Mary was the daughter of Willis Kimball Soule (b. Marietta, Washington, Ohio), son of Philander Soule, and Rosanna Mariah Wheeler. She married Ralph Butler Cotton on May 7, 1887 in Scotland County, Missouri.

Her likely place of birth according to family members was Saint Francisville in Clark County, MO.

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Obituary ------Mrs. Mary Cotton

Mary A. Cotton was born December 4 , 1863 in Scotland County. She died at the home of her daughter , Mrs. H. W Sherrill , January 29 at 12:30 a.m. Her age at the time was 81 years 1 month and 25 days .
She was married too R. B. Cotton in the year 1883 . He preceded her in death 11 years ago . She leaves to mourn her departure nine children ; Mrs. Kate Roberts, Granger Mo. ; Perry Cotton , Calahan , Colo.; Mrs. Alice Skiles , Edon , Ohio ; Allen Cotton , Watkins , Colo. ; Mrs. Lucy Martin and Mrs. Sadie Holman both of Maplewood , Mo. ; George Cotton and Mrs. Elzina Sherill , both of Licking, Mo. ; one sister Mrs . W. H. Mahler , Revere , Mo. ; one brother John Sole , Wayland , Mo. also 32 grandchildren and many other relatives and friends .
She was converted and united with the Wayland Baptist church and lived a christian life, Mrs. Cotton was an invalid for the last five years but never complained .
Funeral services were conducted at the Methodist church, Thursday afternoon at 2; 00 p.m. by Rev. A. B. Garrison . Burial was in the Mc-Mahan cemetery under direction of Smith and Ferguson .

CARD OF THANKS

We wish too express our sincere thanks to our dear friens for their kindness and sympathy and the many beautiful floral offerings. We especially thank Rev. Garrison for his comforting words , and Smith and Ferguson .
Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Sherrill and family
Mr. and Mrs. George Cotton and family
Mr. and Mrs. Nute Martin
Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Holman and son
Mrs. W. H. Hahler
Mr. and Mrs. Leo Edwards

Correction _____ in the obituary of Mrs. Mary Cotton published last week , her age was given as 81 years and it should have been 83 . Also the name of one son , Burley Cotton , was left out .