POTTER

 

Compiled by: Andrew L. Moore

336 Sarver Road, Sarver  PA  16055

Email: PAmoores@juno.com

Dated: 1 December 2005

 

 

POTTER

 

 

Joseph Potter

 

Born Lancashire County, England.  Lived on Deal Street in Salford, Manchester Parish, Lancaster Co, England in 1846.  Quoting from the diary of his grandson John A. Potter—who mentions his father John Potter and his grandfather Joseph Potter, “I myself have heard him (John) say that his father (Joseph) was born in the same shire, that is Lancashire, and I heard my father (John) say that he had 4 uncles that went to the Battle of Waterloo (1815) and 3 of them was lost at that battle and the other came home again and got a small pension.

 

According to the marriage certificate of his son John A. Potter, Joseph Potter was a Shoe Maker on Deal Street in Salford, Manchester Parish, Lancaster County, England in 1846.  No other information is known about Joseph, his wife or his family or his ancestry.

 

The children of Joseph and _______ Potter were:

 

1.       John, born 15 Mar 1824 Pendelbury, Lancashire County, England, married Bridget Brothers 24 Aug 1846 "Coll" ? Parish Church, Manchester Parish, Lancaster County, England, died 4 Dec 1906 Scott Co IL, buried Winchester City Cemetery, Winchester IL.

2.       Son #2, served in and killed during the Battle of Waterloo.

3.       Son #3, served in and killed during the Battle of Waterloo.

4.       Son #4, served in and killed during the Battle of Waterloo.

5.       Son #5, served in the Battle of Waterloo and returned to receive a small pension.

 

 

John Potter

    

John Potter was born on 15 Mar 1824 in Pendelbury, Lancashire County, England.  John, a “Bachelor” and a “Collier” (coal miner) from Deal Street in Salford, England married Bridget Brothers, a “Spinster” also from Deal Street in Salford, England, on 24 Aug 1846 at the "Coll"? Parish Church in Manchester Parish, Lancaster County, England.   They were married according to the rites and ceremonies of the “Established Church” (also known at the time as the Church of England).

 

Bridget Brothers was born 2 Feb 1821 Newtown Butler, County Fermauagh, Ireland, died (possibly but not for certain) 7 Sep 1894 Scott Co IL.  Her burial location is unknown but family speculation suggests the corner of the Catholic Church cemetery, Winchester IL.  Bridget was the daughter of Thomas Brothers – who listed himself on his daughter’s 1846 marriage certificate as a Farmer living on Deal Street in Salford, Manchester Parish, Lancaster County, England.    Based on this bit of information, Thomas must have moved his family from the NewtownButler area of Ireland to the Salford area of England by 1846.  

 

According to the diary of John A. Potter (see below), John is quoted as saying: “I have heard my mother (Bridget Brothers) say that her parents (Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Brothers) both died in Ireland in the time of the famine (potato) in that country (1845-47) in the town of Newtownbutler in the county of Fermanagh, Ireland.” 

 

 

The Famine Immigrants

By Ira A. Glazier, Editor

 

According to the book, The Famine Immigrants, “The blight that struck the Irish potato crop during the winter of 1845-46 brought ruin to tens of thousands of tenant farmers and rural laborers and reduced almost all of Ireland to poverty.  Dependent on the potato not only as a staple of his diet but as a means of barter an paying rent, the Irish peasant was forever at the mercy of his crop.  When the blight struck it brought total destruction to the primitative agrarian economy of the island.  Few Irish farmers owned their land.  Rents and obligations fell into arrears.  Wholesale evictions took place.  Thousands of families were thrown on the meagre resources of the local jurisdictions or roamed the countryside in desperate search for food.  For many, the choice was clear – quit Ireland or perish.  Of necessity, hundreds of thousands chose to leave, and during the epochal period from 1846 to 1851, more than a million men, women and children immigrated to the United States and Canada, mostly through the port of New York.”

 

Oral family history handed down via Ann Neviaser (a descendant of Margaret and Michael Murphy Potter): Bridget was Catholic and John was Protestant; while in Winchester, Bridget contracted cholera and was put “out of town” with the others who contracted it, died in 1894 and was either buried in an unmarked grave or in a now unmarked grave in the far left rear part (as you view it from the highway) of the Catholic cemetery in Winchester. 

