George Cochran, the Bena logger has purchased the residence belonging to George Tanner at 500 Minnesota Avenue, and will hereafter make his home in Bemidji. Mr. Cochran has been trying for some time to secure a desirable home here, and he will now become a citizen of this place. He is a very desirable addition to Bemidji’s progressive people. In securing the Tanner home, Mr. Cochran secures a fine house one that many others have been trying unsuccessfully to purchase. (Bemidji Daily Pioneer, June 11, 1908)
George Cochran’s camp east of Big Turtle Lake in 1922 was the last camp built in the Bemidji area. He was known as “Kerosene George” because he got his men up so early before light. (Bemidji Pioneer, June 24, 1992)
George Cochran, a resident of Bemidji for 22 years, died at the Birchmont Farm on Sunday afternoon [July 6, 1930].
Mr. Cochran was born in Caribou, Maine on Mar 22. 1858. He migrated to Wisconsin at the age of 20 and engaged in the logging business. He moved to Bemidji in 1908 and resided here ever since. He was active in logging until six years ago, when he became ill after extreme exposure and exhaustion in trying to rescue two young men from drowning near Birchmont Beach. He was the builder of the original Birchmont Beach Hotel, and was the first to recognize the possibilities of a summer resort at Bemidji. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Birchmont Beach Golf Course.
He was married to Lida Rossman at Fifield, Wisc. in 1886. Mrs. Cochran preceded him in death on Oct 23, 1929 and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery.
There are five children surviving. George Cochran, Jr., Mrs. Fred Dyson, Mrs. William Chichester and Mrs. Lee LaBaw, all of Bemidji, and Earl Cochran of Minneapolis. (Bemidji Daily Pioneer, July 7, 1930)
The married daughters names were Harriet May Cochran Dyson, Lillian Cochran Chichester and Elizabeth Cochran LaBaw.
There is a fine two page history of George W. Cochran in an issue of North Country History.