Howard Cochran
Howard Cochran and his wife Idelle were from Los Angeles, California. Howard was working as a mining engineer on Montana Mountain at the Big Thing Mine in early May 1910. Idelle and their three daughters were on the ship Cottage City, coming to join Howard, when their six-year girl was taken sick and died. Howard joined his wife at Skagway, and they buried their daughter there.1)
Matthew Watson was cutting cordwood near Carcross in January 1912 when he came across Howard Cochran transporting his dead wife and their three children. Idelle Cochran died after giving birth at a mine in the Wheaton River area. Matthew arranged for his mother to meet the train in Whitehorse and Martha took the baby home. Howard tried twice to bring the child home, but his daughters could not look after her and Martha eventually adopted Norma Idelle Watson.2)
In May 1912, Howard Cochran and daughters Marian and Mavis came from the Whirlwind Mine, out from Robinson Roadhouse, to be guests of Miss Deyo Puckett. The Cochrans were pleased to find the baby [Norma] well and developing into a beautiful child.3)