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Vevay Reveille, Feb. 26, 1876

William Cotton, Esq.

In gathering up the historical incidents and reminiscences of the county for your Centennial Paper, it seems eminently fitting that some sketches of the early settlement here of William Cotton and his wife, Christina Cotton, should appear as part of that history, and the more fitting as it is the Centennial of their birth.

William Cotton, S., was born in Virginia March 13th, 1776. In early youth he removed to Kentucky. In 1798 he came to Indiana and settled on Indian Creek, on the farm now owned by Mrs. McMackin using a large hollow sycamore tree as a dwelling, until a cabin could be erected.

He removed in 1805 farther up the creek and settled on the farm, which has since borne his name, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1839. He was a farmer by occupation, but took an active part in the early politics of Indiana, was the first Justice of the Peace for the county receiving his appointment from General Harrison, then Governor of the Territory.

After his appointment another citizen coveting the office went to General Harrison to procure the removal of Mr. Cotton, and secure his own appointment and put in a plea that Mr. Cotton was rather a poor penman. Harrison asked. ‘Is he honest?’ Being answered in the Affirmative, he assured the applicant that he could not grant his request. The point of the joke was that Gen. Harrison was much the poorer Penman of the two.

He was appointed associate Judge in 1814. At an election held May 13th, 1816, he was chosen a delegate to the Constitution Convention that framed the first Constitution of Indiana. The Convention convened at Corydon on the 10th day of June, and adjourned on the 29th of the same month. He was twice appointed by President Monroe to value the improvements of the Indians at the Indian villages in the Northern part of the territory of Indiana and Ohio. Was elected a member of the first Senate that convened after the State was admitted Into the Union, and held the position a number of years and was afterwards elected to the House of Representatives.

In the early history of the county the Cotton relatives were somewhat numerous; many of them held public positions in the county. Ralph Cotton, a brother of William, represented the county a number of years in the Legislature. Ralph B: Cotton was sheriff of the county. James M. Cotton represented the county in the Legislature two years. During the war of 1812 the residents of the neighborhood were “forted” in the residence of William Cotton for some weeks on account of fear of Indians. They were not molested by Indians, but one night they received quite an alarm from another source. The usual quiet of the camp was disturbed by a man calling from the hill on the west, requesting admittance to the fort, claiming to be a bearer of dispatches from General Harrison, then at Fort Harrison, to Cincinnati. All the dogs, and there were no few of them, were turned out as guards, a council was called, and it was decided to send out a man to investigate. They soon satisfied themselves that no treachery was intended, brought the young man within the fort, gave him such refreshments as they had, then took him on the Mt. Sterling hill and started him on his way to Cincinnati.

Soon after coming to Indiana Mr. Cotton: returned to Kentucky for provisions. While absent one of the two children they brought with them sickened and died. Nothing in the way of coffin or special burial clothes could be had,: not even so much as a plank with which to make a box. Mr. John Tague, their only neighbor, came to this lone. mother’s assistance, made a rude coffin and buried the child.

In 1806 the Government sent Surveyors to survey the land. They employed Mr. William Cotton as a hunter, with the contract that should he kill game enough in one day to supply them for more than the one clay then he should have the time as his own. but if he failed to pro cure a supply of game, then he was to make good time deficiency by a draft on his stock of hogs, which consisted of four small pigs.

Soon after the laud was surveyed Mr. N. Longworth of Cincinnati, sent an Agent, prospecting for land, Mr. Cotton entertained the Agent as best he could and refused any compensation. Soon after, a passing keel boat left at Vevay a box addressed to William Cotton; the box proved to he a present from Mr. Longworth. Among other household comforts it contained a few Mackinaw blankets, one of which is now in the possession of John F. Cotton. William Cotton probably owned and used the first hand mill for grinding meal in this part of the territory. For flour they went to Bardstown, Kentucky.

Christina Froman Cotton, wife of William Cotton, was born in Pennsylvania, September 24, 1776. A few years later her parents removed to Kentucky, where in 1794 she married and four years later removed with her husband to the territory of Indiana. She early experienced religion and united with the Baptist Church at the “Point”’ now Carrolton, Ky., and was baptized at that place. She with a few others in 1810 organized the Indian Creek Church—now Center Square. The Church was then located on Indian Creek, near the mouth of Pendleton Run, which was the first Baptist Church in the County.
Her daughter Mrs. Elizabeth Redd was probably the first white female child born in the County.