Cochran, Thomas, 1871-1936

Thomas Cochran, Jr., was born July 31, 1843, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the fourth of seven children of James Blair Cochran (1799-1858), who immigrated in 1819 from Kirkcudbright, Scotland, and Catherine Baylis (1816-1849).

In 1852 Cochran attended the City Academy of Brooklyn, then graduated from the Brooklyn Polytechnic School (1859). He then entered New York University and was awarded his degree June 15, 1863. During the Civil War, Cochran joined the Seventh Regiment of New York Volunteers, the so-called "Kid Glove" regiment comprised of young men from prominent New York City families. He never left New York as he suffered from tuberculosis. He then attended and graduated from Columbia Law School (fall 1863-May 17, 1865). Later that year he and his younger brother Samuel (1845-1869) sailed to San Francisco via Cape Horn, also visiting the Pacfic Northwest.

In autumn 1866 Cochran joined the New York law office of Man and Parsons, where he apprenticed with Elihu Root (future Secretary of State under President Theodore Roosevelt.) In November 1867 he married Emilie Belden Walsh (1844-1924), whose family had long since established itself in the hardware business in New York City. In 1869 the couple moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, to alleviate Thomas's poor health. He established himself in the real estate business with his college friend (and Emilie's brother) James R. Walsh and in the insurance business with Henry H. Sibley, Minnesota's first governor. The family joined the House of Hope Church, with Thomas serving as an elder and teacher. In 1870 he was elected a lifelong member of the Minnesota Historical Society, and in the 1880s and 1890s he served as a trustee of Macalester College (St. Paul, Minnesota).

Cochran was very active in the early international YMCA movement, joining in 1863 and attending its 1889 international convention in Philadelphia. He had a reputation as a strong and effective public speaker who, in July 1891, spoke out against a prizefight scheduled in St. Paul. He was so effective in organizing opposition that Governor Merriam was forced to cancel the event. Cochran was also instrumental in the progressive development of St. Paul's Summit Avenue and Midway district and actively supported the St. Paul City Railway in establishing the first electrified rail transportation system from Victoria Street to Cretin Avenue.

His businesses survived the economic panic of 1893-1898 and around 1899 he created the Northwestern Investment Company, Inc., specializing in "Mortgage Loans, Real Estate, Insurance." In 1906 his company was involved in a loan of $500,000 to George D. Dayton, founder of the Dayton Department Store chain.

Thomas and Emilie raised six children at 59 Western Avenue, St. Paul: Alexander Robertson (1869-1893); Thomas III (1871-1936); Emily (1872-1924), who remained unmarried throughout her life and who, against her family's wishes, converted to Catholicism with the support of Archbishop John Ireland; Williams (1876- ), who joined the Thirteenth Minnesota Regiment and fought under General Arthur MacArthur in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War, and who later married Theodora von Duhn (1898- ); Moncrieff Mitchell (1879-1931), who married Margaret Turner Davis (1881- ); and Louise (1881-1968), who married Arthur Harold Savage (1872-1933?).

Thomas Cochran III (1871-1936) was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, but was soon sent east for his education, attending Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, before entering Yale College and graduating in 1894. While at Yale he established himself as something of a football player, suffering several injuries and going on the lecture circuit during fall 1894 to speak about "Foot-ball at Yale" and "Athletics up to date, Season 1894-95." However, Thomas III soon became a successful businessman, helped eliminate his father's debts accumulated during the depression of 1893-1898, and founded the Ardsley Hall Company (an investment firm) in New York City around 1904. By 1913 he was vice president of the Astor Trust Company, and in 1914 he became president of the Liberty National Bank of New York. In 1917 he was made a partner in the investment banking firms of J. P. Morgan and Co. and Drexel and Co. While his business and investments profited immensely and he became a wealthy man, Thomas III was also a generous and life-long supporter of Phillips Academy and several charities, and gave generously to his mother and siblings.

Thomas III married Martha Andrews Griffin (1871-1914) in September 1910. They had one child, Emmy Lous, who died the day of her birth. Martha died in May 1914, and Thomas III remained a widower the rest of his life.

Biographical data on Thomas Cochran, Jr., was taken from James Wallace (1849-1939), Thomas Cochran: Man, Churchman, Citizen, Gentleman, and Friend, (St. Paul [?]: s. n. 1927); and James Hodge Callender, History and Genealogy of the Cochran Family of Kirkcudbright and New York, (New York: Private printing, 1932). Biographical data on Thomas Cochran III was taken from Claude M. Fuess (1871-1936), Thomas Cochran (Andover, Mass. [privately printed], 1937); and Who Was Who In America, volume 1: 1897-1942 (Marquis Publications, 1968).

From the guide to the Thomas Cochran and family papers., 1806, 1819, 1834-1940., (Minnesota Historical Society)