Notes for Rueben Cottom: Reuben, son of Simon and Naomi Cottom was born near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, October 01, 1857. The family came to Illinois at the time he was about 8 years of age, via river boat and ox wagon. On January 21, 1880 he was united in marriage to Ava Crawford. To this union were born eight children: four having preceded him in death. Three died in infancy, and one daughter, Mrs. Mae Bigham, died November 10 1936. Those surviving the deceased are his wife, two daughters, Mrs. Allie Bigham and Mrs. Fred Birkner, both of Pinckneyville, two sons, Glenn of Cutler, Route 2, and Cletus of East St. Louis, also 21 grandchildren and one brother, besides a host of relatives and friends. Three Grandsons are in the Service of their country, namely Ross Cottom of Camp Barkley, Texas, Neil Cottom of Elgin Field of Florida and Howard Bigham of New Orleans, Louisiana. Mr. Cottom was united with the Denmark Baptist Church in early manhood. Served as deacon for a number of years, and remained a faithful member until the time of his death. He has been in ailing health for a couple of years but was bedfast for only a week. He departed this life at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Allie Bigham, February 03, 1937 at 10 A.M. at the age of 87 years, 4 months and 2 days. source: Margery Cottom Davis
Discrepancies: Reuben is listed as 22 y old in the Jun 1880 census and is single. In the Jan 1920 census he is 65 y old.
Apr 1910 census Southwestern Pct., Perry, IL family 402 listed as 53 y old Change Date: 25 Feb 2003 at 20:22:43