Reynolds County, Missouri
Genealogy and History
Tolman White Cotton, M. D.
Active in the practice of medicine at Van Buren in Carter County, Missouri, for over sixty-two years an a leader in many phases of community life for more than a half century, Dr. Tolman White Cotton was awarded many honors, local and state. Dr. Cotton was a member of the Missouri State Board of Health, County health officer, and served as president of the Missouri Health Association.
Born on a farm in Reynolds County Missouri, on August 12, 1868, he was the son of Smith W. and Mary Ann (Barnes) Cotton, his father a farmer and both parents descendant of pioneer families in this section of Missouri. The family name was originally Whitecotton but was changed to Cotton with the first part, White, being retained as a middle name. The family settled in Reynolds County after a trip from Tennessee in 1830. The boyhood years of Tolman W. Cotton were spent on his father’s farm, where he did chores as a growing lad and combined work in the fields with schoolroom duties. His elementary schooling was secured in a rural school of this area and after graduation from the curriculum of that time he taught in other schools to help pay for his medical training. He alternated college attendance with teaching duties, was a student at Farmington College, read medicine under a preceptor, attended Beaumont Medical College, now St. Louis University and Barnes Medical College in St. Louis. Dr. Cotton was awarded a Doctor of Medicine Degree from both of these institutions and began to practice in 1892, although he did not graduate until 1893. He constantly added to his medical knowledge by attending polyclinics in Chicago, New Orleans, New York and Philadelphia. Dr. Cotton did graduate work in New York City and in the hospital and clinics of London, England.
Van Buren, in Carter County, MO was chosen as the site of his office, and he began on of the longest continuous periods of practice in recent medical history. He conducted a general medical and surgical practice that was county-wide in scope and built up over the years. Dr. Cotton worked most of the time as diagnostician, physician, and many times when necessary as surgeon. He was a country doctor and a family doctor, a species rapidly disappearing in the medical profession. He called on patients over long distances and in all sorts of weather, first, with a horse and buggy and later in automobile. Many families in the area are grateful for his devotion to medicine, and his skill and understanding, his battles against disease and injuries in their behalf, and two generations, some families knew no other physician. He was active to the very end of his life, meeting death at the age of eight-seven while on a call to a very ill patient, on February 6, 1955.
A property owner and banker in Van Buren, he was one of the reorganizers, and for many years president of the Carter County State Bank. He helped organize, and served as president of the Carter-Shannon County Medical Society. Another honor was being elected president of the Missouri State Medical Association. It was in 1902 that he took the position of County health officer, and he held for approximately half a century. Dr. Cotton was appointed by Governor Frederick D. Gardner to the State Board of Health and he served from 1917 to 1921. From 1941 to 1945 he served by appointment of Forrest C. Donnell, the board of managers of the State Eleemosynary Institutions. Always interested in politics in the local and state government, he was for some time chairman of the Democrat Central Committee of Carter County. His long career included service in the two great wars of our century on the home front, first, as a member of the advisory board in World War I, and later as chairman of the Council of Defense of Carter County in the second world conflict. He served for years as president of the Red Cross in Carter County. Dr. Cotton held the highest positions in Masonry, a past master of Van Buren lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, a member of St. Louis Chapter No. 8 of Royal Arch Masons, of Cape Girardeau Council of Royal and Select Masons, of Knights Templar Commander of Mountain and the Scottish Rite bodies. He held the honorary Thirty-third Degree in recognition of his service to the order and was at one time Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Missouri, 1914-1915, by virtue of which office he laid the cornerstone of the State Capitol. He was also Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of the order of Eastern Star in Missouri. His Church was the Methodist Episcopal in Van Buren and he was long identified with the work of Church and Sunday School.
Mrs. Cotton was the former June Lee, daughter of the late Senator George T. Lee, a successful merchant of Van Buren, Civic leader, and for sixteen years a member of the Missouri Legislature, the last four years as senator of Carter County. Dr. Cotton’s wife was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, helped establish the Carter County Library, was an organizer and president of the Queen Ann Study Club, Donor of the club house which was used later for a Red Cross Center during World War II, and a leader in valuable civic projects. For many years she was active in the Methodist Church and Sunday School. Mrs. Cotton passed away on December 6, 1941.
