BIOGRAPHY OF RICHARD COX COCHRAN, M.D.
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ELLEN CHRISTINE (ANDERSON) COCHRAN
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ELLEN CHRISTINE (ANDERSON) COCHRAN
By: Norma Storrs Keating
© 6 June 2020- All rights reserved
© 6 June 2020- All rights reserved
Doctor Richard C. Cochran was an early resident and physician in Yorba Linda, California. He moved to town sometime in 1919 after his discharge from the US Army, which occurred on the 28th of December 1918. He remained in Yorba Linda for the rest of his life, serving the residents as the only doctor for several years. He married, built his home, and raised his family in the small Southern California rural community.
Richard Cox Cochran was born the 15th of December 1889 in Louisville,
Jefferson County, Kentucky. He was the eight child of John and Martha (Gallagher) Cochran. Both of his parents were native Virginians who had migrated westward, first to Eureka, Pleasants County, West Virginia where they married in 1870, then to Louisville, and finally to Los Angeles, California sometime between 1900 and 1909. Unfortunately, his father John Cochran died in November of 1909, shortly after their arrival, and was buried in Inglewood, California. |
When Richard registered for the draft on the 5th of June 1917 he gave his address as 1689 West 23rd Street in South Los Angeles. He was single, supporting his mother and attending medical school at the University of Southern California (USC). He was described as being slender, of medium height, with blue eyes and brown hair.
With World War I in full swing, Richard enlisted in the Army on the 8th of January 1918 and served until his discharge at the end of the year. The 1920 California Great Register of Voters and the 1920 US Census both report Richard Cox Cochran and his mother, Mrs. Mattie J. Cochran, residing in Precinct# 1 of Yorba Linda. The Census suggests that they are living in a hotel or boarding house on Main Street at that time. The 1922 City Directory has the first Yorba Linda listing for the Cochrans. Richard is reported to be a Physician and Surgeon living at 310 East Lemon Street with his widowed mother.
It was a June wedding for the good doctor and his sweetheart, Ellen. On the 30th of May 1922 the Los Angeles Evening Express Newspaper reported a marriage license was issued to Richard C. Cochran and Ellen C. Anderson. They were united one week later on the 7th of June in Whittier, California, by a Congregational minister at the home of Richard’s sister, Mrs. Rosie Reese. After a honeymoon in San Francisco and Yosemite National Park, they took up residence on Main Street in Yorba Linda. Ellen had been teaching in the Yorba Linda schools for a few years and both the Doctor and his bride were well known and liked in the small community.
Ellen was a first generation American. Both of her parents were from Sweden. At the age of 28 years, her father, Anders Herder (aka Andrew Harry) Anderson arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the 8th of March 1893 aboard the “Indiana” from Liverpool. Her mother, Hilma (aka Helen) Johnsson was 24 years old when she emigrated from Sweden to New York, New York. Ironically, she did so in July of the same year and aboard the same vessel!
The Anderson family were wanderers. Andrew and Helen were married in Cleveland, Ohio in 1896 but were in Greensboro, North Carolina by the 12th of March 1898 when their first child, Ellen Christine, was born. By November of 1903 they had traveled west to Pasadena, California where their last child, Lillian, was born. Sometime between Lillian’s birth and the US Census in May 1910, the Anderson’s separated and probably divorced. Ellen and her sister were living with their father in Riverside in 1910 and he is listed as “widowed.” However, since mother Hilma “Helen” Anderson did not pass away until 1951, it is likely he just used the term to avoid having to explain his marital status.
Richard and Ellen settled into life in Yorba Linda. He had a busy medical practice and she was involved in the local church and women’s organizations, as well as caring for their children. They continued to live on Main Street, although they did move from one residence to another in June of 1923, probably to make room for their growing family. Robert Lyle was born on the 7th of June 1923, followed by Donald Richard on the 2nd of June 1925. Unfortunately, their third child, a daughter, was born and died on the 19th of November 1926.
The Yorba Linda Star Newspaper front page headline on the 7th of May 1926 reads: “Dr. Cochran Plans New Office and House.” Indeed, the Cochran’s concluded the purchase of The Newmark Tract Lots 22, 23, and 24 in July of that year. By 1927 they were living in the new home they built, which also had a medical office attached to the garage. The building is still standing today. The current address is 4802 Olinda Avenue. The house was inherited by their son Robert. He owned it until September of 1996 when the executor of his estate sold the property.
Life was busy in the house on the corner of Lemon and Olinda. The two growing boys kept their parents “hopping”. They both attended school in Yorba Linda and were active in school and community activities. Robert joined the Boy Scouts and eventually became a scout leader as an adult. Donald enjoyed participating in school plays and singing in the choir. He was involved in several “productions” for local groups, such as the PTA and the Yorba Linda Woman’s Club. He made headlines in the Santa Ana Register in February 1942 when he was 16 years old. He was driving “a roadster” on Imperial Highway when he collided with a beverage truck.
World War II brought change to the Cochran household. As of December 1941, all men between the ages of 18-64 were required to register for the draft. Richard registered on the 27th of April 1942. At the age of 52, his brown hair was now grey but he still had the blue eyes and at five feet seven inches tall, he weighed 140 pounds. Robert’s draft card completed on the 30th of June that year reveals he was employed by the US Forest Service in Newhall, California. During the war he served in the US Marine Corps for three years in the Pacific. He returned home and was living with his parents in 1948.
