Brief Bio: Joshua T. Cotton, who was a captain in the War of 1812, moved to Jackson township about 1818. He married Miss Williamson, and brought up a large family. From Jackson he moved to Indiana, where he died. Captain Cotton was a true specimen of the hardy pioneer as well as a good and brave soldier. Joshua Thomas Cotton moved to Indiana in 1820 and purchased 40 acres of land from the Federal Government in 1850 as follows:
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
To All to whom these present shall come, Greetings: Where as, Joshua T. Cotton of Wells County, Indiana has deposited in the General Land office of the United States a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Fort Wayne whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Joshua T. Cotton according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820 entitled: “An act making further provisions for the sale of Public lands”, for the North East quarter of the South West quarter of Section Thirteen, i Township Twenty Eight North of Eleven East in the district of lands subject to sale at Fort Wayne, Indiana containing forty acres according to the official plat of the survey of the said lands returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General which said Tract has been purchased by said Joshua T. Cotton, now know ye, that the United States of America, in consideration of the premise and in conformity with the several Acts of Congress in such case made and provides, have given and grants and by these present do give and grant unto the said Joshua T. Cotton and t his heirs, the said Tract above described: to have and to hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, amenities and appurtenances of whatsoever nature hereunto belong, unto the said Joshua T. Cotton and his heirs and assigns forever.
In witness whereof, Mr. Zachary Taylor, President of the United Stats of America, have caused these letters to be made patent and the seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand at the City of Washington, the tenth day of April in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty and of the independence of the United Stats the Seventy Fourth.
By the President, Z.Taylor
recorded Vol 5; Page 90
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On 18 Dec 1810 when Joshua Thomas was 25, he married Elizabeth A. Williamson2,3, daughter of Joseph Williamson & Margaret Williamson, Austintown, Trumbull County, Ohio.9 Born on 17 Jul 1791 in Pennsylvania.3,10Elizabeth A. died in Wells County, Indiana, on 10 Sep 1876; she was 85.2
They had the following children:
- 2 i. William W. (1811-1862)
- 3 ii. Victory (1818-)
- 4 iii. Joshua L. (1819-)
- 5 iv. Lucy (1822-?)
- 6 v. Dr. John (1827-1881)
- 7 vi. Julia (1828-1875)
- 8 vii. Angeline (~1834-)
- 9 viii. Sylvester (1836-1878)
- 10 ix. Eliza (?-)
Second Generation
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- William W. Cotton3. Born on 5 Nov 1811 in Austintown, Trumbull County, Ohio. William W. died in Jefferson Township, Wells County, Indiana, on 7 Jan 1862; he was 50. On 14 Mar 1833 when William W. was 21, he married Hanna Rinear in Trumbull County, Ohio. Born on 14 Feb 1815 in New Jersey. Hanna died in Jefferson Township, Wells County, Indiana, on 10 Nov 1896; she was 81.
They had the following children:
- Mary3 (1836-)
- Elizabeth (1837-1920)
- Lucy Jane11 (1839-1929)
- Jackson N. (1844-1911)
- Lewis C.3 (1847-1929)
- Sarah Almira3 (1852-)
- Nancy3 (1854-)
- Victory Cotton. Born on 20 Jun 1818 in Kinsman Township, Trumbull County, Ohio. Victory died in Unknown. On 15 Dec 1836 when Victory was 18, she married Isaac Sowle in Trumbull County, Ohio. Born in 1811.3
They had the following children:
- Joshua3 (1842-)
- Joseph3 (1844-)
- Jeremiah3 (1846-)
- Lorretta3 (1849-)
- Eliza3 (1852-)
- Perlina3 (1858-)
- Joshua L. Cotton. Born in 1819 in Jackson Township, Trumbull County, Ohio. Joshua L. died in Unknown.
- Lucy Cotton. Born in 1822 in Kinsman Township, Trumbull County, Ohio. Lucy died in Jefferson Township, Wells County, Indiana ? . Lucy married Joseph Burnett in Trumbull County, Ohio. Born in ? Joseph died in ?