 

A Michael Brothers was born to a Thomas Brothers in 1824 in Lehinch, near Newtown Butler, Ireland.  This Michael died in Cornavray, near Newtown Butler, Ireland on 21 Feb 1898 and is listed as an Army Pensioner.  He may be a sibling of Bridget Brothers.  I have no other information on the surname Brothers of Newtown Butler. 

 

A Michael Brothers (of Lahinch, Newtownbutler) married a Margaret McBrien (of Concrea, Newtownbutler) in Newtownbutler Roman Catholic Church, Ireland on 28 Sept 1871.  Michael’s father was Thomas (deceased).  Margaret’s father was Patrick (also deceased).

 

A 1901 Ireland census record indicates that a Margaret Brothers, age 56, a Roman Catholic and a widow, was the “Householder” (Head of Household) of a home and a Shopkeeper in Cornavray, Galloon Parish, Derrylea Electoral Division, County Fermauagh, Ireland.  Included in the household was a nephew Patrick McBrien, age 25, a Roman Catholic, unmarried and a farmer.

 

According to some research received from an individual in Newtown Butler, Ireland, the Brothers homestead was located near Drumlone, NW of Newtownbutler, Co Fermauagh, Ireland and it was reported that the Brothers had a shop there until the 1920’s – when the family died out.  As of 1992, a family by the name of Whitendales live in the house where the Brothers’ shop originally was.

 

John applied for US citizenship on 25 Apr 1883 and again on 1 Nov 1884 in Scott Co IL.  Based on testimony from "H. Evans" and "Michael Murphy", citizens of the United States, John Potter was granted final citizenship on 24 Oct 1888 at Scott Co IL.  He died 4 Dec 1906 while at the Scott County Alms (Poor) House in Scott Co IL and is buried in the Winchester City Cemetery, Winchester IL.  According to his Scott Co IL Death Certificate, he was listed as: 82y/8/19d old, born-England, Occupation-none, Died-4 Dec 1906 @ 3pm in Scott Co IL, buried-Winchester 6 Dec 2:30pm, cause of death-senility.

 

The children of John and Bridget (Brothers) Potter were:

 

1.       David, born England, died young in England.

2.       Susanna, born England.

3.       Thomas, born England.

4.       Edward E., born 1850 England.

5.       Joseph Cain, born 1853 England, married Eve McDonald in 1918, died 29 May 1926 Franklin, Crawford Co KS, buried Mulberry Cemetery, Franklin KS.   He applied for US citizenship on 28 Apr 1883 in Scott Co IL and was granted citizenship on 25 Mar 1891 in Crawford Co KS.

 

 

Cain Potter’s Obituary

Columbus (KS) Modern Light, 3 June 1926, page 1, column 6:

 

Cain Potter dies at Franklin (Crawford Co KS).  Funeral Held Sunday From Chapel Undertaking Company. 

Franklin, May 29--Cain Potter, 73, pioneer resident of this district, was found dead by neighbors in his home here at 6 o'clock this morning.  Death was caused by a cerebral hemorrhage, according to Dr. W.S. Start, corner, and Deputy Sheriff Frank Mutch, who made an investigation. 

Mr. Potter came to America from England when a boy.  He settled in Midway about 30 years ago and made his home in Franklin for the past ten years.  He was married to Mrs. (Eve) McDonald in 1918.  She died in 1923. 

Mr. Potter has been a miner all his life.  He was a member of the U.M.W. of A., and of the I.O.O.F. lodge. 

He is survived by a sister, Mrs. M. Murphy, Chicago; and a brother, Tom Potter, whose address is unknown; two nieces, Mrs. Walter Rowe, Girard (KS), and Mrs. James C. Brown, Pittsburg (KS), and three nephews, Steve Potter, Girard; Cain Potter, Mineral, and Tom Potter of Roseland (KS).

