John K. Cochran, the present postmaster at Pratt, is well known to the citizens of Pratt county and that section of the state as the editor of the "Pratt County Republican" and its predecessor, the "Pratt County Times," having handled printer's ink in Pratt county for over thirty years and in all of that time has been in close touch with the commercial and civic development of both his county and the State of Kansas. He is an Ohio man, having been born in Coshocton county, that state, Dec. 24, 1863, a son of Matthew and Artie (Calhoun) Cochran. The former was born in Ohio in 1846 and is a blacksmith by trade, being now a resident of Keokuk, Iowa. At the outbreak of the Civil war he went into service as a member of an Ohio regiment and bravely and gallantly assisted in defending our national life. The mother of our subject was a native of Pennsylvania and died in Keokuk, Iowa, in 1909. Five children were born to these parents, viz.: John K. Cochran of this review; Samuel W. Cochran; Flora, now Mrs. Grant C. Scott of Keokuk, Iowa; Albert A. Cochran, associated with the subject of this sketch as the business manager of the "Pratt County Republican"; and Frank N. Cochran, now residing in Keokuk, Iowa. After the close of the war the parents of Mr. Cochran removed to Iowa and in that state he received a public school education. At the age of sixteen, or in 1879, he came to Kansas, locating at Iuka, where he first entered the atmosphere of printer's ink as an employee in the office of the old "Pratt County Press," the first paper published in the county. He worked at the printing trade until 1893, when he bought the "Pratt County Times," which was consolidated with the "Pratt County Republican" in 1894, Mr. Cochran remaining its owner. He now shares its interests with his brother, A. A. Cochran, our subject being the editor and his brother the business manager. It is the leading paper in Pratt county and is a carefully edited sheet, on its pages appearing not only the general and local news but concise and pointed editorials on matters pertaining to the public progress and civic pride within the county. Mr. Cochran is a Republican and took an active part in party work until his appointment in 1899 as postmaster at Pratt.

On June 16, 1891, he married Miss Emma E. Bell, a daughter of S. M. Bell, who was a native of Pennsylvania but for a number of years conducted a meat market at Pratt, where he died in October, 1962. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran have four children, as follows: Frank S., Esther, Philip K., and Junia, the last named of whom died June 2, 1910. Mr. Cochran affiliates fraternally with the Knights of Pythias and both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, in the work of which Mrs. Cochran takes a very prominent and active part.