My Genealogy Hound

J. FRANK COTTMAN, the genial and popular proprietor of the Cottman House, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, was born in the hotel of which he is now proprietor, on November 27, 1842, a son of William and Helena (Delaney) Cottman, and a descendant of an old Montgomery county family. His maternal great-grandfather, Joseph Deerman, held a commission in the Revolutionary army.

His paternal grandfather, John H. Cottman, was a native of Montgomery county Pennsylvania, and was a resident of that section of the state during his entire lifetime. He was the proprietor of the Spread Eagle Hotel at Bethayres, Moreland township, for many years, and after his death it was conducted for several years by his widow, who was known as Aunt Jennie Cottman, her maiden name having been Jennie Benner.

William Cottman (father) was a lifelong resident of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He was the owner of sixty-five acres of land located where the settlement of Noble now is, and this ground was cultivated to a high state of perfection. For several years he conducted the Buck Hotel, Bucks county, but in April, 1834, he purchased the Cottman Hotel at Jenkintown, which he conducted successfully until 1861, the year of his retirement from active pursuits, when he turned the business over to his son Charles, who conducted it until April 1, 1870. By his marriage to Helena Delaney four children were born, as follows: 1. Charles, deceased; he married Emma Shoemaker, who survives him, and resides in Jenkintown; they were the parents of two children, William, and Helen, wife of Joseph Paxson, and mother of one child, Charles Paxson. 2. Emma, wife of Edward H. Williams, and their family consists of three children-Sarah T., wife of Horace Trumbaur; no family by this union, but by a previous marriage she has one daughter, Agnes Helena Smith; Arthur, who married Miss McDowell, and they are the parents of one son; and Helen, wife of Frank Wollaston, and mother of one son, Edward H. Wollaston. 3. James, who died in childhood. 4. J. Frank, mentioned at length hereinafter. William Cottman, father of these children, born November 22, 1802, died November 19, 1869. He was survived by his wife, who was born May 26, 1799, and died September 25, 1872.

J. Frank Cottman received a practical education in the public schools of Jenkintown, which prepared him for the activities of life. He spent his boyhood and early manhood on his father’s farm. In 1867 he rented the Red Lion Hotel at Willow Grove, which he conducted one year, and in the spring of the following year his father purchased for him the Three Tuns Hotel in Upper Dublin township, which hostelry he conducted for two years, achieving a large degree of success in the management thereof, and since 1870 he has been the proprietor of his present hotel, which is first class in all its appointments, and well patronized by the traveling public. Mr. Cottman served three years in the town council, and during this time performed his duties in a highly creditable manner. He is a member of Friendship Lodge, No. 400, Free and Accepted Masons, of Jenkintown.

In the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 16, 1867, Mr. Cottman was married to Isabella Buck, born May 16, 1844, daughter of Jacob E. and Catherine (Afflerbach) Buck. No children have been born of this union.