Funeral services were held from the Arma (KS) undertaking company chapel at 1:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon.  Rev. Heaton was in charge.  Burial was in the Mulberry cemetery.  The Odd Fellow had charge of the services at the grave.

 

6.       John A, born 6 Mar 1855 WestLeigh, Lancashire, England, married Elizabeth Smith 25 Feb 1875 Carrolton, Greene Co IL, died 29 Aug 1914 Pittsburg, Crawford Co KS, buried 1 Sep 1914 Highland Park Cemetery, Pittsburg KS.

7.       Margaret Martha, born 7 Feb 1855 St Helen's, Lancashire Co, England.  Her birth certificate, issued from the registration district of Prescoe and the sub-district of St. Helens in the county of Lancaster, listed her father as John Potter, her mother as Bridget Potter-formerly Brothers, her father’s occupation as a Coal Miner, and the family living on “Coal Pit Lane”.  She married Michael Murphy 27 Dec 1875 St. Cuthbert's Roman Catholic Church, District of Durham, Durham Co England.

According to their marriage certificate: a) Michael is listed as a Bachelor and a Coal Miner and Margaret is listed as a Spinster;  b) His residence at the time of marriage was George Street, Spennymoor;  c) Her residence at the time of marriage was Gilesgate Moor, Durham; d) Margaret Potter’s father is listed as John Potter, Miner; d) Michael’s father is listed as Michael Murphy, General Laborer; e) They were married according to the rites and ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church.

According to Scott Co IL records, Michael applied for citizenship on 1 Nov 1884, the same day John Potter, Margaret’s father, reapplied for citizenship.  They both appear on the same page of citizenship declarations.

According to the Murphy Family Bible (in the possession of Ann Neviaser of Madison, WI), Michael was born 6 Oct 1850.

According to her obituary, located in the _________ edition of the Winchester (IL) Times, Margaret and her husband Michael Murphy came to this country in 1879, locating first in  Braidwood IL and then moving to Winchester IL in 1880.

After Michael died in Winchester on 8 Oct 1922, Margaret moved to Chicago in May of 1923 to live with her son Henry Patrick Murphy.  She died on 23 Oct 1931 in Chicago, Cook Co IL at the home of her son.  Her body was transported back to Winchester and is buried in the St. Marks Catholic Cemetery in Winchester, Scott Co IL. 

 

 

John A. Potter

    

John A. Potter was born on 6 Mar 1855 in West Leigh, Lancashire County, England.  John left England from Liverpool on 12 Aug and landed in America at Akron OH on 28 Aug 1873.  John, "21, of Roadhouse IL" married Elizabeth Smith, also "21, of Roadhouse, IL" on 25 Feb 1875 in Carrolton, Greene Co IL.  John died on 29 Aug 1914 in Pittsburg, Crawford Co KS and was buried 1 Sep 1914 in the Highland Park Cemetery, Pittsburg KS.  I have the actual final naturalization certificate that was granted to John A. Potter on 5 May 1885 by the Scott County IL Circuit Court in Winchester, IL.

 

Elizabeth Smith was born 23 Dec 1856 Exter, Scott Co IL, died 27 May 1947 Englewood, Arapahoe Co Colorado and is buried in the Highland Park Cemetery, Pittsburg, Crawford Co KS.  Elizabeth was the daughter of Josiah Smith and Susan Hanna Potter.

 

According to Mary (Carson) Brown: "Grandpa (Henry Brown, Elizabeth's grandson) and I went (in 1926) down (from Pittsburg KS) to West Mineral KS to show off our new baby off (referring to Carol Carson Brown, born 1926 - we have a picture of Elizabeth holding Carol next to Elizabeth's home in W. Mineral).  Grandmother Potter had 8 children - lived on a farm on the edge of town and had a boarding house.  She worked hard - made bread, carried water in from the well, washed clothes, packed lunches for all the boarders and her own sons who worked in mines around Mineral.  She also canned, milked a cow, had chickens, etc.  Grandpa (Henry) loved her so much".

 

For more information on the Josiah Smith and the Smith surname, please see the chapter by that name. For more information on Susan Potter and that SEPARATE surname, please see the chapter entitled POTTER #2.  This is a completely separate POTTER line!