Dr. and Mrs. Cotton were the parents of three children: Gladys Pauline, the eldest, died of an illness just when she was completing her college education in Springfield, Missouri, George Stanley Cotton attended Wentworth Military Academy, the Terrell Military College in Texas and State Teachers College in Springfield, Missouri. He married the former Francis Sullinger and was in the insurance business for a time, but became cashier of the Carter County State Bank and served for years in that capacity, assuming the presidency after his father’s death and holding that office until his own death on August 10, 1962. Thelma Cotton Buckthorpe attended the University of Missouri and Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She graduated in medicine at Washington University of St. Louis, was awarded a degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1930 and served internship at the University of Oklahoma Hospital in Oklahoma City. Miss Cotton practiced medicine in Van Buren with her father for some time but after her marriage to Dr. T. C. Buckthorpe, local dentist, she went with him to military assignments.
Contributed #081B - Linda Pingleton
Genealogy and History
Tolman White Cotton, M. D.
Active in the practice of medicine at Van Buren in Carter County, Missouri, for over sixty-two years an a leader in many phases of community life for more than a half century, Dr. Tolman White Cotton was awarded many honors, local and state. Dr. Cotton was a member of the Missouri State Board of Health, County health officer, and served as president of the Missouri Health Association.
Born on a farm in Reynolds County Missouri, on August 12, 1868, he was the son of Smith W. and Mary Ann (Barnes) Cotton, his father a farmer and both parents descendant of pioneer families in this section of Missouri. The family name was originally Whitecotton but was changed to Cotton with the first part, White, being retained as a middle name. The family settled in Reynolds County after a trip from Tennessee in 1830. The boyhood years of Tolman W. Cotton were spent on his father’s farm, where he did chores as a growing lad and combined work in the fields with schoolroom duties. His elementary schooling was secured in a rural school of this area and after graduation from the curriculum of that time he taught in other schools to help pay for his medical training. He alternated college attendance with teaching duties, was a student at Farmington College, read medicine under a preceptor, attended Beaumont Medical College, now St. Louis University and Barnes Medical College in St. Louis. Dr. Cotton was awarded a Doctor of Medicine Degree from both of these institutions and began to practice in 1892, although he did not graduate until 1893. He constantly added to his medical knowledge by attending polyclinics in Chicago, New Orleans, New York and Philadelphia. Dr. Cotton did graduate work in New York City and in the hospital and clinics of London, England.
Van Buren, in Carter County, MO was chosen as the site of his office, and he began on of the longest continuous periods of practice in recent medical history. He conducted a general medical and surgical practice that was county-wide in scope and built up over the years. Dr. Cotton worked most of the time as diagnostician, physician, and many times when necessary as surgeon. He was a country doctor and a family doctor, a species rapidly disappearing in the medical profession. He called on patients over long distances and in all sorts of weather, first, with a horse and buggy and later in automobile. Many families in the area are grateful for his devotion to medicine, and his skill and understanding, his battles against disease and injuries in their behalf, and two generations, some families knew no other physician. He was active to the very end of his life, meeting death at the age of eight-seven while on a call to a very ill patient, on February 6, 1955.
A property owner and banker in Van Buren, he was one of the reorganizers, and for many years president of the Carter County State Bank. He helped organize, and served as president of the Carter-Shannon County Medical Society. Another honor was being elected president of the Missouri State Medical Association. It was in 1902 that he took the position of County health officer, and he held for approximately half a century. Dr. Cotton was appointed by Governor Frederick D. Gardner to the State Board of Health and he served from 1917 to 1921. From 1941 to 1945 he served by appointment of Forrest C. Donnell, the board of managers of the State Eleemosynary Institutions. Always interested in politics in the local and state government, he was for some time chairman of the Democrat Central Committee of Carter County. His long career included service in the two great wars of our century on the home front, first, as a member of the advisory board in World War I, and later as chairman of the Council of Defense of Carter County in the second world conflict. He served for years as president of the Red Cross in Carter County. Dr. Cotton held the highest positions in Masonry, a past master of Van Buren lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, a member of St. Louis Chapter No. 8 of Royal Arch Masons, of Cape Girardeau Council of Royal and Select Masons, of Knights Templar Commander of Mountain and the Scottish Rite bodies. He held the honorary Thirty-third Degree in recognition of his service to the order and was at one time Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Missouri, 1914-1915, by virtue of which office he laid the cornerstone of the State Capitol. He was also Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of the order of Eastern Star in Missouri. His Church was the Methodist Episcopal in Van Buren and he was long identified with the work of Church and Sunday School.
