Niles Cottingham was born September 14, 1842, in Indiana, and lived there until eighteen years of age. Went to Iowa in 1860 and one year later settled in St. Peter, Minnesota, which was his home four years. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, First Minnesota mounted rangers; served against the Indians fifteen months. He learned coopering in Cleveland township and one year later removed to Lexington; after a residence of eight years there, located in Cordova, where he now resides. On the 29th of July, 1866, Miss Melissa Moler became his wife. Gay, Ada, Lucy, Mildred and Mary are their living children.428