Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-12-29
EX-GOV. COCHRAN is DEAD.
Expired About 5 o'clock on Tuesday
at His Home, Near MiddlstoHn.
WAS NEARLY NlNETYsEARS Of AGE
Elected Governor OF Delaware
in November, 1874.
HIS ESTATE ESTIMATED ATT sSoo,eoO

Middletown, Dec. N. --Ex- Coy. john,
p. Cochran died at his home, milo
west of Middletpwn, at $ O'Clock THIS
morning. His health began To decline
a month ago, when he was injured BY:
falling on the icy pavementsin front Of
the Middletown .postoffice. II
SKETCH uF}THE Ex-GovERNois.
John P. Cochran was born in Appe,
guinimink hundred, New Castle county,
Del, on February 18th, 1900. aIeswn
Of Scotch-Irish lineage, his saneestors
having settled first in Maryland and
then moved to Delaysnre. He was
brought up to the labors OF the farm,
with only limited opportunities for
obtaining an educatipn, and from bis
18th to his 18th ,year was engaged In
mercantile pursuits. lie then returned
to farming, in which Ihe vas very suc-
cessful. The patrimony no Inherited
was very moderate. hut by industry
and Intelligent management he became
one of the largest landboiders and most
prominent agriculturists in The State.
MIR. Cochran. was always an ardent
Democrat and for years active in poll
he was a member Of the Levy Court of
ANSW SfsSbi6 NOuHtNs .tlt st37a. f-5lssstl
In 1874, after an exciting preliminary
contest, Mr.. Cochran swas nominated
for Governor OF Delaware by the Demo.
cratic State eonyention, upon the issue
that the nomination should 60 to New
Castle county. that section of the State
not having had Governor in 40 years.
He was elected at the election Of the
following November, By Il majority Of
1,229 over Dir. Isaac Jump. His ad-
ministration as Governor was marked
by faithful regard to the interests Of
the people, particularlywith respect to
appointments to Office, in which his
Judgment was most admirable One
OF his appointments was that}of the
late Chief Justice CoInegys. He also
kept careful eye UPON Legislation,
although the governor did not then
have tine veto power, and used his in
tiuence in Opposition to Legislative ex-
travagance, 5particularly with respect
to giving State aid TO railroad projects.
q system that wt.s ip vogue, at that
time.
After his retirement from Office, ex-
Gov. Cochran lived quiet, inethodieal
life at his farm near Middletown.
Daily, except Sunday, until his last
illness, he drove into Middletown, OBJ
tanned his mail, riihtted with his
friends and then returned home. y At
intervals he came to Wilmington to
attend the meetings of the Farmers
Fire Insurance Co., of which ho was
d director.
Ex-Gov. Cochran was q iiapFof sfiuc
physique and of interesting, dignifietl
presence, and so we'll preserved. during
his later years, that his appearance
anywhere occasioned general and favor
able comment. He was affable jim
manner. He was twice married, and
leaves a widow and the following chill
dren: Charles, William X. and Julian
Cochran, Mrs. T.. II. Gilpin and Mrs.
Eliza Green, all OF Middletown or VIZ
cinity.
1t is understood that ex- Gov Cochran
leaves an estate valued at about 900, :
000-4, 600 acres Of improved farnl land
and $780, 900 worth of bonds and mort
cages, 4t, sl..TsssF,