Mrs. Cotton was the former June Lee, daughter of the late Senator George T. Lee, a successful merchant of Van Buren, Civic leader, and for sixteen years a member of the Missouri Legislature, the last four years as senator of Carter County. Dr. Cotton’s wife was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, helped establish the Carter County Library, was an organizer and president of the Queen Ann Study Club, Donor of the club house which was used later for a Red Cross Center during World War II, and a leader in valuable civic projects. For many years she was active in the Methodist Church and Sunday School. Mrs. Cotton passed away on December 6, 1941.
Dr. and Mrs. Cotton were the parents of three children: Gladys Pauline, the eldest, died of an illness just when she was completing her college education in Springfield, Missouri, George Stanley Cotton attended Wentworth Military Academy, the Terrell Military College in Texas and State Teachers College in Springfield, Missouri. He married the former Francis Sullinger and was in the insurance business for a time, but became cashier of the Carter County State Bank and served for years in that capacity, assuming the presidency after his father’s death and holding that office until his own death on August 10, 1962. Thelma Cotton Buckthorpe attended the University of Missouri and Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She graduated in medicine at Washington University of St. Louis, was awarded a degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1930 and served internship at the University of Oklahoma Hospital in Oklahoma City. Miss Cotton practiced medicine in Van Buren with her father for some time but after her marriage to Dr. T. C. Buckthorpe, local dentist, she went with him to military assignments.
Contributed #081B - Linda Pingleton
Reynolds County, Missouri
Genealogy and History
Tolman White Cotton, M. D.
Active in the practice of medicine at Van Buren in Carter County, Missouri, for over sixty-two years an a leader in many phases of community life for more than a half century, Dr. Tolman White Cotton was awarded many honors, local and state. Dr. Cotton was a member of the Missouri State Board of Health, County health officer, and served as president of the Missouri Health Association.
Born on a farm in Reynolds County Missouri, on August 12, 1868, he was the son of Smith W. and Mary Ann (Barnes) Cotton, his father a farmer and both parents descendant of pioneer families in this section of Missouri. The family name was originally Whitecotton but was changed to Cotton with the first part, White, being retained as a middle name. The family settled in Reynolds County after a trip from Tennessee in 1830. The boyhood years of Tolman W. Cotton were spent on his father’s farm, where he did chores as a growing lad and combined work in the fields with schoolroom duties. His elementary schooling was secured in a rural school of this area and after graduation from the curriculum of that time he taught in other schools to help pay for his medical training. He alternated college attendance with teaching duties, was a student at Farmington College, read medicine under a preceptor, attended Beaumont Medical College, now St. Louis University and Barnes Medical College in St. Louis. Dr. Cotton was awarded a Doctor of Medicine Degree from both of these institutions and began to practice in 1892, although he did not graduate until 1893. He constantly added to his medical knowledge by attending polyclinics in Chicago, New Orleans, New York and Philadelphia. Dr. Cotton did graduate work in New York City and in the hospital and clinics of London, England.
Van Buren, in Carter County, MO was chosen as the site of his office, and he began on of the longest continuous periods of practice in recent medical history. He conducted a general medical and surgical practice that was county-wide in scope and built up over the years. Dr. Cotton worked most of the time as diagnostician, physician, and many times when necessary as surgeon. He was a country doctor and a family doctor, a species rapidly disappearing in the medical profession. He called on patients over long distances and in all sorts of weather, first, with a horse and buggy and later in automobile. Many families in the area are grateful for his devotion to medicine, and his skill and understanding, his battles against disease and injuries in their behalf, and two generations, some families knew no other physician. He was active to the very end of his life, meeting death at the age of eight-seven while on a call to a very ill patient, on February 6, 1955.
