J.V. COTTA , aged 64 years, who was one of the most prominent nursery men in Northern Illinois, died at his home, last Thursday morning, after a continued illness of more than a year. Mr. Cotta was born in Germany. The funeral was held Friday.

2nd Obit: John Valentine Cotta was born at Eisenach, Germany, June 6, 1835. He was a lineal descendant of the famous Cotta family of that place which took Martin Luther into their home when a student there. He came to America in 1854 and for several years made his home in Chicago, from which place he went to Dixon and where he was united in marriage with Miss Rosalie Moller, April 4, 1861. In 1863 they came to the vincinity in which he died, Rock Creek township, Carroll county, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Cotta were born four sons and one daughter, all of whom with his wife, including a son-in-law, three daughters-in-law and eight granchildren, are the immediate family survivors. Our departed friend and brother was a diligent student and lover of nature and had a special fondness from early lfe, for the cultivation of certain products of earth. And thus the employment in which he was engaged in his boyhood home he pursued in the land of his adoption - the culture of fruit and flowers. His educated mind and taste led him to an appreciation of the beautiful and refined, and from these handiworks of God as seen above and around him he could well explain with the Psalmist "O Lord manifold are thy works! In wisdom has thou made them all; the earth is full of thy riches.: But now he has gone to the land of unfading flowers and where is "the tree of life: which bears twelve manner of fruit and yeilds her fruit every month." But the deceased as a man and as a christian has indellbly stamped himself upon his family and upon all who have been associated with him. He was received into connection with the Lutheran church when a young man in the fatherland and in communion with this branch of the church he remained a faithful, livberal and godly member until he was transferred to the church triumphant. He was one of the first members of the congregation organized at what was then and is still known as Maple Grove, and when the organization was removed to Lanark he continued his membership therewith. For a number of years he was an office bearer in the congregation, and it was only last spring when on account of his physical infirmities, his official robes were laid aside to the great regret of his brother officers and congregation which he had so long and faithfully served. For more than a year proir to his death he was truly a child of affliction, but amid all the suffering incident thereto the christian grace of patience was evident. On a number of occasions to his pastor in the presence of his family and others did he freely express his submission to the divine purpose and his willingness and readiness to depart; and yet after all these months of sickness and patient waiting, some what unexpecteldy to the members of the family about him, on Wednesday morning, September 27, 1899, at the age of 64 years, 3 months and 21 days, died the gentle and saintly spirit of John V. Cotta - the affectionate husband and father, a worthy and esteemed friend and neighbor, and a true brother in Christ, take its flight to scenes that know no sin, pain or death, to "God's right hand where there is fullness of joy and pleasure forevermore." The funeral services were held at the family residence at Nursery on Friday afternoon at 1 o'clock, and were conducted by the undersigned who spoke from Psalm 90:12. Rev. Rowland of the Dunkard church, a near neighbor, offered prayer. The church choir furnished the music singing four selections, three of which were by request of the famiy, being favorites of the deceased. The remains were laid away in the Lanark cemetery to await the resurrection of the just. "So he giveth his beoloved sleep." M. Colver, Pastor.
Contributed by Karen Fyock