Tracing The Cotten Surname With DNA

Thought DNA testing was only useful in crime scenes and paternity claims? Think again.  More and more, genetic analysis is being used to confirm genealogy.   While many tests are available, the most successful one traces male lineage.  I don't understand the science of it, but a common trait of the Y-chromosome is passed from father to son.

Steve Cotten has sent his DNA to the Cotton/Cotten database http://home.comcast.net/~cottondna/ and we hope to have a full report at the time of the family reunion.

Picture Update

I found the second half of the picture posted earlier.  Now how many people can you identify?

"Years Ago In Battle, Both The Grandpas Fought"

Lola loved Joe, and Joe loved Lola, but had their grandfathers met in the 1860's they would have tried to kill each other.

Joe's Grandpa, J H Cotten served for 3 years with the Confederate Army as a volunteer in Company B of the 19th Texas Infantry. 
The Regiment participated in the  battle at Milliken's Bend, the Red River Campaign, and at Jenkin's Ferry.

Lola's Grandpa, Thomas Alexander Rowlan, was a soldier in the Union Civil War at Adair Troop, Missouri.

Missouri was severely divided between Confederate and Union sentiments, and this regiment was mustered to protect the local township from rebel intruders.

Young Joseph Cotten Story

At the age of 94, Eula Mae Harris (wife of Joe Cotten's step brother) wrote down some of her early memories of the Cotten family.  The following story about Joesph Cotten is transcribed word for word:

"Joe was just like most little boys.  He loved my mama Alice Harris and he loved me, Eula, like a sister.  I remember one Christmas our fathers made their usual drinks for everyone, and they had some 100 proof ALCOHOL that they were going to put in some of the drinks, 'to flavor it', they said.  They were using a glass to measure it with and put the glass down to go have lunch.  And us kids were playing around, messin' around mostly, and Joe got the glass and drank some of the ALCOHOL.  It strangled him, and he passed out!  We thought he was dead.  It was terrible, we really thought he had died.  But he came around, and we were all thankful.  I guess you know he never drank any more alcohol for fear it night kill him.

Then one time my little brother Gaylord got a cold and Papa went to town and bought some 'Castoria'.  They used that a lot for kid's ailments.  It was sweet and tasted pretty good.  Well, Joe decided he would take some.  He drank most of the bottle.  Believe you me, Joe remembered that for a long time after.  We didn't have bathrooms in our homes back in those 'good ole days', so poor Joe spent that day and most of the night on the creek in the timber,  He didn't do that again either."

How many people can you identify in this photo?

We Have a Date and a Place!

We've reserved the Los Lagos clubhouse in Fort Mohave, AZ on Saturday October 12 from 1:00PM to 5:00PM.  Our reunion is pool party casual, and lunch will be provided.  Convenient lodging is available at the Laughlin NV area casinos (Particularly the Avi) and campgrounds on the Colorado River and Lake Mohave.