California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 JOEL SHELDON COTTON, A. B. � No occupation in which one can engage can equal in usefulness and benefit to his fellow-citizens the teacher's profession, and the satisfaction which comes to one whose efforts have been conscientiously expended in this calling is enjoyed by Professor Cotton, who is principal of the Fort Bragg Union high school. In the management of edu- cational works so important as are included in his duties as principal, he has the hearty co-operation of the board of education as well as of all of the best citizens of the city, whose highest ambition is the welfare of the schools in their jurisdiction. The history of the Cotton family is interesting, depicting as it does a strength of character and integrity of purpose that have shone out promi- nently in their every undertaking. Joel S. Cotton, Sr., a native of Reeds Grove, Ill., born June 18, 1851, was the son of Alexander R. Cotton, a native of New York state, born at Beslisle August 15, 1829. His marriage on October 28, 1848, united his fortunes with those of Nancy A. Zumwalt, who was born in Hancock county. Ind., April 31, 1831, but who from the age of three years made her home near Joliet, Will county, Ill. She was the daughter of Jacob and Susannah (Smith) Zumwalt, who were born September 15, 1807, and June 12, 1811, respectively, the latter at Reeds Grove, Ill. Falling a victim to the gold fever, Jacob Zumwalt intended to set out for the eldorado across the plains in the spring of 1849, but his plans were delayed on account of the reluctance of his wife to make the trip. Through the importunities of the children, however, the consent of the mother was finally won, and the spring of 1854 witnessed the removal of the entire family to the west, ox-teams forming the motive power. By the time the party reached the Sierras Alex-, ander R. Cotton, who for some time had been in poor health, died as the result of a severe cold, passing away at Twin Lakes August 21, 1854. The grave was marked by the tires of wagons. It was in August of the following year that his widow became the wife of Rockwell Hunt, who was born April 23, 1820, in Windhall township, Bennington county, Vt., the son of Albinus Hunt, the latter the son of Charles Hunt, who traced the ancestry of the family back to three brothers who migrated from England about six generations back. Dennis Rockwell, or Rock, as he was familiarly called, was reared in Madison county, N. Y., and when about thirty years of age, in 1850, left New York City with California as his destination, coming by way of Panama. After reaching San Francisco he lost little time in reaching the mines, but the fact that he soon gave it up for the more dependable occupa- tion of farming is sufficient proof that his success was negligable. It was while he was carrying on a farm on the Cosumnes river that he met and married Mrs. Cotton. By her first marriage she had two children, Albert, now a resident of Seattle, Wash., and Joel S., the father of Professor Cotton. By her marriage with Rockwell Hunt she became the mother of five chil- dren, as follows: Major C, of Seattle; Frank L., of Napa; Mark T., of Free- port, Sacramento county ; and Rockwell D., who holds the chair of Economics and Sociology in the University of Southern California ; and George G., super- intendent of the Tampico Oil Company, at Tampico, Mexico. Rockwell Hunt passed away April 18, 1913. Joel S. Cotton, Sr., was reared on the farm on the Cosumnes river, in Sacramento county, and was primarily educated in the schools in the vicinity of his home. Later he was privileged to attend Benicia College and in due time graduated from that institution. It was while in Benicia that he met and married Catherine D. Sheldon, who was a student in Mills College, that city, at the same time he was attending Benicia College. They were married September 1, 1872. Catherine (Sheldon) Cotton was a native daughter of California, having been born in Sacramento county. Her father, Jared Sheldon, in crossing the plains had taken the same route which was later taken by the ill-fated Donner party, but he was fortunate in coming through safely. The following spring he formed one of the party sent out to rescue the Donner victims. Mr. Sheldon became one of the very earliest settlers in the Cosumnes valley, where he obtained a grant from the Mexican government. In his efforts to build a dam in 1851 to prevent the river from overflowing his land and destroying his crops and improvements he incurred the enmity of the miners, who shot him down in cold blood. After his mar- riage Mr. Cotton settled down to farming on the Cosumnes river, and was still residing there when he was bereaved by the death of his wife April 16, 1875, when she was only twenty-three years of age. Besides a husband, she left two children to mourn the loss of a loving mother, Catherine, now the wife of Robert Warren, of Bridgehouse, Sacramento county, and Joel Sheldon, the subject of this sketch. Subsequently the father married again, and by this union one child was born, Pearl. While still a young man com- paratively, Joel Cotton, Sr.. died April 1, 1878. Joel Sheldon Cotton was born at Cosumnes, Sacramento county, March 23, 1875, and thus was only about three years old when orphaned by the death of his father. At the time he had reached school age he was living in Placer- ville, and consequently attended grammar school in that locality, following this training by a four-year course in Napa College. Still later preparation for his chosen profession was gained through a course in Stanford University, from which institution he was graduated in 1897, with the degree of A. B. On account of his health he came to Mendocino county to take up educational work and was fortunate in securing a position at Cleone, where he continued teaching for three years. Following this experience he came to Fort Bragg, and here too met good fortune in being assigned the principalship of the grammar school, a position which he filled with exceptional ability for six years. The splendid reputation which he had won as an educator in this capacity resulted in his appointment to the principalship of the Fort Bragg Union high school, which was then held in an old hotel in the business por- tion of the town. With the growth of population new and better school facil- ities were demanded and in 1907 resulted in the fine new building now the pride and delight of teachers and pupils as well as the citizens generally. Eighty-five pupils are enrolled at this writing, 1914, and the membership is continually increasing. The curriculum comprises four complete high school courses, and graduates from this school are admitted to any department of the university. Scientific farming is taught in the school, an agricultural depart- ment having recently been added to the course, and six acres of ground adja- cent to the school are given over to experimental purposes. Although Pro- fessor Cotton is a natural agriculturist, in order to fit himself to his own satisfaction for the teaching of this special course he has taken special train- ing in the University of California. In all of the varied departments of the school work he is meeting with the splendid success which his efforts deserve, and the fact that he has the co-operation and support of the citizens lightens his problems and makes it possible for him to render unexcelled service to his patrons. The marriage of Professor Cotton occurred in Cleone June 10, 1899, and united him with Miss Evelyn MacKerricher, the daughter of Duncan MacKerricher, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume. Three children were born of this marriage, John, Ruth and Norman.