J. Henry Cochran's Unique History In Lycoming County

Harrisburg PA

21 April, 2022

8:26 PM

Description

NorthCentralPA.com April 21, 2022 J. Henry Cochran was a burly man whose impact on Pennsylvania and the Lycoming County region has lasted long after his death in 1911. Cochran owned a home on the corner of Fourth Street and Pine. He was a former state senator, a banker, and beloved member of the community. In the century since his death, he is still remembered most for his namesake: Cochran Primary School on Cherry Street. The first time Cochran made his mark in Lycoming County can be traced to within days of April 15, 1865. He came to the region to pursue a career in the lumber industry. Raftsmen on the Susquehanna On Sunday, April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered at the Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, to Union General Ulysses S. Grant and the Civil War came to an end. On Good Friday, April 14, 1865, while attending a play at Ford's Theater, President Abraham Lincoln was shot by Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth. Word of the president's death reached Lycoming County in the days to follow. According to the Harrisburg Gazette, on Dec. 6, 1911, Cochran and several other raftsmen were transporting logs along the Susquehanna River when an unknown person came out of the woods and "shouted to the raftsmen that President Lincoln had been shot." However, "a burly raftsman…expressed satisfaction with the awful crime." Cochran was not happy about that and took matters into his own hands. "(No) sooner (had he) uttered his brutal remark, when (J. Henry Cochran) was upon him and hurled him into the swift current," a newspaper writer said. The unkind raftsman was "pulled aboard and half drowned; only after he had apologized." Cochran, at the time, was a burly 20-year-old man, who had come to Williamsport, three years earlier. He was born on Jan. 18, 1865 in New Brunswick, Canada. His family then moved to Calais, Maine, where he was educated. According to the 1911 Harrisburg Gazette article, "At the age of 17, he came to Pennsylvania and was hired to work in the lumber regions. It is interesting to note that Mr. Cochran walked the greater part of the distance from Maine to Williamsport—then a small lumber town." Ambitions As he continued to work for the lumber industry, Cochran was asked to travel to Wisconsin to scout for timber. He had taken a Native American guide with him. Cochran "plunged into the forest and for weeks traveled through the wilderness of big trees picking out the best tracts. His Indian guide was frequently carried over streams on the shoulders of the powerful young lumberman and (the guide) was visibly impressed with his tremendous strength," according to the Harrisburg Gazette. While wandering around the woods of Wisconsin they came to a camp with other American Indians in the midst of an athletic tournament. "Cochran watched the wrestling, running, jumping and other events and when one big chief was declared the champion, (the guide) induced Cochran to engage the champion." The champion was beaten by Cochran but then "the Indians wanted to make Cochran the big chief of the federated tribes, but he had other ambitions and declined." One of his ambitions was Avis Ann Rouse, whom he married on July 17, 1870 in Maine. He then returned to Williamsport to pursue his other ambitions. According to the Pennsylvania State Senate website, it was the "lumber business (that) commanded his interests for many years, but in 1883 he became a director of the Lycoming National Bank of Williamsport." Pursuing elected office In 1894, according to Bloomsburg's Columbian Nov. 9 newspaper, "J. Henry Cochran, Democratic Candidate for State Senator, was elected over C. E. Geyer, Republican, by about 2,700. His majority in this county is 1,316; Lycoming gives him 781; Montour about 300, and Sullivan 250." In July 13, of that year, the Columbian newspaper said, "Those who have worked with him at one time or another, are to be found in almost every community in the lumbering districts of the State, and none can be found who would not testify to his uniform fairness, and to his extreme liberality in time of need." He still kept his interests in Williamsport. In 1887, Cochran, along with two other men, "formed the banking firm of Cochran, Payne & McCormick." which was "incorporated as the Northern Central Trust Company" in 1909. The state senate site mentioned that "Mr. Cochran was identified with many corporations, being president and director of the Susquehanna, Bloomsburg & Berwick Railroad Company, the Pittsburgh, Westmoreland & Somerset Railroad Company, the Lycoming Improvement Company, Lycoming Electric Company, Edison Electric Company… (and the) Byers Allen Lumber Company." Cochran was also involved with "various street-car lines as well as a number of land and other companies." He also "served as president of the Williamsport Board of Trade for several years." In that time, he and his family purchased the Rosegill Plantation near Urbanna Virginia, where he and his family would go to vacation and relax. He continued on in a professional and political capacity. According to reports, he even became a trusted advisor to President Grover Cleveland... NorthcentralPa.com provides the region with reliable, relevant, and real-time news, covering weather, community news and events, crime, police activity, local, regional, and national alerts, and PennDOT-reported road construction and conditions. We report on local and regional politics, offer a platform for nonprofits to report their news and events, and share obituaries. Scanner reports let readers know what's happening outside their homes the minute it happens.