Daughter of Thomas B. and Charlotte (Brown) Ray. Widow of Samuel H. Cotton. She died at home, 50 East Concord, Kansas City, Missouri, of respiratory failure due to hypostatic pneumonia due to senility at the age of 85. Cremated in the Elmwood Crematory in Kansas City, Missouri. Buried with husband in Grandview East Cemetery.

NOTE: Her parents married 13 Feb 1865 in Sangamon County, Illinois. Daughter Charlotte was born 25 Dec 1865 and mother Charlotte died 5 Jan 1866 just eleven days after daughter's birth and a month too early to celebrate her first wedding anniversary.

1870 Federal Census for Gardner, Sangamon County, Illinois:
Thomas Ray 76 born Kentucky, Farmer
Charles Johnson 14 born Illinois, attended school
Thomas B Ray 29 born Illinois, Farmer
Charlotte Ray 4 born Illinois
William O Bryan 32 born New York, Farm Laborer
Martha A Bryan 26 born Ohio
Alice Bryan 2 born Illinois
Laura B Bryan 1 born Illinois

1880 Federal Census for Howard Township, Bates County, Missouri family #254 T B Ray 39 born Illinois, farmer, is found alone as daughter is found with her maternal grandparents:
-1880 Deepwater, Henry County, Missouri ED 167 p262D:
Resin D. Brown 67 born Kentucky, parents b KY
Rachel E. Brown wife 64 born Kentucky, parents b SC
Charles B. Brown son 26 single born Illinois
Lotty B. Ray granddaughter 14, born Illinois, parents b Ill

Henry County Missouri Marriage Book for 1888 [sic] p371:
Samuel H. Cotton of Montrose, Henry County, Missouri, over the age of 21 and Lottie B. Ray of Appleton City, St Clair County, Missouri, over the age of 18, applied for a license 9 Dec 1887 and were married 13 Dec 1887 in Appleton City by H. M. Hackney, a minister of the gospel. The marriage was returned and recorded 14 Feb 1888.

-1900 Appleton City, St Clair Co, Missouri ED 137 p12 (sheet 3A): 47.50
Samuel Cotton Head born Jan 1862 age 38 m12yrs born NY, parents born NY, Lumber Merchant
Lottie Cotton wife Dec 1865 age 34 m12yrs, 3 ch born, all living, born Illinois, parents b Illinois
Hubbard Cotton son born May 1890 age 10, born Missouri
Marie Cotton dau Nov 1891 age 8, born Missouri
Helen Cotton dau May1898 age 2, born Missouri
NOTE: Next door at 48.51 is Lottie's maternal grandmother Rachel Brown born Mar 1816 age 84, Widow, mother of 12 children, 7 now living, born Kentucky, parents born SC

Researched and compiled by Karen DaPra.