CLINTON M. COTTERMAN. A resident of Anderson who for some years has made a substantial business of furnishing the people of this locality with the product of a market garden is Clinton M. Cotterman, who has his gardens well within the city limits, and who has also served the community in official capacity, and has long taken an active interest in politics.
Clinton M. Cotterman was born on a farm three miles west of Dayton in Montgomery County, Ohio, September 1, 1849, His father was William Cotterman, born in Pennsylvania, and the grandparents moved from Pennsylvania t0 Ohio, and became early settlers of Montgomery County, William Cotterman in early youth learned the trade of cigar- maker, which he followed all his active career, When the war broke out between the states, he enlisted as an Ohio volunteer, and gave efficient and loyal service to the Union, His last years were spent at the soldiers home near Dayton, William Cotterman married Amanda J. McPherson, Her father was a millwright by trade, and died at the age of thirty-seven, His widow managed to keep her children together until each had a home of his own. The mother of Mr. Cotterman died at the age of forty years and left seven children named Clinton M., Adam F., James B., William, Albertus, Clara B., and Catherine.
Clinton M. Cotterman was reared and educated in his native County, As a boy he worked under his father to learn the cigarmaker’s trade and afterwards acquired the trade of broom making, When he had grown to manhood he chose the occupation of farming instead of his trade, and his first purchase of land was forty acres in Montgomery County on the line of Preble County, In 1893 he sold out his place in Ohio and moved to Madison County, He soon afterwards bought some land in Union Township, farming there for one year, after which he operated as a renter for five years and then came to Anderson. He has a pleasant home at the corner of. Eighth and Union Streets, and a tract of four acres near by where he is engaged in truck farming.
Mr. Cotterman has been twice married. At the age of twenty-four he married Sarah M. House, who was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, a daughter of Andrew and Mary (Reichard) House, Mrs. Cotterman died at the age of thirty-five. For the second marriage Mr. Cotterman married Rachel Ellen Loy, who was born in Preble County, Ohio, a daughter of Conrad Loy. Mr. Cotterman has one son by his first marriage, named George. Since casting his first presidential vote for General Grant, Mr. Cotterman has always consistently supported the Republican ticket, has been active in the campaign, and has served in the office of Township assessor.