The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1903-08-12
THE LATE
MRS. COTTON
Sketch of Her Life and Traits OF
characteristics q Fine
Type OF Woman
By J. X, NJ


Type OF Woman
BY J. X. NJ
When Mrs. Joseph l.. Cotton passed
away last Wednesday morning, August
the 9Th 1903. Il woman. wife and mo-
Their passed into the land of mysteries.
We can hear of death affair Oft without
serious emotional disturbance, but when
the ':pestilence that walketh in darkness
or the :'arrow that tlieth by night stills
the pulse of one we all know in the daily
walks of life, our own beats weaker with
a nameless dread. We feel the frail, un-
certain venue of existence. Let us learn
a lesson from this sad occurrence. Let
us 90 forth and be more tender and
merciful in the discharge of our duties
to the loving. We should not only scat
ter flowers on their graves, but SOW be-
side them the seeds from which the
violets of noble and better life will
spring.
Mrs. Cotton was the second eldest
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Robin
son, and was born on May l, 1912, near
Lisbon Center, New York State. We
know little of her childhood beyond the
fact that it was sunny and happy one.
The strong common sense of the ances-
try distinguished even her youth and
she was always prudent thoughtful,
loving and conscientious woman. Dur
ing the civil war when deluge of blood
swept over this land, she offered herself
as one of the volunteer nurses from New
York State, and served ten years in the
hospital for Union soldiers established
at Baltimore, Md.
As one of the hundreds of minister
ing Angels" during this deadly strife,
she earned the praise of army surgeons
and officers for her great sympathy and
splendid ability in caring for the wound
ed and sick soldiers. She was married
at Baltimore, Md, on February 25th,
1863, to Joseph L. Cotton NOW deceas-
ed), and in 1878, she in company with
her husband was among the vanguard
of pioneers that settled at Frazee City,
in western Minnesota. AS the tide of
immigration moved on to the West, Mr..
and Mrs. Cotton in 1878 moved to Ran
som county, North Dakota then terri
tory of Dakota) where Mr.. Cotton found
ed the town of Lisbon. Three children
we're born to them. and in 1883, Mr.. Col
tea moved With his family to Ward
county, where he established the pres
emit town of Burlington and was practi-
cally the founder of this county. Dur
ing the (then territorial days. Mr.. Cotton
identified himself prominently in terri
torial affairs, and was an influential
member of the constitutional convention
which paved the way for the admission
of North Dakota to statehood. 1t was
during these early years of Ward county
that people learned the truly good and
generous disposition of 'Aunt Diana
Cotton, as she was Familiarity called and
many and sincere are the friendships
marking the years of her life spent among
US.
Among the many sterling qualities of
this good woman was that her generous
heart never turned from the cry of dis
tress-and no matter at what hour. day
or night, she was ever ready to 60 forth
and lend helping hand, and her pres
ence across the threshold has brought
plenty, comfort and happiness to many
home in this county.
We all have our faults, "Aunt Diana
Cotton may have had some, but her
kindly disposition, her gentle minister
ing spirit, and her great sympathy for
others in times of trial and troubles, out
weighed these a thousand fold. She
possessed fresh strong intellect, and
ever retained interest in affairs. She
was always loyal in all things.
''Aunt Diana" Cotton did not individu-
alize herself as a member of any church,
though her inclinations tended strongly
to the Baptist faith, but her syympa-
thetic nature went out to all creeds that
deepened and strengthened the mental
and spiritual development Of her fellow
beings She found comfort land happi-
ness in doing good to others. Genial
and kindly by nature, she was force in
social life. She was actively identified
with the Ladies Aid of this place, and
was member of the Woman's Relief
Corps and also a member of that cul-
tured in mind, noble in sentiment, dar-
ing and fearless for the right body of
woman-the order of the Eastern Star.
A large measure of happiness had
been here, but grief had not passed her
by. In August of 1894 she moved with
her husband and family to Florida. In
that sunny land the greatest grief of her
life came upon her, when the death OF
her beloved daughter, Sarah, on October
2, 1893, and again in 1896 the death of a
kind and loving husband, filled the
measure of her bereavement full. She
met the dow Win CHRISTIAN IOrClLuue
and her stricken heart turned with
more entire devotion to her remaining
son and daughter and grand children
Leaving her cherished dead meath the
soil of their Southern home, she returned
in 1896 to her old home, here at Burl
ington. Since her return from Florida
her health had not been of the strongest.
In her home life here with her grand
children and son, Leslie she was resum-
ing life's duties again, though troubled
at times with what she used to call her
bad spells" But amidst life, Death
was concealed in ambush. There was
no noise of approaching footsteps, or
rustic Of garments, or whispers, OF
sounds of spirit voices no indications Of
the grim spectre, or portents of the inn
pending calamity. But the Death Angel
had cast the shadow Of his mantle
around her, and on the night of the 18th
ult., she was suddenly stricken with
paralysis. For eleven days she fingered
and at one time it was expected that she
would recover. but although all was
done for her that medical skill could