Origin of a Name

[Trail Goer]

Does anyone know the origin behind the names of Cotton Valley and Cotton Mountain? I had a few canned sandwiches last night with a buddy of mine and this is one of the things that came up in conversation.

[camp guy]

I sent you a PM, but then decided to 'google' your question. Sure enough, if you 'google' "Cotton Valley Wolfeboro New Hampshire" you will get an answer.

[Trail Goer]

I did that and it only gives me the history of the Cotton Valley Rail Trail and the Cotton Valley Rail Trail Club (the group that maintains the trail), both of which are named after the valley which the old rail line traverses through. Like you said in your private massage, there could have been early settlers with the last name Cotton, which was my first guess but in the conversation I had, farming was brought up and I was wondering if there was a type of crop grown in the area similar to Cotton grown down south or if there was a type of native plant that grew or used to grow in the area.

[tis]

You made me curious. From Parker's History of Wolfeoboro it was originally called Cutter's Mountain after the lot was drawn by Dr. AR Cutter when the town was first divided. Later it was called Cotton Mountain, named after "a group of families of that name that have for many years dwealt on its sides and in the adjacent valley. Point of interest, this mountain is only 50 feet less than Whiteface.

[MeredithMan]

Originally Posted by camp guy

I sent you a PM, but then decided to 'google' your question. Sure enough, if you 'google' "Cotton Valley Wolfeboro New Hampshire" you will get an answer.

never mind googling "Cotton Valley", I must admit I had to google, (actually, had to check Urban Dictionary), to learn what "canned sandwiches" are. Have never heard that term until now...

[Trail Goer]

Hahaha... not sure if it's a common term, more or less something that developed over time with my buddies, I guess. A can sandwich is a can of beer. We kind of have our own terms, it drives all of our wife's crazy.

[DickR]

Originally Posted by tis

You made me curious. From Parker's History of Wolfeoboro it was originally called Cutter's Mountain after the lot was drawn by Dr. AR Cutter when the town was first divided. Later it was called Cotton Mountain, named after "a group of families of that name that have for many years dwealt on its sides and in the adjacent valley. Point of interest, this mountain is only 50 feet less than Whiteface.

It seems there are two "Cotton" mountains, one near Wolfeboro and one in Holderness, toward the west end of the Squam Range. If comparing either to Whiteface Mountain in the Sandwich Range, Whiteface is quite a bit more than 50 feet higher, being one of the 4,000 footers.

[tis]

Originally Posted by DickR

It seems there are two "Cotton" mountains, one near Wolfeboro and one in Holderness, toward the west end of the Squam Range. If comparing either to Whiteface Mountain in the Sandwich Range, Whiteface is quite a bit more than 50 feet higher, being one of the 4,000 footers.

I assumed he was talking about Wolfeboro since there is a Cotton Mountain and a Cotton Valley. Maybe they didn't know how to measure mountains in those days.

[Slickcraft]

Cotton was a family name.
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/...amily-cemetery

We have biked the trail many times.

Alan