 

 

John A. Potter Land Transactions

 

The only land transactions I could find involving John and Elizabeth (Smith) Potter are a strange pair of transactions that also involve Elizabeth’s father Josiah.  In summary, John and Elizabeth purchased 9 acres of Scott Co IL land from Elizabeth’s father Josiah and then, less than a month later, sold it back to Josiah for the same amount.

 

 

 

John A. Potter’s Diary

John maintained a diary of his life.  My grandfather, Henry C. Brown, gave me the diary and I have transcribed it chronologically below.  Comments/amplifications in ( ) were added by me.

 

JAP's diary has the following inscription on the first page: "Bought this book at Carbon Mines Carbon Co, Wyoming Territory, July 29, 1879 - John A. Potter.    Left Carbon December 4, 1879".

 

 

These lines for the good of my family - it will be seen in other parts of this book that my father was born in England and I myself have heard him say that his father was born in the same shire that is Lancashire and I heard my father say that he had 4 uncles that went to the Battle of Waterloo (1815) and 3 of them was lost at that battle and the other came home again and got a small pension.

               

And for my mother's people they were all Irish and their name was BROTHERS.  I have heard my mother say that her parents both died in Ireland in the time of the famine (potato) in that country (1845-47) in the town of Newtownbutler in the county of Fermanagh, Ireland.

 

So it will be seen that I was half Irish and half English my self.

 

My father and mother left England and came to America in August (1883).  My father was then 60 years of age and my mother was then 63 years of age.  They both got to my house both in good health after being on their journey of 22 days at Winchester Scott County, State of Illinois in 1883.

 

A love letter to Miss L.S.

(possibly a love letter he copied and used when meeting Lizzie Smith because it is dated 1871—JAP was still in England and Lizzie was in America—and because it states that his parents were in NY City—they were still in England)

 

Duke Street, May 17, 1871.  Miss A.C., I trust you will pardon my presumption in addressing you being almost a pefect stranger and having you upon several occasions and being charmed with your personal beauty and mental excellence and I feel desireous of becoming more intimately acquainted in order that you may become acquainted with the character of the person who makes this request and before deciding upon it I will state that I am the son of Mr. and Mrs. _____ of NY City who are well known there and the following persons residing in this city are well acquainted with them and me and would be pleased to have you ascertain of them my standing habits.  I should like to be favored with the privilege of calling on you at your fathers residence any evening you may designate.  Trusting this will receive your favorable consideration.   Yours, John Potter.

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth (Smith) Potter’s Obituaries

Denver (CO) Post, 28 May 1947:

 

Funeral Notices.  Joss Funeral Homes, Englewood.  Potter.  Elizabeth Potter of 2900 S. Bannock Street.  Mother of Sarah Brown, Minta Row, Ellen James, Margaret Russell, Thomas Cain, Edward, Stephen Potter; also survived by ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.  Services Thursday 2:00pm our chapel.  Interment Pittsburg, Kans.

 

Pittsburg (KS) Headlight, 28 May 1947:

 

Mrs. Elizabeth Potter Dies.  Former resident succumbs at home in Colorado.  Mrs. Elizabeth Potter, 90, a former resident of this district, died at 8 o'clock last night at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Margaret Russell, at Englewood, Colorado.  She had been ill for the past month.

Mrs. Potter was born Dec 23, 1856, in Jacksonville, Ill.  She came to Bruce, west of Cherokee (KS) in 1895 and moved to Mineral a few years later.  She lived in Mineral until 1922 when she moved to Colorado.

Survivors include four daughters, Mrs. J.C. Brown-1012 South Broadway, Mrs. Walter Rowe, Phippsburg, Colo., Mrs. Ellen James and Mrs. Russell, both of Englewood; four sons, Ned Potter, Thayer, Kansas, Cain Potter, Englewood, Tom Potter, Phippsburg and Steve Potter of Oregon; ten grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

The body will be brought to the Brenner funeral home here.  Funeral arrangements are incomplete, but graveside services will probably be held Saturday in Highland (Pittsburgh KS) Park Cemetery.

