My Genealogy Hound

William H. Cothren. No matter in what business a man may engage, if he is industrious and fair in his dealings with his fellow men, he is sure sooner or later to win their confidence, respect and liking, and to become in time well-to-do in worldly goods. Mr. Cothren possesses these qualities, and as a consequence stands remarkably high in the estimation of all who know him. He was born in South Carolina in the month of February, 1842, and at an early day began to fight his own way in the world. When the Rebellion broke out he left his labors to enlist in the Southern army, joining, June 10, 1861, the Fifth Arkansas Regiment, and was sent east of the Mississippi, taking part in the battles of Farmington, Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro (where his shoulder was broken by a minie ball), Chickamauga, and other engagements of that campaign. He was also at Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin, Nashville, Tupelo, and Smithville, N. C., after which engagement the army surrendered and Mr. Cothren soon returned home. He was married a short time afterward to Miss Mary Gregory, a native of South Carolina, a daughter of William Gregory, who came from South Carolina in 1863 and engaged in farming. In 1869 Mr. Cothren bought a farm of eighty acres, slightly improved, and on this land he began an extensive scale of improvement, continuing to add to his original purchase until he became the owner of 240 acres, with about ninety acres cleared. He has excellent buildings and orchards, and has taken great pride in beautifying his home besides putting his land in good tillable condition. He is engaged in general farming and gives his attention to raising cotton, corn, wheat, oats, grasses, etc. He is a Democrat in politics, a patron of education, and has served as school director for eight years. He and family attend the Methodist Church, of which himself and wife are members. They are the parents of the following children: Nancy E., wife of Harve Spain; Reuben M., Richard V., and James W. Mr. Cothren is the eldest of seven children born to the marriage of Jackson Cothren and Sarah Gramling, who were born in South Carolina, and were engaged in farming in that State until the father’s death in 1857, after which the mother came to Arkansas and resided with her father, Reuben Gramling, who, with his sons, was among the earliest settlers of the west side of Crowley’s Ridge.