Cochran Family of Apollo, Pennsylvania

Can you help to identify any of these Cochrans?

Links to More Cochran Family and Nellie Bly Information

Nineteen great-granddaughters of Robert Cochran (who came to the US from County Derry, Ireland, and died in 1814) and Catherine Risher Cochran (who may have been born in 1783 in Baltimore, MD, and died after 1830 near Apollo, PA) gathered in about 1892 for this photograph. The Robert and Catherine Cochran family lived near Apollo, Armstrong County, PA, first in Hannastown (Westmoreland County), then Crawford’s Mills. After Robert Cochran's death, Catherine Risher Cochran moved to Warren, PA (later renamed Apollo). She is listed in the first separate assessment list of the town of Warren (then in Allegheny township) in 1830 thus: Catherine Cochran, lot No. 34, 1 house, 1 head of cattle, $31.

All these women are either nieces or cousins of the pioneer woman journalist Nellie Bly (Elizabeth Cochrane Seaman), b. May 5, 1864, d. January 27, 1923. Please use the links at left to see more information about Nellie Bly and other Cochran family members.

I know the names of most of the women in the photograph, but can only match a few to their photos. My great-grandmother is Cora Catherine Cochran (Henry), seated in the center row, second from the right. To exchange Cochran information, please email me at gapehenry@att.net Thanks to Deborah Dougherty and Fred Dougherty, Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Belle Cochran Dougherty has been identified as the woman in the top row, third from the right.

Thanks to Bill and Joanne Fried of Pennsylvania, I believe we have identified the three women on the lower left side of the photo. The baby in the lower left corner is probably Beatrice McLaughlin, being held by Elizabeth McLaughlin in the white dress, with Grace McLaughlin seated above Elizabeth.

Daughters of Mildred Cochran and Robert M. McLaughlin:
Elizabeth McLaughlin (Wright) b. October 26, 1874, d. January 8, 1952 (lived in Pittsburgh)
M. Grace McLaughlin b. 1878, d. 1951
Beatrice McLaughlin b. 1890, d. June 24, 1923

According to information attached to the back, the other women in the photgraph include:

Daughters of Major Thomas Alva Cochran and Martha M. Jackson Cochran:
Stella M. Cochran (married Charles Bollinger), b. 1867, d. after 1939 (lived in Apollo)
Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Belle Cochran (married Joseph T. Dougherty), b. August 4, 1871, d. July 1955 (lived in Sharon, PA; buried in Indiana, PA) - top row, third from right
Effie Thryza Cochran (married John Hamilton), b. 1873, d. July 9, 1964 (lived in Greensburg, PA)
Anna Mary Cochran (married Boyd van Doren Fullerton), b. 1875 (lived in New Jersey)
Margaretta Keziah ‘Rhetta’ Cochran (married William M. Biehl), b. 1877 (lived in Los Angeles, CA)

Daughters of Robert Scott Cochran and Mary Hart Cochran:
Cora Catherine Cochran (married Thomas J. Henry), b. November 11, 1861, d. July 10, 1895
Gertrude Blanche Cochran (married Francis E. Henry), b. December 21, 1866, d. after 1921
Margaret Mabel Cochran (married John Carnahan), b. September 6,1877, d. after 1955

Daughters of William M. Cochran and Mary Alcorn Cochran:
Carrie Cochran (married Ambrose Shaver), b. 1862
Jennie Gertrude Cochran (married James Cooley), b. 1868
Minnie E. Cochran (married Garrett Dawson), b. 1870
Lizzie L. Cochran (married Thomas Rupert), b. 1872 (no children)
Hattie Mabel Cochran (married J. Paul Allen), b. 1874, d. after 1931

Daughters of ‘Gilmore’ Cochran (my records have his name as John Gilmer Cochran) and Margaret Hart Cochran (sister of Mary Hart Cochran, above):
Laura B. Cochran (married Robert R. Moore), b. 1859, d. after 1924
Mina Cochran (married David A. Rosensteel), b. 1864, d. July 13, 1941 (lived in Apollo)
Eva (Effie) M. Cochran, b. 1865, d. 1888 (no children, lived in Apollo)
Jeanette M. ‘Nettie’ Cochran (married William S. Beamer), b. 1874, d. after 1927
Elsie E. Cochran (married Arthur Lloyd), b. Sept. 12, 1866, d. May 8, 1937 (no children, lived in Apollo)
Ula Della Cochran, b. 1868, d. Feb. 4, 1917 (no children, lived in Apollo)

Other great-granddaughers, who are most likely not pictured, include:
Daughters of Angeline Cochran and Joseph McKee (click here for photo):
Mary Jane McKee (Cable)
Anna McKee (Walter)
Emma McKee (married Henry K. Veder)
Ella McKee (Renners)
and
Hattie Davis (Thom/Tomb?) (lived in Philadelphia, PA)
Ella Catherine Shoemaker (married Morrow McAlister), b. November 14, 1863, d. January 15, 1924
Mary Alice Shoemaker (married Isaac Ridenour), b. November 14, 1863, d. July 9, 1893
Clara Belle Shoemaker (married Henry McCormick), b. 1866, d. 1918
Mildred May ‘Minnie’ Shoemaker (married W. S. Fiscus), b. 1864, d. after 1921
Margaret Shoemaker (married D. H. Brown)
Grace Shoemaker
Belle Hill (Knepshield) (lived in Leechburg, PA)
Unknown Daughter of Margaret I. Cochran and Joseph Spang
Olive (Eliza?) Cochran (lived in Leechburg, PA)
Alice K. Cochran (married David Beatty), b. December 16, 1860, d. before 1925
? 5 daughters of Peggy Wilson and Joseph Miller (two married Wolfe brothers, one married -- Mainor)
Gertrude Cochran (married George Bruce Agey), b. 1888, d. May, 1979
Beatrice K. Kountz (Brown), b. 1883, d. after 1921

For more information, check these links:

Please contact me with any information about this Cochran family at the following address: gapehenry@att.net.

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