Myrtle (Cady) Cottrell 1941 Letter to Newspaper
The following letter is a copy of the original letter written by Myrtle (Cady) Cottrell about 1941 for the "Journal" (Probably for the Berlin Journal or the Wautoma Journal)
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Written by Myrtle (Cady) Cottrell about 1941 for the "Journal"
(probably for the Berlin or the Journal Wautoma Journal)
SEVENTY FOUR YEAR-OLD ASPARAGUS KING SMITTEN WITH DOUBLE MUMPS
Carl Cottrell, & 74-Year-old "asparagus King" of Fountain Valley, is recovering from an attack of the mumps. And, adding insult to injury, he has been afflicted on both sides. Rumors had it that Mr. Cottrell had suffered a stroke, but the report--like the premature news of Mark Twain's death, appears to have been greatly exaggerated.
Here is the message rushed-to The Journal office in response to the Journal's inquiry:
Dear Editor:
In compliance with your request, we are sending a little writeup about Mr. Carl Cottrell, to whom you have referred to as the "Asparagus King". The report-that Mr. Cottrell has had a stroke is a mistake. He did, however, have the mumps on-both sides, and was confined to his bed for ten days.
We are glad to report that he is about again, though a little weak from the ordeal. Mr. Cottrell tells us that he was born in the town of Rushford, Winnebago county, Wis. on Feb. 21, 1867. He came with his parents to the Cannibal Island, (now known as Borth) in the town of Poy Sippi in the year 1868. One of his jokes is, I was raised a Cannibal, but have not eaten people for sometime. Mr. Cottrell is of the eighth generation descended from Nicholas "Cotril" who came to Newport, R.I. from Scotland about the year 1635, Mr. Cottrell's great grandfather John Cotril, changed the spelling of the name to Cottrell.
In the year 1880 Mr. Cottrell came to Fountain Valley where he was married to Myrtle Ida Cady, youngest daughter of the late Ex-Assemblyman B.A. Cady, whose parents, Jacob Cady and Betsy Eemeline Coolidge came from Vermont, and were the first white people to settle in what is now known as Fountain Valley. For years the neighborhood was known as Cady District, or Cadyville. Mrs. Cottrell is the only Cady left in the vicinity.
About 35 years ago Mr. and Mrs. Cottrell opened their house to unfortunate and homeless old people and babies, and for 20 years had from one to five inmates in their home, and did much in the way of practical nursing. Mr. Cottrell was known as a sorghum maker and strawberry grower. He has also been widely known as an expert at dehorning cattle, which trade he has turned ever to his son Forrest, who has stepped cleverly into his father's shoes, and is now dehorning more than 5000 head of cattle in a season.
A few years ago the Cottrells undertook to raise and can asparagus. They were very successful, and the industry has grown until a season's output has reached 100 cases of No.2, or 20 oz. tin cans. Owing to its tender quality and delicious flavor, "Cottrell's Asparagus" is gaining a wide and favorable reputation. As Mr. and Mrs. Cottrell are no longer able to carry on the work, the place has been leased to their son Sterling and his wife, who occupy part of the Cottrell home and are nicely taking care of the business.
Thirty years ago, Mr. Cottrell nearly lost his life from a kick by a horse, which left him disfigured with facial paralysis. But though his health is impaired, and he is losing his eyesight and hearing, we find him optimistic, and jovial. He has a good memory, and likes to talk of the old days back in the "1870s", the days of his copper-toed boots, and of the little log school house, and the log houses and barns, when the country was covered with timber and the scattering pioneers were driving oxen.
Mr. Cottrell has always been a public spirited man, voting for and upholding those principles that seem for the best good of all concerned. For many years he served his township as Health Officer. He says that his sentiments are nicely expressed in the immortal words of Sam Walter Foss, "Let me live in a house by the side of the road, and be a friend to man."
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