Biographical Sketch of John H. Cotton, Laclede County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, 
Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed Publishing
Company, 1889.
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John H. Cotton, farmer, brick and stone mason and plasterer, was born
in North Carolina July 16, 1815, being a son of Samuel and Biddie
(Purnell) Cotton, who were also natives of North Carolina, in which
State the father died.  They were the parents of three children: Jacob
(deceased), Elizabeth (who is supposed to be dead), and John H.  The
mother of these children was living when last heard from, forty years
ago.  At the age of six years John H. Cotton was bound out to a farmer
by the name of Wilson Wiseman, with whom he resided until seventeen 
years of age; then he began the battle of life for himself, and went to
Caswell county, N. C.  Mr. Wiseman was to have given him educational
advantages, but up to seventeen years of age he had received only a few
months schooling, consequently he left and began the battle of life for
himself.  Mr. Cotton learned his trade in Caswell county, N. C., and
continued to follow this occupation until 1849, when he came to Laclede
county, Mo., with his second wife, whose maiden name was Henslee.  He
located on the farm now owned by Thomas Turner, but at the end of six
months came to his present location, where he has a good farm under
cultivation.  Mr. Cotton married Mary Ballard (his first wife) August 
28, 1838.  She was born in Caswell county, N. C., December 23, 1813,
and died there February 16, 1842, one week after her second child was
born.  The following are her children: Martha J., wife of Jacob Kapp,
and Addison R. (deceased).  November 28, 1843, Mr. Cotton married his 
second wife, Elizabeth Henslee, who was born in Caswell county, N. C.,
January 30, 1824.  From this marriage there resulted ten children, six
of whom are living, namely: Thomas B.; Artelia E., wife of Noah D.
Light; Sarah A., wife of Job V. Chalfant; Nannie E., who is a school
teacher; Elvira, wife of Edward Chalfant, and John M.  The mother of
these children died on the 20th of July, 1888, having been a member of
the Baptist church since she was nineteen years old, and a model wife
and mother.  Mr. Cotton is a member of the Christian church, and 
belongs to the A. F. & A. M., and the Agricultural Wheel.

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