My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE W. COCHRAN, Sewickley, was born Aug. 24, 1824, on the old homestead, in Pine township, this county. The paternal grandfather, Richard Cochran, was born in Londonderry, Ireland, came to America in 1794, located in Philadelphia, Pa., and about the year 1800 removed to Pine township, where he built a cabin, and later a house, which bears the inscription of 1806. Mr. Cochran farmed and operated a saw-mill. His son, Hon. William Cochran was born in 1777, and died in 1867; he was a farmer early in life, was elected to the legislature, and was deputy warden of the Western penitentiary. He was unanimously reelected to the legislature; also filled the office of justice of the peace and other positions. Politically he was identified with the democratic party until Gen. Harrison became a candidate, when he accepted whig principles, and adhered to that party. He married Mary Davis, of Ireland; they were Scotch Presbyterians, originally Covenanters. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran were married sixty years, she living to be ninety-five years old. This union was blessed with five children: Mrs. Jane Lecky, Mrs. Sarah McGonigle, Mrs. E. C. Davis, Robert (deceased) and George W. Our subject was educated in Sewickley, and engaged in steam-boating, filling every position up to that of captain. He was captain of several boats, and ran on all the principal rivers in the Mississippi valley. During the war he retired, and has resided in or near Sewickley for twenty-five years. He has filled many offices—those of councilman and burgess for several years. Mr. Cochran was married to Miss Martha, daughter of Dr. Daniel E. Nevin, and they have two children, William G. and George I. William Potter Jones (deceased) was born in Norristown, Pa., son of Rev. John Jones, of Warrenton, Va. He was married to Harriet Potter, of Bridgeton, N. J., which family is related to the Potter family of New York. Eight generations of the Potter family are buried in New Jersey. William P. Jones was educated at New Castle, Ky., and came to Pittsburgh, Pa., with Moses Atwood, his brother-in-law, about 1835. He engaged in the forwarding commission business, which he followed successfully until the railroad destroyed that branch of transportation. Subsequently he engaged in the insurance business, representing the North American; he then established the Manufacturers & Merchants’ Insurance company, and he became its secretary. He was popular and everywhere highly esteemed. He married Elizabeth J., daughter of Rev. L. Huntington, of the Presbyterian Church of Lyons, Conn., an old and popular English family in the United States. William L. Jones was educated in Sewickley Academy, and subsequently engaged in the insurance business, which he is still pursuing. He is the agent and manager of the North American, Hartford Fire and Pennsylvania (of Philadelphia) companies. His wife is a daughter of Thomas and Winifred E. (Chaplin) Shields.