This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/IMJ.2ACEB/2240 Message Board Post: Hon. Thomas E. Cochran Mr. Cochran was the oldest son of Dr. Richard E. Cochran, of Columbia, and was born at Middletown, New Castle County, Del., March 13, 1813. His early education was thorough, including a full classical course. In 1821 his father and family moved to Columbia. He remained in Columbia until 1834, when, at the earnest solicitation of Thomas C. Hambly, he came to York to edit and publish the Republican, of which he had charge until 1853, though he continued to contribute to valuable editorial matter for publication to the literary and political world. During his editorial life he became a student at law with the late Hon. Charles A. Barnitz, and was admitted as a member of the York County bar on December 6, 1842. In 1840 he was elected to the State senate. Representing York and Lancaster Counties in the sessions of 1840-41-42-43. A writer of the day in referring to Mr. Cochran as senator, says: “Mr. Cochran is inferior in point of native talents to no man in the senate. This is admitted by his contemporaries, who are competent judges in these matters, for they speak of that which ‘they themselves do feel.’” In 1856 Mr. Cochran was the anti-Buchanan candidate for canal commissioner, and in 1860, was elected auditor-general and served until 1883. In 1872 he was a member of the State constitutional convention, in which body he was chairman of the committee on “railroads and canals” and a member of the committees on “accounts and expenditures” and on “printing and binding.” In 1860, 1864, 1868 he was a member of the Republican National Committee. Besides these pubic positions of honor, he performed the duties of many offices of trust, such as school director, etc. As an attorney, he distinguished himself not only in the courts of York County, but in various parts of the State. He was to the oldest member of the York County bar, Hon. R.J. Fisher being his senior. In 1860 he associated with him in the practice of law William Hay, Esq., his former law student, who continued to be his partner until the time of his death. In early life he connected himself with St. John’s Episcopal Church and served as vestryman for many years. On April 14, 1853, he married Miss Barnitz, a daughter of Gen. Jacob Barnitz, who was his bosom companion until the time of her decease, which occurred about four months before his decease. While Mr. Cochran was a prominent statesman and politician, and was one of the first to espouse the cause of the Republican party in this State, he was also prominently identified in various Christian and charitable enterprises. For many years he was a member of the York County Sunday school Executive Committee. He possessed great industry, energy and firmness of character, and was not easily driven from the course he believed to be right, nor forced from it when he determined that it was the path duty pointed out. And his judgment seldom led him astray. He left to survive him a son, Richard E. Cochran, Esq., a practicing member of this bar, and three daughters. Taken from the book, “History of York County, Illustrated 1886” by John Gibson, Historical Editor