George E. Cotton

COTTON, ADAMS, HINNS, IDE

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 3/24/2009 at 16:08:22

GEORGE E. COTTON, proprietor of the Oakfield Flouring Mills, at Oakfield, Iowa, was born in Genesee County, New York, near the town of Attica, September 6, 1834. His father, Owen Cotton, was a native of the State of Vermont, and was an early settler of western New York. He was a millwright by trade, and at different times owned several mills. Laura Adams Cotton, the mother of George W., was a daughter of Major Permine Adams, who was prominent in politics and represented his district twelve years in Congress. She was born in Genesee County, New York, and was there reared and married. After her marriage her husband settled there, and both remained there the balance of their days. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom survive. George E. Cotton was the second child, and his boyhood days were passed in his native county, where he received the advantages afforded by the district school. He remained at home until he attained his twenty first year. In 1853 he went to Wisconsin, and staid there one season in a mill which his father owned; he then returned to New York, and in the fall of 1855 he went to Omaha, Nebraska, remaining there about twelve months. Crossing the Missouri River to the Iowa side he stopped at a place called Macedonia, and there entered the employ of J. B. Stutsman, who owned a flouring mill at that place. He continued to fill this position for four years, and in the fall of 1859 he went to Lewis, Cass County, Iowa, where he superintended a mill for five years. In 1865 he removed to Oakfield, Iowa, and purchased a half interest in the grocery store of D. M. Clover, which partnership terminated at the end of one year, both parties selling out. He then went to Oskaloosa, where he was employed in a distillery for three years. He next went to Monona County, Iowa, and worked two years in a mill; thence he went to Adel, Dallas County, spending twelve months there. The two years following were passed in a mill at Panora, Guthrie County. In the fall of 1878 he came to Oakfield and purchased the Oakfield Mills of Isaac P. Hallock, since which time he has done a general milling business. He has put in a sorghum attachment, with a capacity of 500 gallons per day. Mr. Cotton was married in 1862 to Miss Mary Hinns, of Cass County, Iowa; she was born in Wakefield, England, and was brought by her parents to the United States when she was eight years old. Mr. and Mrs. Cotton have had born to them eight children John O., William E., Lizzie S. (wife of O. F. Ide), George W., Charles E., Alexander L., J. Ernest and Mary. Mr. Cotton was appointed postmaster of Macedonia under James Buchanan's administration, and served four years. He has filled the offices of township trustee and of justice of the peace at Oakfield. He is a member of Lewis Lodge, No. 113, A. F. & A. M. Politically he is a staunch Democrat, especially in State and National affairs. In local politics he votes for the man best fitted in his estimation to fill the position.

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

pages 767-768