 

 

The children of John A. Potter and Elizabeth Smith were:

 

1.       Edward D. (Ned), born 3 Mar 1877 Monmouth, Warren Co IL (or Happy Hollow, Iowa according to Henry Brown, or Mapleton, IL according to Cain Potter), married Mamie E. Quaid 10 Apr 1901 Scammon, Cherokee Co KS, died Oct 1955 Thayer, Neosho Co KS, buried Thayer Cemetery, Thayer KS.

 

Obituary of Edward D. (Ned) Potter

Oct 1955

Newspaper - unknown

 

Potter Rights.  Thayer KS - The funeral service of Edward D. (Ned) Potter, found dead at his home in Thayer yesterday morning; was held this afternoon in Engel Funeral Home, with the Rev. Wright M. Horton, of Thayer Methodist church, officiating.

 

The deceased was born March 3, 1877, at Monmouth, Ill., the son of John and Elizabeth Smith Potter.  He married Mamie E. Quaid April 10, 1901, at Scammon (Cherokee Co KS) and his wife died in December 1938.  He had lived in Thayer vincinity since 1916, and had been employed as a coal miner.  He was a member of the AOUW at Parsons (KS).

 

Survivors are a daughter, Mrs. Fred Holtzman, rural Thayer; a son, David Potter, Wichita; four grandchildren; two brothers, Tom and Cain Potter, Englewood, Colo., and three sisters, Mrs. Margaret Russell, Englewood, Colo., Mrs. Minnie Row, Phippsburg, Colo., and Mrs. Sara Brown, Pittsburg (KS).

 

Bearers at the funeral service this afternoon were Harry Minnich, Everett Thornton, George Zugmire, Harve Osburn, Ray Brown and Frank Cash.  Harold Sutton sang "Going Down the Valley" and "Rock of Ages," with Mrs. Roy.  Poe Powers as accompanist.  Burial was in Thayer cemetery.

 

2.       Cain, born 26 Sep 1878 Monmouth, Warren Co IL.  Was a machinist in Phippsburg CO.  According to a relative, Cain “batched“ (bachelored) in a 2 room shack while his wife and girls lived in Denver.”  Died 28 Jan 1964.  Buried Littleton Cemetery, Littleton, CO.  I believe his wife’s name was Maude (born 1883, died 16 Jan 1964 and buried next to him).

3.       Sarah (Sadie), born 21 Jan 1881 McAlester, Indian Territory (current day Pittsburg Co OK), married James Clifford Brown 9 Apr 1900 Mineral, Cherokee Co KS, died 8 Oct 1970 Pittsburg, Crawford Co KS, buried Highland Park Cemetery, Pittsburg KS.

4.       Ellen/Ellin, born 4 Oct 1883 Winchester, Scott Co IL, married Peter J. James 21 Mar 1898 Mineral, Cherokee Co KS, died 17 Apr 1948.  Peter was born 2 Jun 1876 in Cincinnati OH and died 21 Nov 1944.  They had four children: a) Floyd (born 20 Jul 1900 Frontenac KS, died 20 Jul 1901, b) Roy (born Mineral KS 8 Sep 1901, died 13 Apr 1984, buried Hayden CO), c) Harry (born Dennison TX 7 Nov 1902, died 12 Mar 1907), and d) Irene (born Oklahoma City OK 12 Jan 1906, married a MacDonald).  I have a letter written by Peter J. James and it says the following: "Okl City  Mar 13 1907.  Dear Father and Mother, Harrey (Potter) died today at 12:20.  He was sick only 12 hours.  He had shotted fever.  I and Ellen (Potter) will leave here (Oklahoma City) at 5pm on the 14 via Frisco.  We will get there Fryday morring at 7am.  Please have Wheatley to dig grave on my lot at the cemetery and have him to meet me at the train.  Yours Truly P.J. James".  Strangely this letter was in an envelope address to "Mrs. Willcock (Wilcox?) - City" and it is postmarked 21 Jan 1926 West Mineral KS.  I think the letter was located by someone and sent 20 years later to Mrs. Wilcox in W. Mineral KS.

