Adam F. Cotterman, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Adam F. Cotterman
ADAM F. COTTERMAN
Among the old timers in Porter County was the family of Adam F. Cotterman. Mr. Cotterman was formerly from Dayton, Ohio and his wife from Yates City, Ill. The family lived in Knox County, Ill. On a farm, where three of their children were born, namely, Roy, Ernest and Muriel. In 1891 they migrated to the State of Washington where they homesteaded a farm. This ended within three years when the Columbia River, one of the swiftest in the country, flooded them out. They then returned to Knox County where Mr. Cotterman farmed. From there they moved to a farm near Boone Grove, Indiana, where three more children were born, namely Ezma and twin sons, Wade and Wayne. On St. Patrick's Day in 1903 the family moved to the Leslie Skinner farm east of Valparaiso, where he and his son Ernest farmed the 500 acres farm for five years, at the end of which they purchased a residence just west of Valparaiso, from there moving to 1003 Oak St., Valparaiso, where they resided (mother and father) until they were deceased.
Ernest Cotterman at one time was City Clerk, Treasurer having been appointed in 1932 by Mayor Schenck to complete the term left vacant by the former official. He later ran for the same office and was elected to a four-year term. In 1938 he ran for Porter County Auditor and was elected to that office for a 4-year term, and was reelected for another four-year term. He then was asked to again run for City-Clerk Treasurer, was elected to that post, from which he resigned in 1950 following a heart attack.
Of the original Cotterman family there are only two remaining; a daughter, Ezma, and L. W. Cotterman. Wade is well known in Porter County, having hauled milk from the surrounding farmers in Porter County for a good many years.
All in all, the Cotterman family has resided in Porter County for 72 years.
Source: American Revolution Bicentennial Committee of Porter County. 1976. A Biographical History of Porter County, Indiana. Valparaiso, Indiana: American Revolution Bicentennial Committee of Porter County, Inc. 180 p.
Page(s) in Source: 93
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook