Add more Cochrans to the list

In response to my two articles on the Cochran family, I received an e-mail last week from someone who turned out to be my first triple-cousin. And she lives right here in Fayette County. That certainly was a pleasant surprise.

Sara Smith of Peachtree City wrote of her Cochran ancestor, Sarah Cochran,b. Jan, 13. 1835, to Eli and Mary Ann Griffin Cochran. Sarah died March 22,1926 and is buried at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Villa Rica (Carroll Co.).

Sarah Cochran was married first to Darling Sikes who was killed in Virginiain 1864 during the Civil War. She later married Nathan Stallings, my Sara Smith's great-grandfather.

Nathan and Sarah Cochran Stallings had a daughter, Eliza, who married John Conner. John and Eliza Stallings Conner1s son,

William Nathan "Billy" Conner, married Ora Estelle Payne, daughter of George Washington and Lula Beatrice Noles Payne, and therein lies my connection to Sara Smith.

Ora Estelle Payne1s father, George Washington Payne, was the son of Fleming Caleb Payne and Fleman Luella Williams. Fleming Caleb Payne was the twin brother of my great-grandfather, Joseph Joshua Payne. That's one connection.

Lula Beatrice Noles was the daughter of Pollie Ann McWhorter and William D. Noles. Pollie Ann, was the sister of my great-grandfather, William Leroy McWhorter who married Eliza J. Wren. That's two connections.

Lula Beatrice Noles also was the granddaughter of Susan Griffis Noles (William Dennis Noles' mother) and Susan was the daughter of Mary Ann Wren, who we feel 99 percent certain was the sister of my GGgrandfather,William Wren ... or "Billie Rynn," if you will. I'm still chuckling over that one.

After I really got into this genealogy business, I realized that my family lines, like many others, resemble a big pot of spaghetti noodles. They turn and twist and intertwine so much that you can hardly keep them straight.

I'm meeting with Sara sometime this week and we're going to share family information. She has all the Sikes and Stallings children of Sarah Cochran

Sikes Stallings and I look forward to unraveling more family mysteries.

The other Cochran response came from Shirley Ham McCallum of Covington who is seeking information on her grandfather, a Cochran, given name unknown.

Shirley's story is a sad one, but not uncommon during those days of hard times. Her grandfather placed his four children in homes of relatives following the death of his wife (name also unknown) and disappeared.

Shirley's mother's name was Exie Mae Cochran, b. Feb. 9, 1902, the oldest of four siblings, Myrtle Cochran, Ida Cochran and George Cochran. Shirley tells the story better, herself. She writes:

"I read your recent articles in the south side paper concerning the Cochran family and was wondering if you had any info on my mother's father.

" My mother was born in 1902 and raised in the old Campbell county area. Her mother died when she was approximately 8 or 9 years of age and her father abandoned four children. My mother ultimately went to live with an older aunt and uncle (supposedly in the same area) while her siblings went to orphanages, etc.

"Due to the quality of her childhood, my mother rarely talked of her mother or father and as the surviving children, we don't actually even know her mother and father's given name. Some seem to think father was Gene and mother was Ollie but no one is sure of this info.

"Later in life, my mother taught school in the old one room school house in the approximate time frame of 1920. Mother passed away in May, 2000 at the age of 99 and now we, as surviving children are just interested to know if perhaps her father was in the area during all the years she never knew where he was. Several attempts to locate him were unsuccessful in previous years.

Not particularly interested in the complete lineage of this family, just curious as to where her father might have been during her childhood years and if he might have shown up in your research of this family. Mother married Joseph William Ham in approximately 1923.

"Thanks for any response, Shirley Ham McCallum, Covington."

More correspondence with Shirley revealed that she had searched the 1910 census for her mother but, since she did not know the name of the aunt and uncle, it was a nearly impossible task to find her. She could have been with her parents or with the aunt and uncle during that year. Shirley adds that since her mother's childhood was most unpleasant, she rarely talked about it and they have only bits and pieces of information.

I think the 1910 census would be worth poring over with a fine-toothed comb, and collecting the names of all possibilities. Also, it wouldn't hurt to check the surrounding counties of Fayette, Coweta, Douglas and Carroll.

There should be a marriage record somewhere too, if she can establish the name of the father. The 1900 census may reveal information and, with a given name, searching the SSDI (Social Security Death Index) online may also help, especially if he moved out of state. The SSDI gives the state of issuance of the number and the location the last benefit was sent to. There are many avenues of exploration. This will be a tough one, but I don't believe anything is impossible with time and a little effort.

If you have information on Shirley's Cochran family, you may write to her by e-mail at SMAC415@aol.com.

Sara Smith's e-mail is brinton.smith@worldnet.att.net if you have information on the Cochran/Sikes/Stallings line.

If you don't have a computer, please feel free to contact either Shirley or Sara through me at the newspaper.

Looking for your Georgia ancestors? Got a genealogy tip? Got a local family history to share? Write to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214. You can also email jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com.

Until next week, happy hunting!

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