not then
have the veto power, and used his in
fuence in opposition to legislative ex-
travagance, particularly with respect
to giving State aid to railroad projects,
a system that was in vogue at that
time.
After his retirement from office, ex-
Governor Cochran lived quiet, method.
ical life at his farm near Middletown.
Daily, except Sunday, until his last ill.,
ness, he drove into Middletown, obtained
his mail, chatted with his friends and
then returned home. At intervals he
came to Wilmington to attend the meet
ings of the Farmers Fire Insurance Com
pany, of which he was director.
Ex-Governor Cochran was a man of
fine physique and of interesting, digni-
fled presence, and so well preserved, dur
ing his later years, that his appearance
anywhere occasioned general and favor
able comment He was affable in man
ner. He was twice married, and leaves
. widow ana the following children;
Charles, William r. and Julian Coch-
ran, Mrs. T. H. Gilpin and Mrs. Eliza
Green, all of MiddIetown or vicinity.
1t is understood that Ex-Governor
Cochran leaves an estate valued at about
$500, ,OOO-4 200 acres of improved farm
land and 100000 worth Of bonds and
mortgages.
John +. Cochran, who died today,
was the last surviving Governor of Della
ware from New Castle county. The ex-
Governors now surviving are Charles C.
stockley, of Sussex county, elected in
1882; Robert j. Reynolds, Of Kent,
elected in 1890, and William Y. Watson,
of Kent, who, as speaker of the Senate
succeeded to the office on the death of
Governor Joshua Marvil in 1895.