Lambert Y. Cochrun
Lambert Y. Cochrun, the leading dry goods merchant and notion dealer, at Spencerville, belongs to one of the old-established families of the county. Mr. Cochrun was born in Allen County, Ohio, and is a son of Simon and Lucinda (Miller) Cochrun, a grandson of Wesley Cochrun and a great-grandson of Rev. Simon Cochrun.
Rev. Simon Cochrun was a very early settler of the county, one of the pioneer ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and had fought in the patriot army during the Revolutionary War. He was born about 1756 in Montgomery County, Kentucky, and very early in the `30's migrated to Ohio and settled in Allen County. Of his three sons, Wesley, the grandfather of our subject, entered land four miles north of the city of Lima, in 1832. He was born in Kentucky, in 1800, had served in the War of 1812, and at the age of 32 years was already a family man. He developed a fine farm from the wilderness, was a promoter of religion and education in his locality, and concluded a life of 85 years in useful service to his family and community. Their humble home of logs was one of good cheer and hospitality, as it was also the gathering place for the founders of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the locality, the whole family having been closely identified with its establishment. Seven of his children reached maturity, namely: John, Simon, William, Rebecca, Susan, Jane and Sarah. John Cochrun became a farmer in Franklin County, Ohio; Rebcca is deceased; Susan, widow of A. G. Pague, lived and died on the old Cochrun homestead; Jane became Mrs. West and removed to Texas, and Sarah became Mrs. McGuire and lived at Ada, Ohio.
Simon Cochrun, father of Lambert Y., was a man of native ability and acquired education. He was born in this county in 1822, and died at his home in Amanda township February 11, 1895. He became one of the leading educators of the county, teaching a number of years and training three of his sons to the profession. In 1855 he settled in Amanda township, where the remainder of his life was passed. He married Lucinda Miller, a daughter of William and Nancy Miller, who resided some two miles west of Cairo. Mrs. Cochrun survived her husband, and at the time of her death was a resident of Spencerville. The five children of this marriage were: James, a prominent business man and well-known citizen of Spencerville; Lambert Y.; William, who died at the age of 17 years; Elizabeth, who died when 22 years of age; and Jasper L., a farmer of Amanda township.
Lambert Y. Cochrun was carefully reared and well trained in agricultue on the home farm, where he lived until his 16th year. He passed creditably through the public schools; in 1869 completed a course at the National Normal School, at Lebanon, Ohio, and began teaching when 17 years of age. He thus continued for five years and then decided to enter into business. In the spring of 1875 he formed a partnership with Joseph August in the hardware and grocery business, which the firm continued for 18 months, when Mr. Cochrun withdrew and resumed teaching. In the spring of 1878 he reentered business, purchasing a stock of groceries and opening up in a small frame building, which has since been replaced by a business block of fine proportions. Having made a success of his grocery, he enlarged the scope of his enterprise by adding a line of boots and shoes, and was preparing to still further expand the establishment when the disastrous fire of 1884 destroyed both property and stock. In a very short time, however, he had completed the erection of his present two-story brick building, the second to be constructed of that material in Spencerville. He now has a commodious store, 26 by 90 feet in dimensions and equipped in modern style, as befits the leading dry goods emporium of the place. His well-selected stock would do credit to a city of much larger population than Spencerville, and Mr. Cochrun takes pride in the fact that he satisfies a very discriminating public. An excellent business man, his patrons find him also a courteous gentleman with whom it is a pleasure to deal.
On March 31, 1872, Mr. Cochrun was married to Margaret E. Berryman, who was born in Auglaize County, Ohio, July 9, 1852, and is a daughter of Russell and Elizabeth (Whetstone) Berryman. These children were vborn to this union, viz: Bert C., Carrie M., Jannette, Raymond R. and Frank W. All survive with the exception of Raymond F., who died aged six years. The family home, one of the most comfortable and attractive in the place, is also one of the most hospitable. The young people are all bright, intellectual, cultivated young Americans, who enjoy social pleasures with zest, and many literary programs have been carried out in their pleasant parlors. Mr. Cochrun and family are connected with the Baptist Church.
Mrs. Cochrun represents one of the old Ohio families. Tradition, well established, tells of the beginning of the Berryman family on American soil. Seven brothers of the name came from England, the names of the five preserved being John, James, George, William and Thomas. Prior to the Revolutionary War they emigrated to New Jersey, and from William Berryman have descended the Berrymans of Ohio. He had left England on account of religious persecution, afterward joining the patriot army and fighting under Washington. His death is not recorded, but as his family resided in New Jersey it is probable the he died in that State. One of his sons his namesake emigrated to Virginia, after the Revolutionary War, settling in the vicinity of Wheeling, whence he removed to Montgomery County, Ohio. He then settled on a farm near Dayton, and Subsequently removed to what afterward became Auglaize County, entering 200 acres of land in Logan township and residing upon it until his death in 1830. He joined a Virginia regiment in the War of 1812, and was buried in Amanda township.
William Berryman (2) married, in Virginia, Rachel Clauson, who was born in New Jersey. Wen she was a child her parents had emigrated to Virginia. These grandparents of Mrs. Cochrun reared five sons and four daughters the third son, Russell, becoming the father of Mrs. Cochrun. He was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, in 1815, and died January 9, 1878. When he came to Allen County with his parents he was seven years old. During his boyhood he spent much of his time with the Indians, so mastering the Shawnee tongue that he was able to talk fluently in it. His life was mainly passed on the homestead. Although a strong Democrat, he was not anxious for political preferment, the only office he ever accepted being that of director of the County Infirmary. He was married (first) to Margaret Slain, of West Virginia who died in 1846, leaving three sons and two daughters. His second wife was Elizabeth Whetstone, and Mrs. Cochrun is the fourth member of a family of five daughters and three sons.
Mr. Cochrun has always been an active and useful citizen. For two terms he served as corporation clerk; two terms as treasurer of Spencer township; 14 years as a member of the Board of Education, and its treasurer for eight years; one term as township clerk, and six years as a member of the Town Council.