A property owner and banker in Van Buren, he was one of the reorganizers, and for many years president of the Carter County State Bank. He helped organize, and served as president of the Carter-Shannon County Medical Society. Another honor was being elected president of the Missouri State Medical Association. It was in 1902 that he took the position of County health officer, and he held for approximately half a century. Dr. Cotton was appointed by Governor Frederick D. Gardner to the State Board of Health and he served from 1917 to 1921. From 1941 to 1945 he served by appointment of Forrest C. Donnell, the board of managers of the State Eleemosynary Institutions. Always interested in politics in the local and state government, he was for some time chairman of the Democrat Central Committee of Carter County. His long career included service in the two great wars of our century on the home front, first, as a member of the advisory board in World War I, and later as chairman of the Council of Defense of Carter County in the second world conflict. He served for years as president of the Red Cross in Carter County. Dr. Cotton held the highest positions in Masonry, a past master of Van Buren lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, a member of St. Louis Chapter No. 8 of Royal Arch Masons, of Cape Girardeau Council of Royal and Select Masons, of Knights Templar Commander of Mountain and the Scottish Rite bodies. He held the honorary Thirty-third Degree in recognition of his service to the order and was at one time Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Missouri, 1914-1915, by virtue of which office he laid the cornerstone of the State Capitol. He was also Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of the order of Eastern Star in Missouri. His Church was the Methodist Episcopal in Van Buren and he was long identified with the work of Church and Sunday School.
Mrs. Cotton was the former June Lee, daughter of the late Senator George T. Lee, a successful merchant of Van Buren, Civic leader, and for sixteen years a member of the Missouri Legislature, the last four years as senator of Carter County. Dr. Cotton’s wife was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, helped establish the Carter County Library, was an organizer and president of the Queen Ann Study Club, Donor of the club house which was used later for a Red Cross Center during World War II, and a leader in valuable civic projects. For many years she was active in the Methodist Church and Sunday School. Mrs. Cotton passed away on December 6, 1941.
Dr. and Mrs. Cotton were the parents of three children: Gladys Pauline, the eldest, died of an illness just when she was completing her college education in Springfield, Missouri, George Stanley Cotton attended Wentworth Military Academy, the Terrell Military College in Texas and State Teachers College in Springfield, Missouri. He married the former Francis Sullinger and was in the insurance business for a time, but became cashier of the Carter County State Bank and served for years in that capacity, assuming the presidency after his father’s death and holding that office until his own death on August 10, 1962. Thelma Cotton Buckthorpe attended the University of Missouri and Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She graduated in medicine at Washington University of St. Louis, was awarded a degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1930 and served internship at the University of Oklahoma Hospital in Oklahoma City. Miss Cotton practiced medicine in Van Buren with her father for some time but after her marriage to Dr. T. C. Buckthorpe, local dentist, she went with him to military assignments.
Contributed #081B - Linda Pingleton
Genealogy and History
Tolman White Cotton, M. D.
Active in the practice of medicine at Van Buren in Carter County, Missouri, for over sixty-two years an a leader in many phases of community life for more than a half century, Dr. Tolman White Cotton was awarded many honors, local and state. Dr. Cotton was a member of the Missouri State Board of Health, County health officer, and served as president of the Missouri Health Association.
Born on a farm in Reynolds County Missouri, on August 12, 1868, he was the son of Smith W. and Mary Ann (Barnes) Cotton, his father a farmer and both parents descendant of pioneer families in this section of Missouri. The family name was originally Whitecotton but was changed to Cotton with the first part, White, being retained as a middle name. The family settled in Reynolds County after a trip from Tennessee in 1830. The boyhood years of Tolman W. Cotton were spent on his father’s farm, where he did chores as a growing lad and combined work in the fields with schoolroom duties. His elementary schooling was secured in a rural school of this area and after graduation from the curriculum of that time he taught in other schools to help pay for his medical training. He alternated college attendance with teaching duties, was a student at Farmington College, read medicine under a preceptor, attended Beaumont Medical College, now St. Louis University and Barnes Medical College in St. Louis. Dr. Cotton was awarded a Doctor of Medicine Degree from both of these institutions and began to practice in 1892, although he did not graduate until 1893. He constantly added to his medical knowledge by attending polyclinics in Chicago, New Orleans, New York and Philadelphia. Dr. Cotton did graduate work in New York City and in the hospital and clinics of London, England.