5.       Stephen, born 2 Mar 1886 Ransomville, Franklin Co KS, died 21 Mar 1949.  Buried Littleton Cemetery, Littleton, CO.  I have Stephen’s actual “Application for Delayed Certificate of Birth” – in which he gathers evidence and affidavits from individuals who substantiate his birth and parentage.  At the time, Stephen was living in Spokane Co, WA.

6.       Thomas, born 6 Jul 1889 Ransomville, Franklin Co KS.  Lived in Phippsburg CO. I believe he had two daughters: Freda (Mrs. A.E. Decola) and Loretta (Mrs. Louis Lutz).

7.       Minta/Minnie, born 24 Aug 1892 Winchester, Scott Co IL, married Walter Row, died 29 Nov 1975 Oceanside, CA.  According to a Potter relative, “Walter was a brakeman for the railroad….quite a card player…if he played too long he never went home as Minta some times wouldn’t let him in.  Walter died of emphysema.”  They had two children Frances and Fred.

 

Obituary of Minta (Potter) Row

December 1975

Unknown Colorado Newspaper

 

Phippsburg, CO.  Minta Row.  Word has been received of the death of Mrs. Walter Row – Minta Row at Oceanside, California, on Nov 29, 1975.  She was 83 years old last August.  Preceeding her death was her husband Walter Row in 1960 and her son Fred in 1971.

Surviving are a daughter Mrs. Frances Trevillion, Oceanside, 3 grandchildren, Mrs. Alice Lee and Robert Row and Marylyn Ramsey and 9 great grandchildren, nephews and nieces at Oceanside, Calif.  A sister, Mrs. Margaret Russell, Phippsburg, Colo, a nephew, Roy James and a niece Mrs. Irene MacDonald, all of Phippsburg, Colo.

Mrs. Minta Row was a member of the Adventist Church.  Funeral service and internment was 3pm Dec. 2^nd in San Diego, California.

 

The Phippsburg Community extends sincere sympathy to the family of Mrs. Row.  Her husband Walter Row was a former employee of the D&SL Railroad.

 

8.       Margaret, born 11 Oct 1898 (West) Mineral, Cherokee Co KS, married George Russell, died 13 Jan 1983 Hayden/Steamboat Springs CO.  Buried in Hayden CO next to her husband.

 

 

Sarah (Sadie) Potter

 

Sarah was born on 21 Jan 1881 in McAlester, Indian Territory (current day Pittsburg Co OK).  She married James Clifford Brown on 9 Apr 1900 in Mineral, Cherokee Co KS.  Sarah died on 8 Oct 1970 in Pittsburg, Crawford Co KS and is buried next to her husband in the Highland Park Cemetery, Pittsburg KS.  For more information on the descendants of this union, please see the chapter entitled “Brown.”

 

 

Sarah (Potter) Brown’s Obituary

Pittsburg (KS) Headlight Sun, 9 Oct 1970.

 

Mrs. Sarah Brown.  Mrs. Sarah Potter Brown, 89, died at 10:45pm Thursday at the Golden Age Lodge No. 1 in Pittsburg.  She had been a resident of the lodge since 1959 and seriously ill the past 6 weeks.

She was born Jan. 21, 1881 in McAlester, Okla and came to Mineral with her parents as a small child.  She was married to James C. Brown, a mining engineer in the area, in 1900.  The couple moved to Pittsburg in 1915.  Her husband died in 1953.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church.

She is survived by one son, Henry C. Brown, 1702 S. College; two granddaughters, six great grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Margaret Russell, Englewood, Colo, and Mrs. Minta Rowe, in Utah.

The Brenner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, which are as yet incomplete.

 

 

 

Potter Information

 

 

History of Morgan County, IL

Chicago, Donnelley, Loyd & Co., 1878.

-- Potter references --
Listed on page 683 in Township 14 North,  Range 11 West:

 

Potter, Charles W - Farmer, Section 22, P.O. Lynnville.

Potter, Edward E - Farmer, Section 25, P.O. Lynnville.

Potter, Joseph - Teaming, Section4, P.O. Lynnville.

Potter, Mary Mrs. - Section 22, P.O. Lynnville.

