Person:Matilda Cottingham (1)

THOMAS BENTON COTTINGHAM.

Much credit must be [given] to those farmers who for a number of years have worked steadilv away at their chosen field of endeavor, giving their best thought and energy to the difficult problems of agricultural life, and who at the same time [have] not been blind to the various needs of their community, but have made themselves felt as an influence for good among their fellows. Dearborn county has reason to be proud of the many true [men] she has produced, among whom is Thomas Benton Cottingham, a well-known farmer of Miller township.

T. B. Cottingham was born at Logan Cross Roads, Dearborn county, Indiana, on April 3. 1846. He is the son of Thomas and Sarah Mills (Stohmes) Cottingham, natives of Yorkshire, England, and Ohio, respectively.

Thomas Cottingham. Sr., was born in Yorkshire. England, in 1810. and at an early age emigrated with his parents to America. They settled near


DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA. 709

P.altiinoro, [Maryland.] A short time after the death of the father, Thomas Cottingham] Sr., came with his mother to Cincinnati. Here he received the [rudiments] of a common-school education and learned [the blacksmith's] trade [by apprenticeship.] Later removing to Dearborn county and settling on a farm at Logan Cross Roads, he [built] a [shop] and followed his [trade] as a blacksmith. The farm where he located was [obtained] from [Alford Stohmes.] his [father]-[inlaw], for whom he assumed certain financial obligations. Thomas Cottingham was married to Sarah Mills Stohmes, a native of Delhi, Ohio, born in [1815.] To this union were [born] nine children, as follow: Eliza, Charlotte, deceased: Alonzo. Sarali Amelia, Jacob, deceased; Thomas B., the subject of this sketch: Matilda, [deceased] : Louisa, deceased; and one child who died in infancy. The mother of these children, , S,, died on the farm, in Harrison township, in 1850, at the early age of [thirty-five] years. The father, Thomas Cottingham, Sr., after operating his [ninety]-acre farm in Harrison [township] and following his blacksmith's trade for a number of years, spent the last fifteen years of his life with a daughter, Mrs. [Liddle]. of Bright, Indiana. He died at the ripe old age of
nearly eightv-seven vears. He was an active Democrat, having served as trustee of Harrison township one term.

T. B. Cottingham, the subject of this sketch, grew up in Harrison township. Dearborn county, [Indiana,] and received a common-school education in the district township schools. He remained on the Inime farm until eighteen years of age, when he w<jrked out at different places for himself. Reared a farmer, he chose his vocation as such, and, with the exception of three [or] four vears in which he was engaged in the general mercantile business at Bright, [Indiana,] in [partnership] with W. S. h'agalev, he has followed farming all his life. After his marriage, in 1874, he continued in the mercantile business for about a year, and then sold his interest and bought a farm of
seventy-five acres in Miller township. After living here for about six years he sold the fami and bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he [moved] in [1881,] and where he has continued to reside. Mr. Cottingham has a [beautiful] farm, [kept] in excellent shape, and, located on high ground, his place commands a magnificent view of the surrounding country.

On June 24, 1874, T. E. Cottingham was married to Louisa Langdale, a native of Miller township. Dearborn conntv, Indiana, who was born on January 29. 1844. She was the daughter of Robert Hill and [Martha] ( Colvin) Langdale. To this happy union were born three children, Stanley L., de-

7IO DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA.

ceased ; Howard and Edna A. Howard [married] [Elizabeth] Reiick and operates the home farm. They have three children, Atjnes, Clayton [and] Albert S. Edna married J. D. [Moore,] and lives at Charleston, West Virginia, and they have three children. Rossebell, Louisa and Thomas Benton. Mrs. Lonisa (Langdale) [Cottingham] died, May [1,] 1911, a loving wife and devoted mother and loved by all who knew her.

Mr. Cottingham, as was his beloved wife, is an ardent member of the Christian church. He has been an elder in the church at Bright, Indiana, since its organization, and has always taken an active interest in its work. Mr. Cottingliam is not affiliated with any lodges, and, although an active Democrat, he has not held public office. T. B. Cottingliam, who is now practically retired, is a fair type of the prosperous and progressive farmer. He is a companionable man of cheery disposition, genteel and sociable. A man who stands for what he thinks is right and just, he is favorably known
and looked upon as an honorable citizen.

