Andrew McConnell January Cochran

Andrew McConnell January Cochran, (1854 - 1934)
the oldest son of Robert Armstrong and Harriet Frances (January) Cochran, was born February 4, 1854, in Maysville, Kentucky. His early education was in the public schools of his native town and continued at an academy conducted by W. W. Richerson, one of the most distinguished educators in northeastern Kentucky. In 1870, he marticulated in Centre College at Danville, Kentucky, from which he received an A. B. in 1873 and a M.A. in 1878. Cochran entered Harvard Law School in 1874 graduated, cum laude, with an LL.B. degree in 1877. On October 13, 1877, Cochran was admitted to the Kentucky Bar and joined the Maysville law firm of Barbour & Cochran, which existed until 1882. When Mr. Barbour retired, the firm continued under the name of Cochran & Son. After his father retired, Cochran joined W. H. Wadsworth in forming the Maysville law firm of Wadsworth & Cochran. They became the general counsel for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company. In addition to his legal practice, Cochran was president of three companies: Maysville Street Railway & Transfer Company; the Maysville Gas Company, and the Maysville Cotton Mills Company. He also succeeded his father as vice-president of the Bank of Maysville. On April 24, 1901, the Senate was not in session when President William McKinley appointed Cochran as the first district judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. After McKinley's assassination, President Theodore Roosevelt renominated him on December 5, 1901, and the Senate confirmed him on December 17, 1901. After thirty-three years on the court, Judge Cochran died on June 12, 1934. Before his appointment to the bench, Judge Cochran was affiliated with the Republican Party. Fraternally, he was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Beta Theta Pi. He was a member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Maysville. He was a director of the Danville Theological Seminary and was a trustee of his alma mater, Centre College. On May 24, 1882, Cochran married Lucy B. McElory, daughter of John McElroy, a prominent farmer of Marion County, Kentucky, and his wife Lou Ellen (Skiles) McElroy.7 The Cochrans were the parents of three children: John McElroy Cochran, Harriet Francis (Cochran) Duke, and Robert Armstrong Cochran. Judge Cochran died on June 12, 1934.8