They had the following children:
- Angeline (1845-)
- Juliana S. (1847-)
- Lucy A. (1849-)
- Celinda A. (1851-)
- Milo L. (1853-)
- Luther H. (1855-)
- Joseph S. (1858-)
- Mary V. (1860-)
- Dr. John Cotton12,2. Born in 1827 in Kinsman Township, Trumbull County, Ohio.13 John died in Heller’s Corner, Eel River Township, Allen County, Indiana, on 24 Jan 1881; he was 54.14,15,16 Buried in Jan 1881 in Eel River Baptist Cemetery- Section B; Row 14.16 On 1 Jan 1848 when John was 21, he first married Sarah Higley, daughter of Robert M. Higley & Lydia Mary Conant, in Windham (Portgage), Preble County, Ohio. Born on 30 Sep 1834 in Windham (Portgage), Preble County, Ohio. Sarah died in Windham (Portgage), Preble County, Ohio, on 9 Dec 1853; she was 19.
They had one child:
- Robert McKown (1849-)
On 5 Apr 1864 when John was 37, he second married Elizabeth J. Riddle, daughter of Joseph B. Riddle & Traney Knox, in Kendallville, Noble County, Indiana. Born in 1842 in Belleville, Richland County, Ohio. Elizabeth J. died in Unknown.
They had one child:
- Joseph B. (~1865-)
On 26 Feb 1866 when John was 39, he third married Eliza Knox17, daughter of William Knox & Isabell Beatty, Noble County, Indiana.18 Born on 25 Aug 1840 in Richland County, Ohio.17,13 Eliza died in Churubusco, Whitley County, Indiana, on 21 May 1922; she was 81.17,16
They had the following children:
- Otho (1868-1948)
- Lola B. (1872-)
- Elsworth (Twin) (1874-1875)
- Elmer K. (Twin) (1874-1937)
- John B. (1876-1906)
- Julia Cotton. Born on 17 Dec 1828 in Ohio. Julia died in Ossian, Indiana, on 14 Mar 1875; she was 46. On 25 Dec 1849 when Julia was 21, she married Luther Eugene Benedict in Ossian, Indiana. Born on 10 Jun 1826 in Ohio. Luther Eugene died in Ossian, Indiana, on 12 Mar 1913; he was 86.
They had the following children:
- Lucy Cordelia (1852-1904)
- Emma Isabel (1854-1855)
- Julia Augusta (1857-)
- Flora Ellen (1860-)
- Angeline Cotton. Born abt 1834. Angeline married Mr. O’Dell.
- Sylvester Cotton19. Born in 1836 in Jackson Township, Trumbull County, Ohio. Sylvester died in Union Township, Wells County, Indiana, on 1 Jun 1878; he was 42.19 Buried in Jun 1878 in buried in Prairie View Cemetery, Jefferson Township, Wells County, Indiana.5 On 18 Oct 1855 when Sylvester was 19, he married Sarah Harshman19 Wells County, Indiana.19 Born on 24 Jan 1835 in Trumbull County, Ohio.19 Sarah died in Jefferson Township, Wells County, Indiana, in 1918; she was 82.
They had the following children:
- Alice (1856-)
- Mary Lou
- Julia A.19 (1869-)
- William J. S.19 (1874-)
- Stephen Hedges19 (1878-)
- Eliza Cotton. Born ? Eliza married Stephen Allen.
Sources
- La Verne C. Cooley, A Short Biography of the Rev. John Cotton and a COTTON GENEALOGY of His Descendants, Published Privately in Batavia, New York 1945, Vol. I, page 45.
- Elizabeth Cotton vs Eliza Allen et. al Complaint for Partition, August 1865, Wells County Circuit Court, T. W. Wilson, Plaintiff’s Attorney.
- “1860 Census of the United States of America,” Wells County, Indiana, USA, June 28, 1860, Roll 309, Allen County Library, July 1999.
- “Last Will and Testament of Kezia (Atwood/Adams) Little,” Probate Records Vol. I (P.R. Vol. 1), Page/Item 255, Washington County, Ohio.
- Wells County, Indiana, 1972, Cemetery Records of Wells County, Indiana, Volume 4, Ingabee Bineman Minniear, Fort Wayne Public Library.
- Joseph G. Butler, Jr., History of Youngstown and The Mahoning Valley Ohio, American Historical Society, Chicago and New York, 1921, Volume I, pages 168 – 172.
- State of Ohio, Roster of Ohio Soldiers in the War of 1812, Published Under the Authority of the Adjutant General of Ohio, Edward T. Miller Company, Columbus, Ohio 1916, Volume 1; pages 37, 38, 39.
- J.R. Giddings, “Remembrances of the Skirmish with the Indians on the Peninsula in the War of 1812,” Fire Land Pioneer.
- “Marriage Record of Joshua T. Cotton & Betsy Williamson,” December 18, 1810 “sollemnised” by Robert Ken, Justice of the Peace, Austintown, Trumbull County, Ohio, USA, Page 45, Recorded by George Parsons, County Clerk on March 19, 1811, Record Book, Trumbull County Court House, Austintown, Ohio, USA.
