Cotton, George

COTTON, RUSSELL

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/12/2009 at 06:58:05

George Cotton, a well known and prosperous citizen of Jasper County, residing on section 15, Palo Alto Township, is a native of Yorkshire, England, and was born July 1, 1848. He is a son of Thomas and Charlotte Cotton, likewise natives of England. At the age of eleven years he was orphaned by the death of his father, and soon afterward commenced to earn his own living. He was twelve years old when he began mining for coal, in which occupation he was engaged until 1869, when, in company with his mother and sister, he emigrated to America, arriving in New York City after a voyage of twelve days.

At once after landing, our subject proceeded westward to Indiana, and sojourned in Putnam County for ten months, after which he came to Iowa. He resided in Newton for a short time, and then settled on the farm where he has since resided. As a farmer he is energetic and progressive, and has brought to a high state of cultivation the sixty-five acres which, he owns, embellishing the farm with a substantial set of buildings and introducing the most modern machinery. He exercises good judgment in the fertilization of the soil and rotation of crops, and is recognized as one of the most progressive farmers of the county.

The marriage of Mr. Cotton occurred on tile 6th of April 1875, uniting him with Miss Sarah C. Russell. They are the parents of seven children, namely: Jerome H., Mary E., Editha, Agnes G., George C., Raymond and James. The children are pupils in the district school, and are intelligent and talented. Mr. Cotton is a stanch advocate of public schools, and while serving as a member of the Board of School Directors was instrumental in promoting the interests of the common schools and advancing the grade of scholarship. His education was limited to a short attendance in the pay schools of England, and the knowledge he now possesses is the result of studious application on his part and self-culture and observation.

All the great issues of the present age have received the thoughtful consideration of Mr. Cotton, and he is one of the foremost advocates of the Democratic Party in this community. Not only in a financial sense has he been successful, but he has also gained the esteem of his associates and the regard of all with whom he has had business or social relations. His life has been such as to win the commendation of all who know him, and he is a fair representative of the energetic and thrifty Englishmen who have gained prosperity in the United States. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 443.