Born August 22, 1829, in Highland county, Ohio. His parents moved to Benton county, Indiana, in 1845, and to Iowa November 3, 1855, and settled on the farm. He was the Republican candidate for Representative to the Legislature in 1880, a position he was well qualified to fill. He was married June 7, 1860, to Eliza E. Warnock. Mr. Cochran has been town assessor, clerk and county supervisor. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.