45 Whittier Street – (formerly Punchard Ave)
Gould – Cochran House

Whittier Street was named after Nathaniel Whittier who lived at 10 Summer Street and much of the property along the route was part of his homestead. This street was an extension of Punchard Ave originally extending around the south and east side of the “Park” and through to Elm Street. All early deeds state Punchard Ave.

Daniel F. Shannon acquired most of the land on the east side of Whittier Street from Chestnut to Summer Street. Shannon was a house-wright, built several homes in this neighborhood and lived at 19 Summer St. Daniel sold this property to to James Gould on June 1, 1872 for $200.
AA - June 7, 1872: “Daniel F. Shannon has sold a house lot on Punchard Avenue to James Gould of Janesville, Wis.”

James Gould was born July 20, 1805 in Amesbury, MA, manufactured woolen goods in Montpelier, VT until 1867 when he moved to Janesville, Wisconsin. Gould made a substantial profit prior to his move where he then entered the door and sash business. He married Rebecca Morrill b. 1809 of Amesbury and had three children; Mary Elizabeth, James P. and Hannah Rebecca all born in Northfield, VT. James built this home but never resided here. James died May 27, 1877 in Janesville. His on James P. Gould , Executor of the estate, sold the property for $1200 to Mary W. Towne on July 23, 1888.

Mrs. Towne is listed here on the 1882 map of Andover and must have been a renting the home. Mary Webster Towne was born in 1813 dau. of Daniel & Hannah (Harris) Towne. In the 1880 census Mary age 65, lives with her brother-in-law Eben K. Morrill age 74, a shoemaker and widower. Eban’s wife was Hannah Towne. Mary then sells the house to her other brother-in-law James H. Cochran for $1200. Mary remained in the house until her death on on Dec. 21, 1898.

James H. Cochran was a Blacksmith in Andover for 56 years and lived at 5 Punchard Ave. James retired in May 1887 selling his business to Andover & Bowman. James married Dec. 25, 1839 to Sarah S. Towne, b. Jan. 27, 1819 in Andover, MA, dau. of Daniel & Hannah (Harris) Towne. James died Nov. 21, 1895 and Sarah died on May 15, 1899. Their two surviving sons John W. and Parker E. Cochran inherited the properties. On Oct. 19, 1899 this house was deeded to John W. Cochran and Parker was deeded the homestead house at 5 Punchard Ave.

John W. Cochran, b. Apr. 2, 1841, a silversmith in 1870, married at age 58 on May 7, 1899 to Ella M. Whittaker age 48, b. May 4, 1850 dau. of Lawrence & Catherine (Palmer) Whittaker. John & Ella lived on Tewksbury St. in Ballardvale. Ella died on May 2, 1910. John W. later sold the property to Ada M. Pitman, wife of John E. on Aug. 14, 1916. John Cochran died on Nov. 22, 1916.

Ada M. (Wiley) Pitman b. May 14, 1856 in Stowe, ME, dau. of Benjamin & Maria Wiley. Ada married in 1876 in Fryeburg, ME to John E. Pitman b. Apr. 22, 1852 in North Bartlett, NH. John was a carriage building at that time. They had three sons, Eben Nutter, b. Oct. 22, 1877, Benjamin W. b.Nov. 1879 and Joseph Irving b. Jan. 29, 1881 all in No. Fryeburg, ME. John & Ada moved to Andover in 1889 and lived at 63 Park St. John worked as a house carpenter then co-partnered with Adan C. Richardson from 1895-1899 under Richardson & Pitman. John began his own contracting company J. E. Pitman, which was a very successful business operating at 63 Park St. His son's were all carpenters in their father business. Eben died on Dec. 13, 1900. John & Ada later moved into this home. John died on Jan. 10, 1924 and is interred at Spring Grove Cemetery. Ada later deeds the property to son Benjamin and his wife Bessie. The property was in the Pitman family for 43 years then sold to Thomas M. & Carlene (Erickson) Darby on June 18, 1957. Carlene's parents lived next door at 43 Whittier St.