MOGMTCotton
TOLMAN WHITE COTTON 1868-1955
Picture courtesy of Missouri Lodge of Research Archive
Grand Master, 1914-1915
BIOGRAPHY
Tolman White Cotton was born in Reynolds County August 12, 1868. He worked on the farm during crop season and attending public school in the autumn and winter until he reached the age of seventeen. He resolved to acquire a higher education, entering Carleton College at Farmington, Mo., where he studied for three years and with one year spent at Concordia College, Gravelton Mo., completing his collegiate education. In order to become proficient in his life work he attended Beaumont Hospital College in St Louis, graduating in 1893.
On August 5, 1889, seven days before his twenty-first birthday he petitioned Barnesville Lodge No 455, Ellington, Mo. He was elected September 7, 1889 and initiated the same evening. He was passed October 5 and raised November 2, 1889. Having moved to Van Buren, he affiliated with Van Buren Lodge No 509 in 1890. He was elected Master in 1894 and served his lodge on six separate occasions as Master.
In 1894, he was appointed by Grand Master Keene, DDGM of the old 45th District composed of the counties of Carter, Reynolds, and Shannon. In 1906 he was appointed Grand Marshall by Grand Master Short and elected Grand Master in 1914.
Dr Cotton practiced in Van Buren for over fifty years. He was a member of the State Board of Health, a member of the State Ellemosynary Institutions and served as President of the Missouri State Medical Association.
He was a member of the St Louis Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, a member of the Board of Directors of the Masonic Home and a member of the Missouri Lodge of Research.
It was the Sunday morning of February 6, 1955, about 9 o'clock, in the home of a friend in Carter County, where Dr Cotton had gone to minister to a sick child that he was overcome by a fatal heart attack and his spirit returned to God who gave it. The funeral was held Tuesday, February 8th. The Masonic Service was conducted by Van Buren Lodge No 509 and his remains were interred in the Masonic Cemetery.
