Merced County Biographies
Ref: Pages 838-839
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 8/7/2009
WILLIAM C. COTTON, M.D.
Born in San Antonio, Texas, on December 4, 1882, W.C. Cotton was the fourth in a family of eight children born to Charles F. and Mary F. (Edgar) Cotton. Charles F. Cotton was born at Fort Smith, Texas, in 1849, became a journalist and publisher and after forty years of active life retired to San Antonio. Mrs. Cotton was born in San Antonio. Her father was a member of General Miles' Scout troops, and a captain in the regulars in the Mexican War with General Taylor. He served for fifteen years as Vice Consul of Mexico City. He lived to be eighty-two years of age. The grandparents on both sides of the family helped make history in the early days when Texas was a territory.
William C. Cotton was educated in the public schools in San Antonio, graduating from the high school. He began life's work as a copy boy in the office of the Daily Express of San Antonio, receiving three dollars per week as a wage. Becoming dissatisfied with the outlook he went to Chicago in 1900 and entered the employ of W.R. Hearst, left copy work to take up the mechanical end of the newspaper and rose to be color man at sixty-five dollars per week and was thus engaged for four years, continuing newspaper work until 1911. He had entered Valparaiso University in Chicago in 1907, and upon receiving his M.D. degree in 1911, became an intern in Bellevue Hospital and two years later went to Bloomington, Ill., and became associated in office work with Dr. Benson.
In 1917 Dr. Cotton enlisted for service in the World War, was First Lieutenant of Benjamin Harrison Medical Casuals A.E.F. three months later, serving until 1919. He was Chief of Staff at Winchester, England, in charge of 200 men and thirty-five nurses and seventeen doctors. He received his honorable discharge at Camp Riley, Kans., in March, 1919. After the war he came to Atwater, Cal. and engaged in the practice of his profession and since then has built up a lucrative practice and has made a large circle of friends.
In Chicago, in 1902, Dr. Cotton was united in marriage with Marie Steele, daughter of the late Carl S. Steele and Marie O. Steele, now a resident of Los Angeles. Mrs. Cotton was born in Ohio. They have two children: Opal, an advanced student and Russian Ballet dancer in Los Angeles; and William Edgar, attending the public schools in Merced County. Dr. Cotton is a Republican in politics. Fraternally he is a member of Yosemite Lodge No. 99, F. & A.M. and the Sciots, both in Merced; Merced Lodge No. 1240, B.P.O.E. and a charter member of the Atwater Camp, Woodmen of the World; and he is a member of the Atwater Booster Club. He is a member of the Atwater Fruit Exchange and the California Peach and Fig Association. He owns 100 acres of highly developed orchard and vineyard in Merced County, and is a one-fifth owner in Mercy Hospital in Merced. He was president of the Merced County Medical Society in 1923, and health officer of the county in 1922, 1923 and 1924.
While in Chicago Dr. Cotton was one of the founders of the Federated Newspaper Trades of that city and served as secretary in 1911-1912. He was prominent in politics while in Chicago and opened the Victor Berger campaign at Milwaukee, Wis. He is a personal friend of Eugene Debs and was formerly an active member of the Socialist party. He is a profound thinker, brilliant debater and ready writer and scholar. He has been the champion of the under dog, so to speak, wherever he finds he can do some good. Take it all in all he has been and is a very useful member of society.
History of
MERCED COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1925
Merced County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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