Okmulgee Co., OK. - Obit for E.E. cotrell ************************************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted to: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/okmulgee/okmulgee.html Transcribed & Submitted by: Darlene (Campbell) Scott ************************************************************************ September 19, 2004 OKMULGEE DAILY TIMES, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1932 DEATH REMOVES E. E. COTTRELL One of Outstanding Pioneers, One of Omulgee's First City Builders, He Had Simple Worn Himself Out With Hard Work, Physicians Say; Established, First Livestock Market; Was Charter Member of C. of C. One of the outstanding pioneers of Okmulgee, a man whose purse was always open to civic endeavor and who was a charter member of the Okmulgee Chamber of Commerce, first to sign up for the famous 1914 national tour of the chamber, was lost to the city at 10:20 a.m. yesterday in death of Elias Cottrell, 309 South Central Avenue. Mr. Cottrell died of no specific ailment. Attending physicians said he has simply worn himself out with long years of hard work, and that two years ago he began to lose his lease on life. He was 79 years old last week, and had made his own way in the world since he was nine years old. The widely-known citizen came to Okmulgee from the Joplin mining district in the early spring of 1903 when there was no city water system and no electricity in Okmulgee, which was but a ruggling cow-town on the prairies. In 1905 Mr. Cottrill and his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Cottrell, established a meat market in a frame shack which stood where the Siegel store now is located. About two years later the Jennings building was erected on the east side of the council house square, and Mr. Cottrill moved his meat market into the place now chiefly occupied by the Newberry department store. Where he maintained his headquarters for 16 years and five months, selling out, to retire, in 1923. He owned and operated the City Meat Market and the Central Meat Market during most of the 16 years before his retirement. Mr. Cottrell established the first local market for hogs and cattle of this district. On land which he leased, just north of Okmulgee, he established his buying grounds and there paid the Kansas City market prices for local hogs and cattle. The Cottrell market for stock actually gave the birth impetus to the local small-stock raising industry, it is recalled by pioneers H. N. Loomis, now owner of his own Loomis Packing company on the Morris road, worked for Mr. Cottrill seven years. The pioneer always felt that it was his duty to aid with every energy he had, the struggles of Okmulgee to become a city, it is re-called by Sen. T. T. Blakely, who for years was secretary-manager of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Cottrell not only was one of the first men to join the chamber here, but also was the first to sign the agreement to make the national tour for which the chamber in 1914 chartered a special train filling it with 150 business men and exhibits boosting Okmulgee. He had lived for 20 years in the home at 309 South Central avenue where he died. Born in Sheridan county (Chariton, Jey), Mo., Dec. 19, 1853, he grew up in that district, and there, in 1878 was married to Miss Elizabeth Brill. To them were born two children, one of whom died at the age of 5 years and the other at the age of 13 months. They traveled in many states in the years between their marriage and their settlement in this capital of what was then the Creek Nation. Funeral services are to be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the First Christian church. The Rev. A. L. Cole will officiate. The Ward Funeral home will have charge of burial, which is to be in Okmulgee cemetery. Pallbearers will be selected from among elders of the First Christian church, of which Mr. Cottrell was a member. He also was a member of the Modern Woodmen. Note: Sent to be by a Cottrell family member, James Ethan Yell for more information on the Cottrell Brill family please e-mail,