Van Buren, in Carter County, MO was chosen as the site of his office, and he began on of the longest continuous periods of practice in recent medical history. He conducted a general medical and surgical practice that was county-wide in scope and built up over the years. Dr. Cotton worked most of the time as diagnostician, physician, and many times when necessary as surgeon. He was a country doctor and a family doctor, a species rapidly disappearing in the medical profession. He called on patients over long distances and in all sorts of weather, first, with a horse and buggy and later in automobile. Many families in the area are grateful for his devotion to medicine, and his skill and understanding, his battles against disease and injuries in their behalf, and two generations, some families knew no other physician. He was active to the very end of his life, meeting death at the age of eight-seven while on a call to a very ill patient, on February 6, 1955.
A property owner and banker in Van Buren, he was one of the reorganizers, and for many years president of the Carter County State Bank. He helped organize, and served as president of the Carter-Shannon County Medical Society. Another honor was being elected president of the Missouri State Medical Association. It was in 1902 that he took the position of County health officer, and he held for approximately half a century. Dr. Cotton was appointed by Governor Frederick D. Gardner to the State Board of Health and he served from 1917 to 1921. From 1941 to 1945 he served by appointment of Forrest C. Donnell, the board of managers of the State Eleemosynary Institutions. Always interested in politics in the local and state government, he was for some time chairman of the Democrat Central Committee of Carter County. His long career included service in the two great wars of our century on the home front, first, as a member of the advisory board in World War I, and later as chairman of the Council of Defense of Carter County in the second world conflict. He served for years as president of the Red Cross in Carter County. Dr. Cotton held the highest positions in Masonry, a past master of Van Buren lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, a member of St. Louis Chapter No. 8 of Royal Arch Masons, of Cape Girardeau Council of Royal and Select Masons, of Knights Templar Commander of Mountain and the Scottish Rite bodies. He held the honorary Thirty-third Degree in recognition of his service to the order and was at one time Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Missouri, 1914-1915, by virtue of which office he laid the cornerstone of the State Capitol. He was also Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of the order of Eastern Star in Missouri. His Church was the Methodist Episcopal in Van Buren and he was long identified with the work of Church and Sunday School.
Mrs. Cotton was the former June Lee, daughter of the late Senator George T. Lee, a successful merchant of Van Buren, Civic leader, and for sixteen years a member of the Missouri Legislature, the last four years as senator of Carter County. Dr. Cotton’s wife was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, helped establish the Carter County Library, was an organizer and president of the Queen Ann Study Club, Donor of the club house which was used later for a Red Cross Center during World War II, and a leader in valuable civic projects. For many years she was active in the Methodist Church and Sunday School. Mrs. Cotton passed away on December 6, 1941.
Dr. and Mrs. Cotton were the parents of three children: Gladys Pauline, the eldest, died of an illness just when she was completing her college education in Springfield, Missouri, George Stanley Cotton attended Wentworth Military Academy, the Terrell Military College in Texas and State Teachers College in Springfield, Missouri. He married the former Francis Sullinger and was in the insurance business for a time, but became cashier of the Carter County State Bank and served for years in that capacity, assuming the presidency after his father’s death and holding that office until his own death on August 10, 1962. Thelma Cotton Buckthorpe attended the University of Missouri and Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She graduated in medicine at Washington University of St. Louis, was awarded a degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1930 and served internship at the University of Oklahoma Hospital in Oklahoma City. Miss Cotton practiced medicine in Van Buren with her father for some time but after her marriage to Dr. T. C. Buckthorpe, local dentist, she went with him to military assignments.
Contributed #081B - Linda Pingleton
Gravesite Details
Dr Cotton is buried at the top of the hill in the Masonic Section of the Van Buren Cemetery, Missouri
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Siblings
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