The Newtown bee., 1897-11-19

tive participants in King Phillips war
of 1857, and the French and Indian
war of 1745. Others OF his kindred /
served in the Revolutionary struggle and
the war of 1912.
William Cothren prepared for college |
at the Pennington Academy and was
graduated from Bowdoin in 1S43. The |
second degree from that college was re-
ceived in 1876, and an honorary degree
of NJ. A. from Yale University in 1S47
He settled in Woodbury. the year after
graduation and applying himself to the
study of law under the Hon Robert
Goodenough and the Hon Charles B.
Phelps, was admitted to the Litchfeld
county bar in October, 1916. He at once
entered into the practise of his profess
sion in Woodbury., where he has since
maintained large and successful gen.
eral law practise. He has always held
a very prominent position among the
foremost legal representatives of the
county.
He has been a close student and was
admitted an attorney and counselor in
the United States circuit court in 1856,
and an attorney and counselor of the
80
4 March s, 1865. He is thoroughly ia
miliar, by continued practical experience,
with all forms of its legal procedure.
He has taken an active interest in public
affairs every since his settlement in
Woodbury., his intellectual attachments
making him especially eligible to posi-
tions of responsibility and trust; and his
political career has been a long and
honorable one. Mr. Cothren was one OF
few who organized the republican party
in Connecticut, striving earnestly to
make known and promulgate its princi
plies; and he was greatly instrumental
in winning for it the early successes Of
that party. He was elected county
:, commissioner in 1851 and was state
: senator from the old Sixteenth distric
If in 1856, served in the lower house of thu
y Connecticut Legislature in 1882, and ha
d been justice of the peace aDd notary
II public during his entire professional
it career.
/ Since the age of 81 Mr. CUthren ha
1T beer large contributor, both in poetr!
- and prose, to the leading magazines ant
i newspapers of the day. Numerous pam
- phlets of legal and historical natur
~ have come from his versatile pen; and
70 as writer upon New England ant
+, history, genealogy and folk lore, he ha
- earned for himself an established reputa
d. ton. In 1S47 he was elected a CORES
90 ponding member of the New Englan
er Historical and Genealogical Society Q
~ Boston, in 1852 member of the Connet
ticut Historical Society, of which he wa
l. for many years vice-president, and
id 1854 was made an honorary member c
O. the Old Colony Historical Society {
Plymouth, Mass. He is likewise CORES
s. ponding member of the Wisconsin, Vel
mont and Maine Historical societie:
Very soon after settling in Woodbur
Mr. Cothren turned to the collection Q
local historical data, the result of whic
was the publication in 1854 Of a histor
of the town of Woodbury. from 1869 t
u 1854. This il AL elaborate work issue
in three volumes, being, indeed, the frs
We complete history in scope and number O
RS details of New England town eve
published. The work is treasured b
every family that is fortunate enough t
own copy in the town of Woodbury.
q. Mr. Cothren and family occupy pleas
Mt ant home on Main street.
On September 3, 1849, Mr. Cothren wa
:, united in marriage with Mary j. Steele
90 a descendant in the eight generatio
49, from Governor Bradford of May flower
,,o fame, and has had one child, who die
ne young.
% William Cothren has always been
~ prime mover in all matters relative
~ the welfare of the town, and is widel
10 know as generous, public-spirited mar
% who has rendered invaluable services t
no the community. He united with tn
IN First Congregational church in 1850, ant
or is past master of King Solomon's Ledge
~ F. and A. M.-[Frederick Calvin Morton
~ in Hartford Courant.