BIOGRAPHY OF DR. ARCHELAUS M. COCHRAN
Archelaus Madison ("Arch") Cochran, a pioneer
settler of Dallas County, Texas, was the second son of
William M. Cochran and Nancy Jane Hughes.
This biography of Dr. Cochran was published in
Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas (1892).*
Bracketed matter was added.
DR. A. M. COCHRAN, one of the early settlers of Dallas county, was born in Murray [Maury] county, Tennessee, December 25, 1839, the second son of William M. and Nancy Jane (Hughes) Cochran, natives of North and South Carolina respectively. In 1843 the parents emigrated to Dallas county, Texas, where the father held the office of County Clerk, being the first clerk of the county, and was also the first Representative to the Legislature. He died in this county, in 1853, forty-six years of age, and the mother survived him some years, dying in 1878, aged fifty-nine years. On the paternal side the family are of Irish descent, and on the maternal side of Welsh and English descent. Grandfather John Cochran served in the Revolutionary war from South Carolina.
The subject of this sketch came to Dallas at the age of four years, where he received the advantages of the common schools, and also attended McKenzie college. After leaving school he took a medical course at the university of Louisiana, at New Orleans, after which he engaged immediately in the practice of medicine in Dallas county. In 1861 Mr. Cochran enlisted in the Eighteenth Texas Cavalry, as Third Lieutenant of Company C, was afterward promoted to First Lieutenant and later as Captain. He was appointed as Adjutant General of the militia of Texas by General Magruder near the close of the war. He served in Texas, Louisiana and Tennessee, and was in the battles of Arkansas Post, Cotton Plant, and was taken prisoner at the former battle, and confined at Camp Chase, Ohio. After the close of the war Dr. Cochran returned to this county and engaged in the practice of his profession, and in 1866 he was elected to the State Legislature from Dallas county, continuing in that capacity one year. He was afterward elected Alderman from the city, and again from the Second Ward, and in 1879 he was appointed Postmaster of Dallas, Texas, by President Hayes and served during his administration. In 1881 he was elected Chairman of the Republican State Executive Committee by the State Republican Convention at Dallas, serving two years. In 1883 he engaged in the internal revenue business, and in 1886 was the Republican nominee for Governor of Texas, and made a canvas of the State. In the spring and summer of 1887, he canvassed the State of Texas in the interests of the anti-Prohibitionists. In 1887, he was called by the anti-Prohibitionists of Atlanta, Georgia, to canvass their city and county, which he did, and in 1889 returned to the internal revenue business, in which he is now connected. In 1890 Mr. Cochran was nominated by Governor Ross and appointed by President Harrison as Commissioner of the Columbian Exposition from the State of Texas.
He was married in Dallas county, February 22, 1866, to Miss Laura A. Knight, a native of this county, and a daughter of O. W. and Serena (Hughes) Knight, natives of Tennessee. The parents were married in their native State, and afterward emigrated to Dallas county, settling near Cedar Springs, where the mother still resides, the father having died a few years ago. Mrs. Cochran died in December, 1870, leaving one child, Mamie M. Mr. Cochran was again married, January 11, 1871, to Mrs. Mary A. Collins, a native of Washington county, Arkansas, and a daughter of William and Cynthia (Thomas) Jenkins, natives of Tennessee. The father, a farmer and saddler by occupation, moved from St. Louis, Missouri, to Washington county, Arkansas, in an early day, and in 1845 to Dallas county, settling on a farm north of the city. Her father, William Jenkins, was the first Sheriff of Dallas county, Texas. His death occurred in November, 1871, aged fifty-four, and the mother is still living, at the old homestead, at the age of seventy-six years. Mrs. Cochran has one child living by her former marriage, Frank Terry Collins. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran have had three children,—William M., B. Porter, and A. M.
Mrs. Dr. Cochran is now National Lady Manager from the State of Texas to the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893. She has attended two meetings, at present writing. Her selection is a most excellent and satisfactory one, and shows the wisdom of the Commission from whom she received the appointment.
*Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas (Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892), pp. 669–70. His portrait and signature appear between pages 668 and 669. This book is available online here.