Northumberland-Montour County PA Archives Biographies.....Cotner, A. B. 1835 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com August 6, 2005, 4:57 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. A. B. COTNER.* Among the citizens of Upper Augusta township the gentleman whose biography we write occupies a prominent position among the prosperous and enterprising farmers of Northumberland County, Pa. He was born in Liberty township, Montour County, Pa., in 1835, and is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Stein) Cotner. The Cotner family is of German extraction, and was founded in this country by our subject's grandfather, who was a native of Germany. He located in Muncy, Pa., where he resided until his death, being killed by Indians; he was a soldier of the Revolutionary War. Daniel Cotner was born at Muncy, Pa., but when he grew to manhood he moved to Derby township, Montour County, Pa., where he bought a large tract of land and carried on farming. Later he moved to Liberty township, Montour County, where he resided until his death. He was an earnest and public-spirited citizen, possessing many friends, and his death was deeply lamented by hosts of acquaintances. He was joined in marriage with Elizabeth Stein by whom he reared a family of eight children, namely: John, who died young; David, deceased, was a farmer, and his wife was Sarah McGee; Daniel, who is a farmer of Montour County and was united in marriage with Mary Worlina; A. B., our subject; Susan, who wedded Daniel Moyer, and both are now deceased; Barbara Ann, wife of Robert Lyons of Upper Augusta township; Catherine, wife of Emery Johnson, a farmer of Hastings, Mich.; and Marion, deceased. Our subject obtained a common school education and remained at home working on the homestead until he was twenty-four years of age, and after his marriage he conducted the homestead for seven years on his own account. Selling out in 1866, he purchased his present property, known as the Henry Gulick homestead, where our subject's wife has resided all her life with the exception of seven years. Ninety-seven acres constitute the homestead, all of which has been put under a fine state of cultivation by our subject, and substantial outbuildings erected. In 1874 the present commodious barn was erected, and in 1886 he built his present home, a beautiful two-story brick house, containing both hot and cold water throughout, and all the other modern improvements. Mr. Cotner is a typical farmer, and the general appearance of his home and surroundings tends to show that he is a careful, industrious and progressive man. Mr. Cotner and Margaret Gulick were happily united in. the bonds of matrimony January 15, 1859- Her parents were Henry and Catherine (Eckman) Gulick, both natives of New Jersey, and were farmers of Upper Augusta township; they are both now deceased. They reared five children, namely: Charles, a farmer who was first married to Rose Smith and after her death wedded Julia Grady; Samuel, who also lives in Upper Augusta township; Mary, and Margaret, the wife of our subject, were twins,—Mary was wedded to Daniel Cotner, and both are deceased; and Niona, deceased. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Cotner was blessed by the birth of six children, as follows: Charles, a farmer of Rush township, who wedded Ellen Moore; Daniel, a prosperous lumberman of Sunbury, Pa., who was joined in hymeneal bonds with Stella Campbell; Henry a resident of Danville, Pa., who married Daisy Gonsar; Alfreda, who died aged five years; George, who assists his father, married Ella Gulick; and Minnie. Politically our subject takes an active interest in advancing the principles advocated by the Democratic party and is a free silver man. He has been elected a member of the board of school directors and overseer of the poor, the duties of which positions he faithfully and honestly discharged. Mr. Cotner is a member and regular attendant of the Presbyterian Church. Additional Comments: * The information contained in this biography was supplied by the subject of this sketch. A type-set copy of the biography was sent to the subject to be proof-read, but the subject did not edit and return the copy, so this biography may contain typographical errors. Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/pafiles/ File size: 4.7 Kb