- “1850 Census of the United States of America,” Wells County, Indiana, USA, 1850, Roll 181, Allen County Library, July 1999.
- Linda Moore <dnlsmoore@earthlink.net>, “William W. Cotton Descendents,” April 18, 2001, Collection of Indiana Documents.
- “General Affidavit of Marital Status,” October 1888, For Civil War Widow Pension Application of Eliza A. Cotton, Churubusco, Whitley County, Indiana, USA, Eliza A. Cotton listing her children to include Elmer Cotton then age 15.
- “1880 Census of the United States of America,” Eel River Township, Allen County, Indiana, USA, June 4, 1880, 1-101/5-1, Allen County Library, July 1999.
- “General Affidavit of Death,” October 1888, For Civil War Widow Pension Application of Eliza A. Cotton, Churubusco, Whitley County, Indiana, USA, John Flaiswell, attending physician at the death of John Cotton on Jan. 24, 1881.
- Churubusco, Whitley County, Indiana, Jan. 26, 1881, Undertaker Record, The Estate of Doctor John Cotton: for his casket & box $35; for 1 robe $6; for 1 shirt $1; for 1 pair of gloves $.25; for a yard of blue crape $.25. Died Jan. 24, 1881, aged 55 yrs.; Eel River Cemetery B-14, Roberson Undertakers.
- Allen County, Indiana, 1980, Cemetery Readings of Eel River and Riverview Cemeteries, Stuart Harter, R.R. 2, Churubusco, Indiana.
- “Certificate of Death,” May 22, 1922, Churubusco, Whitely County, Indiana, USA, 17372, Jesse H. Briggs, MD attending physician at death of Eliza A. Cotton, paper certificate, Indiana State Board of Health.
- “Marriage License & Marriage Record,” 2 26 1866, Noble County, Indiana, USA, Book 1, Page 586, Noble County Circuit Court, Registration Book, Noble County Court House, Indiana, USA.
- Wells County, Indiana, 7 May 1883, Civil War Widow’s Pension, Department of Interior Pension Office; War Department Surgeon General’s Office, Record & Pension division; Wells Country, State of Indiana, County Court Clerk’s Office.
Index
Allen
Stephen spouse of 10
Beatty
Isabell parent of spouse of 6
Benedict
- Emma Isabel child of 7
- Flora Ellen child of 7
- Julia Augusta child of 7
- Lucy Cordelia child of 7
- Luther Eugene spouse of 7
Burnett
- Angeline child of 5
- Celinda A. child of 5
- Joseph spouse of 5
- Joseph S. child of 5
- Juliana S. child of 5
- Lucy A. child of 5
- Luther H. child of 5
- Mary V. child of 5
- Milo L. child of 5
Conant
Lydia Mary parent of spouse of 6
Cotton
- Alice child of 9
- Angeline 8
- Eliza 10
- Elizabeth child of 2
- Elmer K. child of 6
- Elsworth child of 6
- Jackson N. child of 2
- Lieutenant John parent of 1
- Dr. John 6
- John B. child of 6
- Joseph B. child of 6
- Joshua L. 4
- Captain Joshua Thomas 1
- Julia 7
- Julia A. child of 9
- Lewis C. child of 2
- Lola B. child of 6
- Lucy 5
- Lucy Jane child of 2
- Mary child of 2
- Mary Iola child of 9
- Nancy child of 2
- Otho child of 6
- Robert McKown child of 6
- Sarah Almira child of 2
- Stephen Hedges child of 9
- Sylvester 9
- Victory 3
- William J. S. child of 9
- William W. 2
Harshman
Sarah spouse of 9
Higley
- Robert M. parent of spouse of 6
- Sarah spouse of 6
Knox
- Eliza spouse of 6
- Traney parent of spouse of 6
- William parent of spouse of 6
Little
Lucy parent of 1
O’Dell
Mr. spouse of 8
Riddle
- Elizabeth J. spouse of 6
- Joseph B. parent of spouse of 6
Rinear
Hanna spouse of 2
Sowle
- Eliza child of 3
- Isaac spouse of 3
- Jeremiah child of 3
- Joseph child of 3
- Joshua child of 3
- Lorretta child of 3
- Perlina child of 3
Williamson
- Elizabeth A. spouse of 1
- Joseph parent of spouse of 1
- Margaret parent of spouse of 1