A bit of info on Capt. John R. Cochran of Bollinger County MO.

John Reed Cochran was born in late 1826 in Washington Co Pennsylvania. I do not know his parents but he had an older sister Eliza born 1815 in Ireland so presumably his parents immigrated to this country sometime between those two dates. He married Rhoda Newkirk b 26 Apr 1834, Beaver, Pennsylvania, daughter of Shipman and Jane (Thompson) Newkirk in Washington Co PA 15 Sept 1854. (Newkirks eventually moved to Iowa)

I've identified 5 children, Mary (1) born 1857 in Pennsylvania in 1857, died before 1870. Missouri Belle born 29 Nov 1867, Bollinger Co, Missouri, died 28 Oct 1950 Cape Girardeau MO. She never married and was a school teacher for most of her life. Mary (2) born 1873. Edgar born 1878 Cape County. Benton or Reuben born February 1880, Cape County.

Cochran and family appear to have located to Lorance Township around 1859 as he was the original patentnee of 320 acres, the west half of section 23, Township 31 North, Range 9 E. They are found in the 1860 census of Lorance Twshp Bollinger Co. (The north edge of this property is located at the intersection of Highway 51 and Bollinger Co Road 832. There is an old barn and house still on the plot but its been too wet for me to get there. Its due north of Glen Allen MO) On the original document from the Jackson Land office he is listed as John Cochran of "St Louis County, Missouri". Sometime between the birth of Missouri Belle and the enumeration of the 1870 census Cochran and family moved to Randol Twship, Cape Girardeau Co. There Rhoda and Missouri B lived out their lives. John is not listed on the 1900 census and presumably died between 1880 and 1900. I find neither John or Rhoda listed on the 1890 veterans schedule for Cape County. Rhoda died between 1920 and 1930. I can not find a pension application having ever been filed. Missouri Belle is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery Cape Girardeau MO.

I'm still working on the boys.

John R.