John Cochran was the name of John L.Cochran's father. He was born in Augusta county, Va., in 1793. He was a merchant in early life and in 1826 came to Charlottesville, where he carried on the merchandise trade until 1860, retiring from the business at that date. He was a magistrate and member of the old county court in Albemarle county for several years. In politics, he was a Henry Clay whig all his life. In October, 1826, he was married to Miss Margaret Lynn, daughter of Capt. John Lewis of Sweet Springs, W. Va., and eight children were born to them, seven of whom came to maturity as follows: John Lewis, James C, who was in the Confederate service and was colonel of the regiment of militia when it was called out in Augusta, where he now resides; Dr. Henry King, who served as surgeon in the Confederate army throughout the war; Howe Peyton, who was captain of the ordnance department in the field in the Confederate service all through the war, and now living at Charlottesville, superintendent of public schools; William Lynn (deceased in 1883), was a lawyer and at one time mayor of Charlottesville; he was also a major in the quartermaster's department in the Confederate service, taking a position in that department on account of his physical condition, being a cripple; and George Moffett Cochran (deceased in 1886). The lastnamed was a private in Gen. J. E. B. Stuart's command, entering the service when about sixteen years of age; and Mary Lewis, who married her kinsman, Capt. John M. Preston, and resides at Seven Mile Fork, Smyth county, Va. There were 105 of the Lewis family, including the subject ot this sketch, his brothers, his father's and mother's nephews and grandnephews, in the Confederate service. John L. Cochran's father died in 1884, and his mother in 1882. His grandfather's name was James Cochran, born in Augusta county in 1768. He was a farmer all his life, though educated for the ministry. He was a presiding magistrate in Augusta county twice and succeeded to the office of high sheriff. He married Magdalen Moffett, daughter of George Moffett of Augusta county, a colonel in the Revolutionary war. To them were born four children, named James (deceased); George M., deceased in 1890 at the age of ninety-two years;
