Mordecai Cochran and Susanna Welch

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Husband Mordecai Cochran ^{1 2}

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           Born: 8 Oct 1797 - Tyrone Twp, Fayette Co, PA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 29 Dec 1880 1 2
         Buried: 

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         Father: Samuel Cochran (1750-1837) 1 2
         Mother: Esther Johns (      -1802) 1

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       Marriage: 

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Wife Susanna Welch ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 12 Aug 1874 3
         Buried: 

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Children

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1 F Esther Cochran ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 1872 3
         Buried: 

         Spouse: R. Q. Fleming (      -      ) 3

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2 M Alexander C. Cochran ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 30 May 1873 3
         Buried: 

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3 M James W. "Big Jim" Cochran ^{1 3}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 20 Apr 1888 3
         Buried: 

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4 M Lutellas Cochran ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 25 Sep 1892 3
         Buried: 

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5 F Mary Ann Cochran ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 30 Apr 1925 3
         Buried: 

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6 F Margaret Cochran ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: George W. Strickler (      -      ) 3

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7 F Melinda Cochran ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1926
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Hugh S. Darsie (      -      ) 3

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8 F Catherine D. Cochran ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1926
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Jacob Harris (      -      ) 3

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9 F Alice C. Cochran ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef 1926
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Isaac N. Beighley (      -      ) 3

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10 M Mark Mordecai Cochran ¹

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           Born: 13 Jul 1854 - Fayette Co, PA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Emma J. Whitsett (      -1893) 3

         Spouse: Mary Schell (      -      ) 3

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General Notes: Husband - Mordecai Cochran

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In spite of the rather scant educational opportunities of that early day, Mordecai Cochran got a fair education, and he was endowed with a strong and original mind. He foresaw the commercial importance of coke to the whole region. He was the first man to engage in the manufacture of Connellsville coke in the Bee Hive Coke ovens, near Dawson, Pennsylvania, on the Youghiogheny River. The first to introduce it to the Cincinnati market, Mordecai Cochran, assisted by his nephews, Sample and James Cochran, in 1843 floated two boats loaded with coke to Cincinnati. Being submitted to tests and proving satisfactory, the coke was sold to Miles Greenwood, a prominent foundry owner of Cincinnati. Thus its commercial value was established, and the man who believed in it with his heart and soul returned to its quantity manufacture. The result justified his dreams, and the industry brought millions of dollars to the Connellsville region. Mr. Cochran soon purchased a tract of land on the Youghiogheny River, where he erected four ovens, the beginning of what later became known as the Sterling Mines below Broad Ford, Tyrone Township. After operating these ovens continuously until 1868, Mr. Cochran sold them to his sons, James W., Alexander, and Lutellas, who admitted W. H. Brown of Pittsburgh into partnership, enlarged the original plant, and in 1871 built a large coke plant on Hickman Run called Jimtown in honor of the managing parter, James W. Cochran. At that time their plants, the "Sterling" and "Jimtown," were the largest coke manufacturing plants in the United States. Owing to the death of two of the partners, Alexander C. Cochran and W. H. Brown, the firm was dissolved in 1879, though James Cochran and his brothers, Sample, Isaac, and John, nephews of Mordecai Cochran, continued in the business that brought fame and fortune to the family.

Besides the ten children listed, he and his wife had three who died in infancy.

1 Franklin Ellis, History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1882), Pg 788.

2 George P. Donehoo, Pennsylvania - A History (SW) (New York, NY; Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1926), Pg 243.

3 George P. Donehoo, Pennsylvania - A History (SW) (New York, NY; Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1926), Pg 244.