JAMES B. COTTNER, physician, Wetaug, is a native of Union County, Ill., born August 3, 1828, a son of David and Catharine (Miller) Cottner, both of whom were natives of Stoddard County, Mo. The father was a farmer. He moved to Union County in 1827, and died shortly afterward. He was a son of Frederick Cottner, a native of North Carolina. The mother of our subject died March 4, 1869, aged sixty-three years. She was a daughter of Nicholas Miller, of North Carolina. The parents were blessed with four children, James B. being the only one living. The mother was married a second time, to Matthew Anderson, by whom she had four children, one living — Isaac. The subject of these lines received what little education was afforded by the subscription schools of his native county. He first took up farming as an occupation, but living in the Mississippi bottoms, where there was a great amount of sickness, his attendance at the sickbed was often required. Becoming more and more acquainted with the several remedies generally administered in various cases, and showing a special aptitude for his new work, he soon discovered that he could not both farm and doctor, so constantly were his services demanded in the latter direction. He therefore gave up farming, and bent all his energies to the prosecution of his medical studies, and, for a period of thirty-one years, has been engaged in constant practice. He removed to Ullen, Ill., and afterward to Wetaug, in 1877, where he has since resided. He was married, January 29, 1861, to Julia A. Scott, born January 29, 1837, a daughter of Benjamin and Mary Ann Scott. Dr. and Mrs. Cottner are the parents of two children, one of whom is living — Mary C., born February 29, 1863, the wife of James M. Anderson, a merchant in Wetaug. In March, 1864, our subject enlisted in the Sixth Illinois Cavalry, Col. Lynch. They did active service in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana, and were mustered out at Springfield, Ill., July 2, 1865. In politics, the Doctor votes the Republican ticket.
Extracted 02 Nov 2014 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V - Biographical Sketches, page 319-320.
| Union | Johnson | |
| Alexander |
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Massac McCracken KY |
| Ballard KY |