WILLIAM ALONZO COTTINGHAM, a member of the firm of Cottingham & Ingham, dealers in general merchandise, at Bright, Dearborn county, Ind., was born in that county, Feb. 3, 1840. His parents were Thomas and Sarah Mills Stohms Cottingham and his paternal grandfather was George Cottingham, a member of one of the old families which came from England and settled in Maryland. He lived and died in that state, there married a woman of German descent, who, after his death, came with the family, consisting of three sons and a daughter to Cincinnati. At that time the city consisted of a few scattering houses and the widow Cottingham found herself upon what seemed to be the outermost edge of civilization. After a few years in Cincinnati the family came to Dearborn county, locating near Logan creek, where two of the sons, Thomas and William, opened up a farm. The third son, George, went to Illinois and there farmed until his death. William also went to Illinois and in later life to Kansas where he died in 1902, at the age of ninetyfour years. Thomas remained in Dearborn county, where he wras one of the typical pioneers. He died March 31, 1897, aged eighty-six years. Game was abundant. Mr. Cottingham saw tears chased by hounds, and wolves preyed upon the live stock of the early settlers. He received his education in the little log schoolhouse, with the huge fire place and puncheon floor. In addition to pulling stumps and driving oxen on the farm he learned the trade of blacksmith, which he followed for many years with a marked degree of success. In politics he was a Jackson Democrat. He and his wife were both members of the Christian church and \vere active in promoting its good works. They had the following children : Eliza, who married William Liddle and now lives a widow at Bright ; Charlotte, deceased ; W'illiam A., the subject of this sketch ; Sarah, now Mrs. Joseph Haddock, lives at Harrison, O. ; Jacob, deceased ; Thomas B., whose sketch appears on another page of this work; Matilda, now Mrs. W. S. Fagaly, of Lawrenceburg ; Louisa, who died in girlhood; and two children who died in infancy. William A. Cottingham began life for himself at the age of sixteen years. Commencing at the bottom of the ladder as a farm hand at small wages he saved his money until he had accumulated a few hundred dollars, when he married and rented a farm. He prospered from the very beginning and after three years he bought ninety acres in Miller township, of Dearborn county, upon which he lived for four years, when he sold it to a good advantage and bought sixty acres adjoining the village of Bright. Shortly afterward he embarked in the mercantile line by purchasing a half interest in a general store at Bright, which he sold after four years. Some years later he formed a partnership with Robert Ingham, and they are now conducting a general store at Bright, Mr. Cottingham also managing his farm. In political matters Mr. Cottingham has followed in the footsteps of his honored father and votes the Democratic ticket. He has been elected township trustee, sen-ing with credit to himself and greatly to the advantage of the township. He has also held other minor offices. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In September, 1863, Mr. Cottingham was united in marriage to Miss Jane Haddock, daughter of Robert and Jane (Hargitt) Haddock. Both the Haddock and Hargitt families were among the pioneers of Dearborn county. Mrs. Cottinghanrs parents were born and married in England: came to America in 1821, after a tedious voyage of seven weeks on a sailing vessel, and located in Dearborn county. During their long and tedious voyage a fellow-passenger declared he would agree to eat the engine of the first steamer that ventured to cross the ocean, supposing that to be an utter impossibility, though Fulton's steamboat had been plying in the waters of the Hudson river for several years. Robert Haddock was a man of fine education and native ability as a teacher and in his day was a local preacher of considerable renown in the Methodist Episcopal church. To Mr. and Mrs. Cottingham there have been born the following children: Belle, wife of B. R. White, agent of the Canadian Pacific railway, and resides in Cincinnati; Daisy, wife of M. L. Rechenbach, residing at Harrison, O. ; Hattie, at home ; and Clyde H., who lives in Cincinnati. Mrs. Cottingham died on Aug. 21, 1902.

Name:Matilda Cottingham
Age in 1860:12
Birth Year:abt 1848
Birthplace:Indiana
Home in 1860:Harrison, Dearborn, Indiana
Gender:Female
Post Office:Harrison
Household Members:
NameAge
Thomas Cottingham49
Sarah Cottingham19
Jacob Cottingham17
Thomas Cottingham14
Matilda Cottingham12
Louisa Cottingham11

ame:Metilda Cottingham
Age:2
Birth Year:abt 1848
Birthplace:Indiana
Home in 1850:Harrison, Dearborn, Indiana
Gender:Female
Family Number:1475
Household Members:
NameAge
Thos Cottingham40
Sarah Cottingham33
Eliza Cottingham14
Charlott Cottingham12
William A Cottingham10
Sarah A Cottingham9
Jacob Cottingham7
Thomas B Cottingham4
Metilda Cottingham2
Louisa Cottingham0

Name:Matilda V Fagaly
Death Date:20 Oct 1912
City of Death:Miami
County of Death:Hamilton