John C. Cochrane (11/7/1835-12/11/1887) Chicago, Illinois
Credited with being the original architect of the Illinois State Capital in Springfield. He was born in Hillsboro, New Hampshire, and studied engineering and architecture in New England before leaving at the age of nineteen for Chicago. Unable to find work in Chicago, the young man moved to Davenport, Iowa, where he is said to have designed St. Luke's Church and other buildings.
Following the end of the Civil War, Cochrane returned to Chicago and set up an office on Monroe Street, where he drew plans for a few churches and homes in Chicago. In 1867 he submitted a design in the competition for the proposed State Capitol which was awarded the first prize. According to one source, the drawings were prepared by the twenty-five year old George C. Garnsey at that time associated in practice with Mr. Cochrane. Sometime during the six interim between the award of the prize and the signing of the contract by Mr. Cochrane, he formed a partnership with Alfred H. Piquenard, and work on the Capitol was continued under the name of Cochrane & Piquenard until the latter's death in 1876, at which time only the foundations were laid.
During that period, Mr. Cochrane carried out other commissions in Chicago, serving as architect on the Cook County Hospital; the Michael Reese Hospital; Rush Medical College; the Jefferson Park Presbyterian Church at Adams and Thorp Streets, dedicated in January, 1878, and the First Presbyterian on Lake View Avenue which replaced the Second Congregational destroyed in the fire of 1871.