John Cochran

John Lewis Cochran (October 27, 1793-November 20, 1881) was a merchant and owner of the mill on Meadow Creek that had formerly belonged to John H. Craven.

Bio

Mr. Cochran was born in Augusta County on the 27th of October, 1793. He was the oldest son of James and Magdalene Cochran. His mother was the daughter of Colonel George Moffett, a distinguished officer of the Revolutionary war, and connected by blood and marriage with the McDowell’s, Turnbulls, and other early settlers of Ohio and Kentucky. He served a mercantile apprenticeship to the then leading merchant of Staunton, "old Mr. John Wyatt," and when he became of age entered into business as a merchant at Staunton, in connection with Joseph and Silas Smith, Benjamin Crawford and Geo. M. Cochran, Sr., his only surviving brother.

In 1825 he removed to Charlottesville, where he was a most successful merchant for many years. Shortly after his removal to that place he was married to Margaret Lynne Lewis, daughter of Col. John Lewis, of the Sweet Springs. He retired from business in 1857, after which time he occupied himself in attending to his private affairs.

His children were Judge Jno. L. Cochran, the late Wm. L. Cochran, Geo. M. Cochran, Henry K. Howe P. Cochran, and Mrs. Jno. S. Preston and Col. J. C. Cochran, of Augusta.

He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. On the Tuesday afternoon following his death on Sunday afternoon, the funeral services were held at the family residence in Charlottesville under the direction of Rev. G. L. Petrie. The body was then consigned to the grave prepared for it in the Maplewood Cemetery of Charlottesville.