My Genealogy Hound
Below is a family biography included in The History of Williamson County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
* * * *
R. F. COTTON was born in Davidson County, Tenn., July 24, 1838, and was the sixteenth of seventeen children born to Allen and Mary (Barham) Cotton. The father was born in North Carolina and died in 1867, and his wife in 1863. Our subject received a good English education, and taught school a number of years. He enlisted in Company F, Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, in 1861. At Richmond, Ky., he captured a Federal captain and fifteen men by making them believe he had a large force. He was promoted on the field to a first lieutenant, and was in the secret service, under Gen. Bragg, until captured September 19, 1863. He was discharged in May, 1865, and after his return home engaged in farming. At the end of one year he came to Williamson County and purchased a farm near Franklin, which he has increased until he now owns 325 acres of good land. In September, 1865, he wedded Lucinda J. Smith, daughter of Turner Smith. She died in May, 1868, leaving one daughter, Amanda. He then married Mary E. Owen, daughter of Richard and Mary Y. (Temple) Owen, October 22, 1871. Their children are Alcenia G., Mary E., Owen T., Robert A., Lucila, Maggie and Park. Mr. Cotton is a Democrat and a member of the K. of P.
* * * *
This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in The History of Williamson County, Tennessee published in 1887 by Goodspeed. The History of Williamson County was included within The History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Beford and Marshall Counties of Tennessee
View additional Williamson County, Tennessee family biographies here
View a historic 1888 map of Williamson County, Tennessee
View family biographies for other counties and states here
Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.