Iva Lillian (Cottrell) Linden Cottrell.
Iva, born 24 Dec 1917, was the fifth (last) and adopted child of Carl C. and Myrtle I. Cottrell. Iva married Robert Linden of Milwaukee, WI in 1939. Iva and Robert had one child and later divorced. Iva did not remarry, Robert did remarry.
Carl and Myrtle Cottrell are known to have taken care of unwed mothers and their infants for mothers that could not, or chose not, to raise them. The 1920 census shows the Carl Cottrell home as having a 2-1/2 year old boarder named Ruth L. Colville whose parents were from Illinois. That would have been the right age for Iva. The 1930 census shows Carl and Myrtle as having an adopted girl named Iva L. Cottrell with parents also listed as being from Illinois. Family history stories say that Carl changed her first name as they already had a daughter named Ruth. The middle name, Lillian, stayed the same. A 1926 court adoption record shows that Iva was 8 years old when adopted and her birth mother was Edythe Colville who was not married when Iva was born. The name of the father is not listed.
Iva on fronts steps Carl & Myrtle's home.
Iva met Robert Linden while attending the Adventist boarding school Bethel. They were later married at Iva's parent's home near Poy Sippi, WI and made their home in Milwaukee, WI.

Their wedding picture is to the right.

Robert started and owned the successful Milwaukee Nut company which provided various types of packaged nuts for vending machines and retailers.

In addition to helping at the nut company, Iva worked for the US Post Office for 25 years.

Iva died 4 Jan 2005 at the age of 87.




Sterling (Iva's brother), Dorothy (Sterling's wife), and Iva in a picture taken about 1935.

Picture of Iva  taken in 1992.