My Genealogy Hound

William M. Cottey, a resident of Knox County, was born here in 1844, and is a son of Ira D. Cottey. [See preceding sketch.] William M. was reared upon his father’s farm, in Fabius Township, now Bee Ridge, and received such education as the then new country offered. During the late war he served a few months in the militia. At the age of twenty-four he was united in, marriage to Mary A. Inman, a native of England, and daughter of James and Harriet Inman, also of England, but now residents of Adams County, Ill. Mr. Inman is a wagon-maker by trade, but makes farming his principal occupation. Shortly after marriage our subject’s fortune consisted of only 30 swine, 3 cows, 2 horses, a wagon, etc., amounting in all to sum of not over $800. He settled upon Jeddo Township, Knox County, as the place for his home, and by hard labor and good management, and the assistance of his faithful wife, he is now in possession of 260 acres of good land, well stocked, a beautiful residence, good outbuildings, a fine orchard, etc. The 25th of March, 1887, was the nineteenth anniversary of Mr. Cottey’s marriage, and to his union five children have been born, viz.: Rosa M. (seventeen), Ernest W. (fourteen), L. Gertrude (ten), Bertha M. and Wilmer L. (twins, one year old). In politics Mr. Cottey is a Democrat, and is regarded as a prominent citizen and farmer of Jeddo Township. Mr. Cottey realized early in life that this world was not his permanent abiding place, and when in his thirteenth year made a profession of religion, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Since which time he has tried to exemplify his profession by his life, and has filled the offices of steward, class leader and Sunday-school superintendent, having been superintendent of the Salem Sunday-school since its organization in 1873.