Roseann Arilla "Rosa Riller" Hudson, Grandchild of Obediah Hudson III and eighth child of Dr. Richard
C. and Nancy Adaline (Pipkin) Hudson, was born. Mar 14, 1866,
in Gatewood, Ripley County, Missouri. She died Apr 16, 1949, in
San Angelo, Texas.
On Aug 9, 1883, in Gatewood, Ripley County, Missouri, she was
married to Dr. John Calvin Cochran. His parents were William Cochran and Cynthia ???.
"William and Cynthia Cochran of Bacusburg, Kentucky had twelve
children. One, Dr. John Calvin Cochran, was born February 14,
1856. He migrated, when he grew up, to Gatewood, Ripley Co., Missouri.
There he taught school, studied and practiced medicine.
In 1883 he married Roseann Hudson, daughter of Ripley County Judge,
Richard C. "Dr. Dick" Hudson. Roseann also taught school.
John, Roseann and their two children, Elbert and Elsie, were among
the trekkers who, in the spring of 1892, left Ripley County in
a train of thirteen covered wagons and made their way to Texas.
Their wagon was the first with iron rimmed wheels known to Gatewood,
and was accompanied by a span of fine Missouri mules.
Along the way, where there was water for the teams and washing,
the caravan would stop for a day or two. Fish and game of all
kinds were also abundant then. In the old Indian Territory the
men slept under the wagons with muzzle loaders at easy reach to
discourage the Indians from stealing the mules.
When they arrived in Texas the Cochrans quit the wagon train and
proceeded to Cross Plains to join John's brother, Dr. Tom Cochran.
They decided there that John should attend Barnes Medical College
in St. Louis, Missouri.
John sold the wagon and mules for tuition and rode a cattle train
to St. Louis. A return ticket and furnished meals were negotiated
in exchange for watering and attending the cattle in transit.
Roseann cooked for Dr. Tom Cochran while John was gone, and gave
birth to Lestie. John and his family moved to Camp Colorado in
the spring of 1893. When he returned to college Roseann sewed
for the Henry Sacketts. Another child, Quiller, was born.
In 1894 they moved to Pleasant Valley, later Burkett, and built
a house. Three children, Fred, Kathryn, and Lela were born in
that home. John obtained a license to practice medicine in Texas
and built a small office.
The application for Post Office, by Will Burkett, requested that
the town be called Pleasant Valley. There were other places by
that name and the Postmaster General's Office objected to the
two words and length of the designation. The Office suggested
instead, Burkett, on account of the applicant's name.
Dr. John Cochran was made the 3rd Postmaster of Burkett in 1897.
Will Burkett was the first and J.W. Wesley the second. He also
used his Doctor's Office for the Post Office. Roseann rocked an
old wooden cradle with her foot and handed out mail.
John Cochran returned to St. Louis in 1901 and graduated from
Barnes with high honors. Roseann became the Postmaster in 1902,
and died in 1940 while in office. Elsie later took it over. The
Cochrans had been in charge of the Post Office for 43 years. The
building still belongs to the family.
After Dr. John Cochran settled down to practice medicine he refused
to send bills to most people because they were poor. Roseann tried
to make up part of the financial loss by selling sidelines in
the Post Office.
Opposite the little grilled window and the pigeonhole boxes were
shelves filled with millinery, a few toys, and cotton sacks. There
was always a large freezer with ice cream for sale and she was
the only photographer within 20 miles." (Anon)
Both Roseann and Dr. John are buried in Burkett Cemetery, Burkett,
Coleman County, Texas.
Their 6th child, Kathryn Cochran, was born Oct 27, 1898, in Burkett, Coleman County, Texas. She
married Rutherford Rector Cravens, but later divorced.
"It is believed she lived with her oldest brother, Elbert, Sr.,
after her father's death and obtained her education. She studied
at Horner's Institute of Fine Arts in Kansas City, Missouri; the
Henry Kendall College, now the University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma;
and the Morse School of Expression in New York City.
She began her acting career with Fox Films in 1919; played with
a number of stock companies, and appeared in the productions:
"Reunion In Vienna, The Barkers, The Word For It, Berkeley Square,
The Cherry Orchard, Lombardy, Ltd., The Masqueraders, The Greeks
Had A Word For It, Torch Bearers, and The Modern Virgin."
Kathryn Cravens began acting for radio on KWK in St. Louis in
1928. In 1931 she became the director of The Woman's Hour on KMOX
in St. Louis. Successful with chat programs for women, Kathryn
went to her employers with the idea of producing a news program
for women. The program, "News Through A Woman's Eyes," developed
as a result and Kathryn Cravens became the first woman news commentator.
When World War II broke out Kathryn Cravens was appointed and
accredited as a War Correspondent, the first woman to achieve
this position. She entered Berlin along with the Allied troops,
also the first woman news commentator to enter the city.
Zealous to be the first among those to broadcast from Berlin,
following its occupation by allied forces, Kathryn skipped a meeting
where rules and regulations were given to correspondents regarding
their actions while there.
The following day Kathryn and another correspondent located the
"Potsdam Palace," the meeting place of the "big three," and, eluding
guards, entered it. She was later surprised when they were discovered
by Russian guards and learned she was sitting in the chair reserved
for Stalin himself!
Of her war experiences, Kathryn is quoted as saying, 'I was sued,
shot at, and suspended, but never scooped.'
In 1938 she began a syndicated column, "Through a Woman's Eyes."
It consisted of original articles and poems. As an author Kathryn
Cravens was awarded, by Pen Women of America, first prize in 1942 for her article, "Helen Keller Pities
The Real Unseeing," and first prize in 1948 for her novel, "Pursuit
of a Gentleman."
Kathryn achieved great prominence in her lifetime and is listed
in, "Who's Who." Kathryn (Cochran) Cravens decided to retire in
1952. She had the family home in Burkett, Texas redone to her
tastes and named it, 'Phantom Hill,' after the setting of her
novel. Mementos of her life adorn every room of the house...[She
is] content with her surroundings and her memories." (Valda Hudson Raugh)
(Kathryn died Aug 29, 1991, and is buried in Burkett Cemetery,
Burkett, Coleman County, Texas. She was a member of the Christian
Church.)
Need more Cochran data? email CHudson517@aol.com.
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