Merritt C. Cochran was the son of Matthew (Matt) Cochran, 19 April 1814 - 24 January 1913 and Mira Cochran, 26 January 1826 - 25 July 1907. Matt and Mira were married 21 December 1844. (Some recordshave them listed as Madison Cockerham and Mira Cockerham). They are buried in the Cochran Cemetery, Swain Co. North Carolina on Alarka Creek. Merritt was born 27 December 1863 and died 6 July 1938. He is buried with his wife, Mary E. (Polly) Lowe Cochran in the Cochran Cemetery. Merritt and Mary were married in Swain County, North Carolina, 29 May 1884. Mary E. (Polly) was the daughter of Joshua and Lucinda Smith Lowe. Polly was born 27 June 1866 and died 17 January 1943. Ten children were born to this union and all reached maturity. They are as follows:1- A. Kimsey, 13 Feb. 1885- 17 Feb. 1970, married Addie Ledford, born 5 May 1887 and died 29 Dec. 1978. Daughter of William Isaac Ledford and Julia (Juilet) Woffard. Both are buried in the DeHart Cemetery (Jackson Line), Swain County, North Carolina. 2- Rev. J. Henry Cochran, born 8 Nov. 1886 and died 12 Dec. 1961, married Julie Bowers born 30 May 1894 died 13 Nov. 1970. Date of marriage: 12 Sept. 190? in Swain Co. N.C. Daughter of John W. Bowers and Sarah Higdon. Both are buried in the Brendle Cemetery, Swain Co. N.C. 3- Laura, born 18 Feb. 1889 and died 28 Feb. 1936, married 28 Dec. 1913 to Ace Fuller born 24 July 1888 and died 17 May 1941. Son of Stephen Thaddeus Fuller and Rebecca Bowers. Both are buried in the Cochran Cemetery, Swain Co. N.C. 4- Harrison Cochran, born in 1891, died ?. Married Lottie Higdon Fuller born in 1895 in Swain Co. N.C. Marriage: 14 Feb. 1914. 5- Sam Walter Cochran, born 13 March 1893, died 5 Feb. 1980. Married Lottie Brendle born 16 April 1896 and died 28 Feb. 1973. Daughter of George W. and Tennessee Adeline Junkins Brendle. Buried in the Brendle Cemetery, Swain, N.C. 6- John T. Cochran, born 10 May 1895 and died 29 Sept. 1918 in World War I, buried in the Cochran Cemetery, Swain Co. N.C. 7- Joe Richmond Cochran, born 24 Jan. 1897, died ?. Married 6 Oct. 1921 in Swain, Co. N.C. to Florence Bridges, born in 1903. Daughter of Rev. Calvin Bridges and Josephine Woodard. 8- Rev. Ben Cochran, born 10 May 1899 and died 4 Aug. 1961. Married 8 Feb. 1920 in Swain Co. N.C. to Sarah Bridges born 7 Sept. 1904 and died 15 March 1981. Daughter of Rev. Calvin Bridges and Josephine Woodard. Both are buried in the Brendle Cemetery, Swain Co. N.C. 9- Ed J. born 23 Sept. 1902 and died 24 March 1960. Married 10 Sept. 1922 in Swain Co. to Minnie Franklin born 10 Jan. 1904 and died 17 Sept. 1985. Both are buried in the Brendle Cemetery, Swain Co. N.C. 10- Lucy, born 19 Jan 1908 married 27 Sept. 1924 to Robert Bridges in Swain Co. Robert was born 28 Oct. 1905 and died 8 March 1963. Son of Rev. Calvin Bridges and Josephine Woodard. Robert is buried in the Brendle Cemetery in Swain Co. Lucy lives in Swain Co. N.C.
Sources: Swain Co. birth records, Marriage records, family history, and cemetery inscriptions. This article was entered in the Swain County Heritage Book, vol. 1 page 126, article 103 by Cora Lee Bridges and Annis L. Martin.
Kimsey Cochran was born February 13. 1885 and died February 17, 1970. he was the son of Merritt C. Cochran adn Mary E. Polly Lowe Cochran. He married Addie Ledford who was born May 5 , 1887 and died December 29, 1978. She was the daughter of William I Ledford and Julia "Juliet" Woffard Ledford.
Kimsey and Addie lived at Brooks Town on Alarka. Addie cooked for the loggers and Kimsey was a logger. Addie was a strong independaent woman who loved to fox hunt and fish. Once when she was fishing on the Fontana Lake she fell in, by the time Kinsey rescued her she had promised the Lord if he would just get her out she wouldn't go fishing anymore. It wasn't two weeks before Kimsey found her digging red worms to go fishing. "What are you doing, Addie, I thought you promised the Lord you wouldn't go fishing." "Shut up", she said. " The Lord knows I like to fish".
This is the generation of Kimsey and Addie Ledford Cochran: Florence Cochran married Coleman Green (both deceased). Children: John B. Green, Genieve G. Smith, Mildred G. Gunter, Hobert Greene, Marian G. Embler.
Eva Cochran married George Bowers (deceased). Children: Aleene B. Cochran, Roby Bowers, Norma Lee B. McGaha, Douglas Bowers, Bufford Bowers, Carolyn B. Herron Crain, Claudette B. Huffman, Annette B. Loftis.
Minnie Cochran married Thurman Barker and Alex Woods (both deceased). Children: Roy Barker, Ray Barker, Pearlene W. Seay, Lois W. Davis.
Bertha Cochran married Clyde Nations. Children: Clyde Nations Jr., Geraldine N. Gregory, Shirley N. McGaha, Max Nations, Hubert Nations, Youvon N. Ammons.
Emma Cochran married Olin Proctor. Children: McKinley Proctor (deceased), Hilda P. Fuller, Cleo P. Taylor, Ronald Proctor.
Cora Lee Cochran married William Claude Bridges. Children: Wendell Bridges, Harold L. Bridges married Virginia Martin Bridges. Children: Hannah B. Ogle and Victor M. Bridges. Terry B. Simonds Arvey, Rhonda Faye B. Bowers.
Roy Cochran married Juanita Earls. Children: Max Cochran, Peggy C. Brendle, Curtis Cochran, Connie C. Crisp, Shelia C. Bowers.
Ray Cochran, twin brother of Roy died in infancy.
Source: Family Records This article was entered in the Swain County Heritage Book, vol. 1 page 126, article 102 Written by: Cora Lee & Virginia Bridges
