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John Galaway Cochrane, A Brief History 
John Galway Cochrane was born at 25 Rialto St, Dublin, Ireland on October 24th, 1902, more than 100 years ago, now. I have a picture of the house from my trip to Ireland. He was the child of the second marriage of William Cochrane and Anna Virginia Galway. John's Dad lived until he was about 3 or 4. John's only recollection was that of a man handing him a butterscotch from under a pillow. I've always thought that was why there was a candy for every celebration. I'll talk more about that later.
He had a stepbrother who was an adult and an attorney, William L.B. Cochrane agreed to raise John. John's Mother went off to America where she married a Mr. Edwards in Philadelphia. John attended boarding schools. At Aravon he excelled in Arithmetic. At St. Columba's College he excelled in Math and English and French literature. Then he studied pre-law subjects at Trinity College Dublin. Trinity is where he participated in intramural rugby and cricket in those team pictures, I gave you. His passion was Engineering, but he had to study law because it was his step-brother's business and his step-brother supported him. As soon as his brother had a son, John was no longer obliged to remain and carry on the business. In March 1920 the opportunity came for John to join his Mother in America. (Uncle Don will copy his passport and send it to you)He had traveled a bit in Europe before he left. He had been to Wales and France. He recalled that St. Asaph's Church in Bala Cynwyd was a replica of St. Asaph's Cathedral in Wales and he used to describe Wales to his fellow church school teacher, Ruth Hilsee. Mrs. Hilsee enjoyed this because her father had come from Wales. John. was able to apprentice as a draftsman at the Pencoyd factory which was in Manayunk. He went to Temple University at night to study engineering. His address was 1 Pencoyd which appears on a map as just across the Green Lane bridge. His work took him to New York and Erie PA. He worked on drawings for the Ben Franklin Bridge, the Art Museum, possibly the Lincoln Monument. During the depression he sold/demonstrated Erector Sets in Gimbels Department Store. (that's why I used to send you building sets). He also worked on the first lights for Connie Mack Stadium. Outside of work he worked with Boy Scouts and the Little League and he taught church school much of his adult life, until he was 57. He had a large knowledge of the Bible. He read it everyday. He held three citizenships without having to relinquish any of them. He was born a British Subject, and then when Southern Ireland was allowed to govern itself he was a citizen of the Irish Free State and he became an American citizen because his mother had married an American citizen. He was too young to fight in World War I and somewhat old for World War II. His engineering skills were applied to ship building during World War II. He was happy to be a US citizen, he said it was a privilege to pay taxes in a free country. He felt we tended to glamorize Ireland. He always liked Radio and Television News and Sports. Every weekend there was baseball, football, boxing, bowling, golf on the TV. Every weekday he would pick out a candy bar and divide it between your Pop Pop and me right before the news. There were hard candy cherry filled hatchets on Washington's birthday, licorice pipes and top hats for Lincoln, Irish Potatoes on St. Patty's day. Not surpisingly he had his first set of dentures when he was 24. That's why his smiles resemble George Washington. He was a very kind, nurturing and funny man. He had what people call a dry wit. He was very attendant to time. You could set your watch by him. He loved cars like I do, but he gave up driving in his thirties after being side-swiped on Route 1. He liked using trains and trolleys like I do. He loved photography. His reading was pretty much limited to news magazines and news papers. He was always very appreciative when someone made dinner for him. For further information on John G. Cochrane A minister who knew my dad, Warren Davis, is listed at Christ Church, downtown. I'm sure if you call the church they can put you in touch with him. And you can contact me as well -Sincerely Liz Gober
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