Cottrellg
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
GEORGE E. COTTRELL, of Lakeside,
Chelan county, was born in Erie county Pennsylvania, July 14, 1860.
Professionally he is a designer and boatbuilder, and conducts a successful
business in this line in the lake country. His parents, David H.
and Mary J. (Hare) Cottrell, are also natives of the Keystone state.
The father is a descendant of Eber Cottrell, who came to America early
in the seventeenth century. David H. Cottrell, who is an architect,
now lives at Hagerstown, Maryland. The mother of our subject is descended
from Michael Hare, who came from Waterford, Ireland, about 1680, and settled
on Lake Champlain, later removing to Waterford, Pennnsylvania, where he
lived to the advanced age of one hundred and sixteen years. He was
the earliest pioneer in that section, and a monument is erected in his
memory at that place. The mother of Mary J. Cottrell still resides
in Waterford township at the age of eighty-six years, an active, energetic
old lady. Her daughter, the mother of our subject, lives with her.
George E. Cottrell remained in Pennsylvania
until seventeen years of age, graduating from the high school of Union
City. Two years he followed the lakes as a sailor, and then enlisted
in the regular army, at Harrisburg, August 19, 1879. At first he
was stationed at David's Island, New York harbor, thence going to Fort
Snelling, Minnesota, and in May, 1880, joined his regiment at Fort Assinniboine,
Montana. In August, 1884, he returned to Pennsylvania, and was there
employed in a flouring mill, going thence to Denver, Colorado, remaining
but three months, and then coming to Spokane, where he worked in the Echo
mills until the great fire. Following this disaster he engaged in
contracting and building, and in 1891 secured the contract for building
a hotel at Chelan Falls, the edifice being owned by L. MacLean, a sketch
of whom appears elsewhere. In 1892, Mr. Cottrell built the Chelan
school house, and the same year he brought his family to Lakeside where
they have since remained. He built the North Star and Alex Griggs,
Columbia river boats, and a number of other craft, having been identified,
more or less, with the building of the entire lake fleet, besides many
launches, canoes, row and sail boats, also the auditorium and school house.
He is a member of the auditorium company.
Mr. Cottrell has one brother, Clarence H.,
and one sister, Martha, widow of N. L. Braun. The latter for many
years was a non-commissioned officer in the regular army, and contracted
a fever at Manila from which he died at the Presidio, San Francisco, in
1899.
December 16, 1886, our subject was united
in marriage to Lydia Anderson, a native of Stockholm, Sweden. The
ceremony was performed at Jamestown, New York. She died September 23, 1894.
His second marriage took place at Dayton, Washington, June 11, 1896,
the bride being Kate Fite, a native of Illinois. Her parents were
born in the same state, and at present reside at Dayton, Washington.
Mr. and Mrs. Cottrell have three children, George M., Preston F.
and Milton. Politically our subject is a Democrat, is active in campaigns
as business will permit, and has on several occasions been delegate to
county conventions.
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