William A Cochran

WILLIAM A. COCHRAN, was born at Farmington, Iowa in 1842. In the spring of 1861 he moved with his parents to Kansas, and went to work, although he was but nineteen years of age, driving stage for the Overland Mail Company. In this he continued until the completion of the Union Pacific railway across the continent, in the spring of 1869. While he was in the employ of the Overland Stage Line he drove on five different divisions between Atchison and Salt Lake City. He also drove one winter in the '60's from Nebraska City to Saltello, seven miles south of Lincoln Nebraska. During the winter of 1864 he ran as "rough-locker" over Bridger's Pass, between Sulphur Springs and North Platte stations.

After leaving the Overland Stage Line, he drove on the Texas trail in the early '70's, and then retired to Missouri. His brother was Congressman Cochran, of St. Joseph, Missouri.

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