Since he was only 17, Donald did not have to register. Instead, he enlisted in the Navy on the 30th of December 1942. By May of 1944 he was assigned to the USS Quapaw, a tug that acted as a support ship in the Pacific. The Quapaw was in the Philippines between the 25th of June 1945 and the 16th of June 1946. Donald died while in service there on the 20th of February 1946. His father requested and received a military tombstone for his son which reads “Donald R. Cochran/ California/ GM2c US NAVY/ WWII/ June 2, 1925-Feb. 20, 1946". He was buried at Loma Vista Memorial Park in Fullerton, California.
During the next few years Robert lived with his parents and attended school at Fullerton College and USC where he received an A.B. degree. Life changed again for Richard and Ellen when Robert married Amy Patricia (Marshall) Mason on the 10th of September 1950. He became a step-father to four teenage children from her previous marriage.
Although Robert continued to live nearby in Yorba Linda, Richard and Ellen now lived alone in their Yorba Linda home. He continued to keep busy with his medical practice and she was still involved with community group activities. When it became available, they both enrolled in the Social Security System. They watched as the City of Yorba Linda built a new, two story library across the street from them in 1960 and then incorporated as a city in 1967. And they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1972.
The good doctor was the first to leave the union when he passed away at the age of 89 years on the 31st of August 1979. Ellen followed on the 11th of October 1983 when she was in her 85th year. The doctor had treated countless numbers of patients and made his community safer by doing so. They had seen their small agricultural community of 300 citizens grow into a vibrant city of about 28,000 people. They had contributed in large and small ways to that growth. They had lived through two World Wars and they had raised two fine young men. They both had lived long and fruitful lives.
Resources for this article:
The Orange County, California Archives: legal description & history of the Cochran property
Wikipedia: general background information
FamilySearch.org
Ancestry.com
Find-a-Grave.com
Fold3.com
Newspapers.com
Fullerton Public Library History Room
Yorba Linda Public Library
US Department of Veteran’s Affairs
The Orange County, California Archives: legal description & history of the Cochran property
Wikipedia: general background information
FamilySearch.org
Ancestry.com
Find-a-Grave.com
Fold3.com
Newspapers.com
Fullerton Public Library History Room
Yorba Linda Public Library
US Department of Veteran’s Affairs
Records for this article:
The 1920 Great Register of Voters in California- Yorba Linda
California Birth/ Marriage/ Death Indexes
Social Security Death Index & Social Security Applications and Claims
World War I and World War II Draft Cards
Los Angeles District Court Record: Declaration of Intent #23-5733- Andrew Harry Anderson
North Carolina Birth Index
Cuyahoga County, Ohio Marriage Records
Ancestral File at FamilySearch.org
West Virginia Marriage Index
Yorba Linda City Directories:1913, 1919, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1948, 1969, 1975, 1980
The 1920 Great Register of Voters in California- Yorba Linda
California Birth/ Marriage/ Death Indexes
Social Security Death Index & Social Security Applications and Claims
World War I and World War II Draft Cards
Los Angeles District Court Record: Declaration of Intent #23-5733- Andrew Harry Anderson
North Carolina Birth Index
Cuyahoga County, Ohio Marriage Records
Ancestral File at FamilySearch.org
West Virginia Marriage Index
Yorba Linda City Directories:1913, 1919, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1948, 1969, 1975, 1980
Newspapers:
Yorba Linda Star: 1) 5 June 1923, pg. 1; 2) 7 May 1926, pg. 1
Los Angeles Evening Express: 30 May 1922, pg. 31
Whittier News :3 June 1922, pg. 3
The Tustin News : 1) 19 April 1956, pg. 7; 2) 15 May 1969, pg. 10
Santa Ana Register : 1) 25 February 1942, pg. 23; 2) 24 October 1928; 3) 31 December 1932;
4) 8 March 1932; 5) 28 March 1938
Yorba Linda Star: 1) 5 June 1923, pg. 1; 2) 7 May 1926, pg. 1
Los Angeles Evening Express: 30 May 1922, pg. 31
Whittier News :3 June 1922, pg. 3
The Tustin News : 1) 19 April 1956, pg. 7; 2) 15 May 1969, pg. 10
Santa Ana Register : 1) 25 February 1942, pg. 23; 2) 24 October 1928; 3) 31 December 1932;
4) 8 March 1932; 5) 28 March 1938
US Census Records:
1900 Smithville, Brunswick, NC: SD 3, ED 18, Pg. 18A, line 16, family 329-338
1910 Riverside, Riverside, CA: SD 8, ED 83, Pg. 12B, line 98, family279-290
1920 Yorba Linda Pct., Placentia Twp.,Orange Co., CA: SD 4, ED 361, Pg. 2B, line 45
1930 Yorba Linda, Fullerton Twp.,Orange Co.,CA: SD 20, ED 30-36,Pg. 38,line 45,family 81-68
1940 Yorba Linda, Fullerton Twp.,Orange Co.,CA: SD 19, ED 30-36, Pg. 1A, line 20, family 7
1900 Smithville, Brunswick, NC: SD 3, ED 18, Pg. 18A, line 16, family 329-338
1910 Riverside, Riverside, CA: SD 8, ED 83, Pg. 12B, line 98, family279-290
1920 Yorba Linda Pct., Placentia Twp.,Orange Co., CA: SD 4, ED 361, Pg. 2B, line 45
1930 Yorba Linda, Fullerton Twp.,Orange Co.,CA: SD 20, ED 30-36,Pg. 38,line 45,family 81-68
1940 Yorba Linda, Fullerton Twp.,Orange Co.,CA: SD 19, ED 30-36, Pg. 1A, line 20, family 7