Noah R. Cotton is one of the prominent young planters of Catahoula parish, La., and comes of a long line of distinguished people. He traces his ancestry back five generations to Tabitha Allen, a sister of Gen. Ethan Allen of Revolutionary fame, she being the only daughter in a family of six children. The names of only three of the brothers are known: Ira, Ethan and Joseph. Ethan was a very free thinker for his day, and wrote the first book on that subject ever published in the United States. He was one of nature’s nobleman in word, thought and deed, and his struggles in behalf of American independence were heroic. Ira also became distinguished for his lofty integrity, and for his unimpeachable character. Of Joseph but little is known. Shortly before the opening of the Revolutionary war Tabitha Allen was married to Hugh McCullough, which union was strongly opposed by her family because McCollough was a tory. She, however, determined to share his lot and married him, but when their son Hugh was stolen by the Indian allies of the English, McCollough sided with the cause of the colonists, and fought gallantly for American independence. The life of young Hugh McCollough among the Indians, his eventual escape and history is thrillingly romantic. Mr. Cotton is also a direct descendant of the Duke of Carmeith of Wales (a castle and village of that name still exists), the first member of which family to come to America was John Thomas, who was born in Wales. His daughter, the grandmother of the subject of this sketch, was Rosina Thomas and married a Mr. Philips. She had four brothers in the United States army filling difierent positions. Three were killed at Fort Meigs during the Indian war, and Maj. Joseph Thomas alone returned home after an absence of many years. In the Philips family it had been the custom for generations to hand the business in which they were engaged (foundry, or what was then called the iron business) down from generation to generation, but the grandfather of the subject of this sketch forfeited his rights to so do by coming to America in 1791, at the age of sixteen years. He served as a cadet under George Washington in quelling the whisky insurrection, his immediate commander being Anthony Wayne. He afterward moved South, married Rosina Thomas in 1811, and when the war of 1812 came up he enlisted in the service and fought under General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. His commission as lieutenant is still preserved in the family. He afterward became a merchant, and of him it was truly said, his word was as good as his bond. He died in 1860 after a well-spent life. He and his parents were born in Amsterdam, Holland, his father and grandfather both bearing the name of David, and he had seven brothers but none of their descendants are now known. Isaac and Asher, two of the brothers, left children, but all are dead save one of whom no trace can now be had. To Alexander and Rosina (Thomas) Philips the following children were born: P. T. (deceased), Mrs. Ellen Newberger (deceased), Eliza, Alfred (deceased), Rosina (Cotton), John A. (deceased), Isaac N. (deceased), and Sophia, who married John B. Cotton and is now deceased. Their marriage was celebrated in 1850 and resulted in the birth of four children: John (deceased), Rosina (deceased), Mary (wife of James A. Hinckley), and Noah R. Mrs. Cotton died in 1862 and in 1806 Mr. Cotton married her sister Rosina. John B. Cotton was at one time a judge in the district courts at New Orleans, and was a talented and successful lawyer. He served as a private in the confederate army, and in the legislature during the Civil war, and died in 1881. Noah R. Cotton, the immediate subject of this sketch, was born in Concordia parish, August 8, 1862, and obtained a fine classical education in Tulane university. In 1883 he came to Catahoula parish to take charge of his plantation, which had been left him by an uncle, which consists of 1,200 acres, and he now has 550 acres under cultivation. Mr. Cotton is a young man of more than ordinary ability and promise, and although modest and unassuming in demeanor he is well and favorably known by many people in Catahoula and other parishes. He is an agreeable conversationalist. is frank and cordial in manners, and in all his business transactions is the soul of honor. On the 6th of October, 1891, Mr. Cotton was married to Miss Mary Laura, daughter of Gen. J. H. McLeary, of San Antonio, Tex., an eminent jurist and widely known lawyer.
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Louisiana: Embracing an Authentic and Comprehensive Account of the Chief Events in the History of the State, a Special Sketch of Every Parish and a Record of the Lives of Many of the Most Worthy and Illustrious Families and Individuals, Volume I, by Goodspeed Publishing Company, published by Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892; Pgs. 362-363
