COTTINGHAM

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at 06:06:45 :

Sausalito News
Saturday, 22 May 1909
Page 3

Robt. Cottingham Dead

Robert Cottingham, one of the oldest pioneers of this county passed from this life into the great beyond Sunday morning after an illness of only a day. Saturday he suffered a stroke of paralysis and was removed to the Cottage Hospital where he passed away Sunday morning at 4:15.

The deceased was born in Kentucky in the year 1832 and moved from there to Illinois and after being there a short time removed to Missouri where he lived until he was about 20 years of age when he came across the plains in oxen teams. His partners on this trip were Hugh Glenn, who went to Glenn county and for which the county was named, and Dave Tullock. That was in the year 1852.

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The Marin Journal of May 20th, 1909 reports the above and adds the following:
…he came to Marin County where he lived until his death. At one time he owned the Bolinas stage line. Years ago he was appointed Treasurer of this county to fill the unexpired term of a defaulter. When the term was up, his friends persuaded him to run for the office. He did so and was elected by a handsome majority. Finally, when his term was up, he gave up the office and would not be persuaded to accept it again as he thought that it was not but fair to let someone else have it. He was also appointed by the Supervisors to oversee the building of the Hall of Records, and it is believed that he caught cold while attending duties there and never fully recovered.

“Honest Bob,” as he is known, is one of the highest respected men in the county and it is believed that he would be the first to convict any of his own family if he thought they were guilty of any crime. His character is above reproach, and all who knew him respect him as a man among men.

The deceased crossed the plains three times, been around the horn and also crossed the isthmus. It is learned that at one time when he crossed the plains, cholera was prevalent and men died nearly every mile. Indians were also very bad that year, and many the times that the caravan was surrounded by the “red devils.”

The deceased leaves three sisters and one brother. He also leaves 20 nephews and nieces, most of them in Missouri, and interment will be made in the family plot there. He leaves a large estate which is valued at about $40,000. His nephew, R. C. Cottingham, M.D., of San Francisco came over and took charge of the remains.

The citizens of San Rafael, where the deceased has lived for many years, the flag was flown at half mast. He had been at one time the head of the Druids of this State, and it was under the auspices of this order that the funeral services were held. The remains were sent east for burial.