HOLTON G. COTTON
Holton G. Cotton is a native of Wyoming county, New York, and was born on the 8th of June, 1836, his parents being Owen and Laura (Adams) Cotton. His father was born in Vermont, and died in Wyoming county, New York, on the 5th of September, 1872. His widow survived him two years. Holton G. left his home in 1856, for Omaha, Nebraska, and worked the first season at general labor, but being later engaged in farming until 1860. He then crossed the plains to Colorado, and was there engaged in lumbering and mining until the winter of 1863, when he returned to his old home in New York for a month's visit, when he returned to Omaha and was there employed as a surveyor for the Union Pacific railroad, and was afterwards engaged in the government transportation service, delivering goods from the Missouri River, west, to forts and Indian agencies. In June, 1865 Holton came to Lewis, and has since been a resident of Cass county. He was married on the 4th of March, 1866, to Miss Luella M. Tefft, a daughter of Samuel H. Tefft, one of the pioneers of this county. Holton commenced his married life on a rented farm, owned by Dr. Carey, and in the fall of 1868 he moved to the place he now owns and occupies, on sections 2 and 3. This farm of one hundred and twenty cres was first improved by Mr. Tefft, but he soon sold it to his son-in-law. Mr. Cotton is a member of the Lewis Lodge, No. 137, A.F. and A.M., and is secretary of the school board. He is a prominent and substantial citizen, and has been a candidate for county clerk. While in Colorado, he was the first justice of the peace, and also the first clerk and recorder of Douglas county, Colorado, and in the fall of 1863 run for the State Legislature on the Democratic ticket, being beaten by a small Republican majority. Mr. and Mrs. Cotton have had three children: Laura, born in November, 1868, and died in December, 1868; Cora, born in October, 1870, died in 1878; and Harlow, born in 1877.
Transcribed by Gloria Goltiani from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 509.
