Bio: Cotey, Joseph L. (1881)
Contact: Janet Schwarze

----Surnames: Cotey, Biron, Byrne

----Source: History of Northern Wis. (Wood County, Wis.) 1881, pages 1204-1205

CAPT. JOSEPH L. COTEY, Deputy Lumber Inspector. Came to Grand Rapids, Wis., November, 1846, and engaged in lumbering with his uncle, Francis X. Biron. Continued with his uncle until 1850, when he went to California. Stayed in California two years, then returned and bought in with his uncle in the lumbering business again. Remained with him about a year, then sold out and bought the Grignon Mill, at that time called the Merrill Mill. Great freshets washed out the dam and the logs for two years in succession, so he had to give up the mill. Then went up the river, near Lake Flambeau, on the “Tomahawk,” exploring and locating pine lands for himself and others. Enlisted as private, Nov. 5, 1861, in Co. G, 18th Wis. V.I. Veteranized and stayed to the close of the war, and was discharged July 20, 1865, as captain Co., G, 18th Wis. V.I., his captain’s commission dating November, 1864. He was at the battle of Shiloh and in fifteen pitched battles and in all the engagements of his regiment. Since his discharge, he has been employed in sealing logs, and Lumber Inspector under appointment from the several Governors. This office he resigned in 1850. Capt. Cotey was born in St. Francis, Lower Canada, March 10, 1831, and came from there to Grand Rapids in 1846. Was married, Sept. 5, 1853, to Miss Mary A. Byrne, of Grand Rapids. They have had three children, one of whom is now living, Appleton B. Cotey, now merchant at Pittsville, Wis.