Potter, Henry, deceased; he was born in Yorkshire, England in 1841 (should be 1814); he with his family emigrated to the United States in 1849; they left Liverpool England May 7, and landed in New York in June of the same year, and located at Oriskany, Oneida Co NY; moved to Lynnville, Morgan Co IL, in Sept 1851; seven children were born in England: James, Elizabeth, Ann, Elliott, John, Henry T., Martha, William, and five born in America: Ruth, George, Thomas, Edward E., Charles W., Mr. Potter followed his trade as wagon maker till 1857, then moved to Scott County; lived there 4 years; in 1860 purchased 240 acres of Jacob Strawn, and in the Spring of 1861 moved to Morgan County; he married to Mary Elliott in 1837; she was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1817; he died in 1876.

 

 

Morgan Count (IL) History

Versailles, Mo., Morgan County (IL) Historical Society, 1979-

-- Potter reference --

Henry Potter, son of John and Elizabeth Potter, was born 14 Nov 1814 at Kirbymoorside, Yorkshire, England.  He died 7 Jul 1876 in Morgan County.  He married Mary Elliott 10 Jan 1837 at Thornton, England.  Mary, daughter of James and Ann Elliott, was born 13 May 1817 at Thornton and died at Jacksonville, 24 Sept 1890.  Both are buried in Diamond Grove cemetery.

Henry Potter, a wagon maker by trade, his wife and seven children: James, Elizabeth, Ann, John, Henry, Martha, William, left Liverpool, May 7 1849 for America.  After arrival in New York the family settled in approximately two years in Oriskany, Oneida County, New York.  While there daughter Ruth Elliott Potter was born.

By 1852 the family has settled in Scott County, Illinois where the remainder of their children: George, Thomas, Edward and Charles Wesley, were born.  In 1860 they resided in Township 14, Range 11 in Scott County.  In that year Henry Potter bought from Jacob Strawn 240 acres of land located in Morgan County, southwest of Jacksonville in the Elm Grove neighborhood.

Henry Potter, at the age of 17, converted to the Primitive Methodist Church in England.  In America he identified himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Charles Wesley Potter, last son of Henry and Mary Elliott Potter, was born May 4 1859 in Scott County; at age two he moved with the family to Morgan County where he has always maintained a home.  On 23 Dec 1880 he married Catherine Ann Fellows, who was born 24 Mar 1863.

 

 

Morgan County IL Courthouse Records

 

1.       Edward E. Potter died at Jacksonville IL intestate on/about 10 Feb 1902.  Value of estate: $1500.  Survivors include wife, Eva S. Potter, and children Homer H. Potter, Leroy J. Potter, Irvin B. Potter and Bernard B. Potter.  Eva requests that she be named Administratrix.  Will Administration File #3795.

2.       Mary Potter, deceased with will, by William Hart.  Will Administration File #2268.

3.       Henry Potter, deceased intestate, by Mary Potter (probably his wife). Will Administration File #2269.

 

 

 

 

 

Federal and State Census Records

 

 

1900 Federal Census, Ross Township, Cherokee Co, KS  Household 221

NOTE: Their daughter Sarah married James C. Brown in 4/1900.

 

1900 Federal Census, South Winchester Precinct, Scott Co, IL  Household 221

(*) John Potter, father of John A. Potter, was a resident at the Scott County Almshouse.  According to the census (and supported by John A.Potter’s diary), John migrated to the US with his wife Bridget Brothers in 1883.  Since he is listed as “Widowed”, Bridget died sometime between 1883 and 1900.

 

1910 Federal Census, Ross Twp, Cherokee Co, KS   Household 262

 

1920 Federal Census, Ross Twp, Cherokee Co, KS

Household 77 containing Susan Potter (Smith)(Hacker), mother of Elizabeth (Lizzie) Potter.

 

 

 

POTTER SOURCES

 

·         Genealogical and historical research I conducted.

·         The Famine Immigrants by Ira A. Glazier, Editor, Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., Baltimore MD, 1983.

·         Ann Neviaser (aneviasr@chorus.net), fellow Potter/Brothers researcher and descendant of Margaret Potter/Michael Murphy.