Biographical Sketch of

Robert Cochrane

Transcribed by Barbara Voss


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 459 - 460

Hon. Robert Cochrane of Westfield is one of the well known pioneers of Marquette County and the founder of the village 
in which he now makes his home. In the month of September 1849, he and his brother H.B. Cochrane landed in Marquette 
County. There were then no residences between Westfield and Montello and between the former place and Packwaukee. Little 
or no evidence was given of the vast and rapid changes which were so soon to take place transforming the county from a 
wild and unsettled wilderness to its present advanced position. The first house erected on the present plat of Westfield 
was built by the Cochrane brothers in the winter of 1849. It was a log structure and continued to be their home until 
1850. They also erected the following summer the first saw mill in Marquette County. That building is still standing and 
has been in use until within a short time. After forty years the frame work and the shingles of the roof are still in a 
good state of preservation, though other parts are fast giving way to decay. About 1853 one of the first gristmills of 
Marquette County was built by Robert and H.B. Cochrane on the site of their present mill but was burned down four years 
ago and in 1886 was replaced by our subject with a fine roller mill which he still owns and operates. His brother left 
Westfield a number of years ago and is now residing on a farm near Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Believing that the vicinity in 
which he located would be an excellent place for a town, Robert Cochrane laid out the original plat to which he gave the 
name of Westfield in honor of his birthplace. Since then he has made an addition called the central addition to the 
village plat of Westfield. That village certainly owes its existence to our subject, for no man has so long and earnestly 
labored for its upbuilding and advancement. He has identified himself with all of its interests, including, social, moral, 
educational and business enterprises and has made it the thriving little village which it today is. He was there engaged 
in merchandising for some time in the early days but has devoted the greater part of his attention to milling and the 
lumber trade.

We know the history of the life of this gentleman will be of interest to the readers of this Album so we subjoin the 
following brief sketch. He was born in the town of Westfield, Chautauqua Co., N.Y., on April 22, 1822 and is a son of 
Robert and Jane (Law) Cochrane, who were early settlers of the Empire State and were both of Scotch Irish descent. They 
continued to reside in the town of Westfield until their death. They were the parents of eleven children, six sons and 
five daughters, all of whom grew to mature years with the exception of one daughter. Eight members of that family are 
still living. The youngest son now owns and operates the old homestead in the State of New York. The two eldest sons, 
John and H.B. reside near Beaver Dam, Wisconsin; Robert is the third in order of birth; James is living in the village 
of Waupun; and William is the youngest son. Two of the sisters are residents of Westfield, while the other is living in 
the town of Ripley, Marquette County.

Thomas L. was the first of the family to leave the Empire State and emigrate to the West. H.B. settled temporarily in 
Joliet, Ill., in 1842. In May 1843 Robert followed his brother, he also going to Joliet. He was then twenty one years of 
age. He left home with but $3 in his pocket and worked his passage around the Great Lakes from Buffalo to Chicago. On his 
arrival in the latter city he found that he had but 25 cents remaining but he continued on his way to Joliet, where he and
his brother worked at whatever they could find to do, including the teaching of schools, which Robert followed during the 
winter season for several years. In 1845, they went to Waupun, Wisconsin and made a claim which now constitutes the farm 
of their brother John. Building a house they made their home in that community for some time but later came to Westfield 
but even after their arrival in this county, continued to work their land in Illinois for a considerable time. We have 
before given an account of how they laid out the village and established many of its leading industries, and how after 
some years H.B. removed to Beaver Dam, but our subject continued to make his home in that village.

In Westfield, Robert Cochrane was united in marriage with Miss Lucy Emerton, a native of New Hampshire. Unto them have 
been born five children four of them are now living, namely: Jennie E., wife of Leonard Hettinger; A. Lucy, Robert L. 
and T. Harry. A number of years ago, for the purpose of securing better opportunities for the education of his children, 
Mr. Cochrane purchased a fine home in Portage City to which his family removed. They there now reside but the husband 
and father spends the greater part of his time in Westfield, superintending his large business interests in that place.

In his political affiliations, Mr. Cochrane is a Democrat. He has served as a member of the County board of Supervisors 
and in 1864 was elected and served as a member of the General Assembly of the State. He was also Director and the first 
President of the railroad built from Stevens Point to Portage. Truly Mr. Cochrane may be called a self made man. We have 
previously mentioned the small capital with which he had to begin life, the sum of $3, yet he is now numbered among the 
wealthy citizens of this community. His success is due alone to his energy, industry and determination, and is the reward 
of perseverance. 






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