POTTER
BY Carrie Herman's Costello
Village and town received tittle from Arnold Potter who paid $10,000 for 42,000 Acrew including Middlesex. Old home Still Stands. Asherry, Distillery, Tanneries, Wagon shop Among Early Industried. Great Swam kept Lumber Mills Busy.
The off quoted and familiar saying “What’s in a name?” A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” has perhaps never been seriously questioned, but nevertheless many times there is a good deal of significance in a name, especially in the names of Places. And as we hear strange names we wonder how places and people came to be so called. Indian names seem to have special meanings, and for instance, the original name of REd Jacket, O-te-tl-a-ni, in English meaning “Always Ready.”
According to the early history of this section of the country Oliver Phelps of Hartford, Conn and Nathaniel Gorham of Charleston, Mass. purchased a large tract of land lying between Seneca Lake on the east and Genesee River on the west , consisting of about 2,600,000 acres, and known as the Philps and Gorham purchase. this tract they surveyed into townships six miles square and in 1789. Arnold Potter, third son of Judge William Potter of South Kngston RI bought of Thomas Maxwell the tract of land which now includes the townships of Middlesex and Potter and consisting of 42,000 acres. It is said that Arnold Potter paid $10,000 to get a clear title to this land. THis was first called “Potters’s Purchase” and then called “Augusta”
Potter and Middlesex divorced
the town of Potter was taken from the town of Middlesex in 1832 and its boundaries changed in 1856. It was then named Potter, after Arnold Potter, by Captain rose Perry. Potter is the only town in the county that dos not border on a lake. It was doubtless through the Universal Friend Jermina Wilkinson , that the Potters came to invest in land no largely in this section; as the two families were on intimate terms and intermarried. Soon after buying this tract, Arnold Potter then a young man less than 30 years old, made a settlement here cleared the forests and in a few years built the mansion which is still known as the Potter Place, and of which much has been written.
Another landmark of which little has been written is the George Wyman homestead, formerly known as greens Stand of Inn, built by George green, who also came from RI about three years after Arnold Potter.
He was a soldier in the Rev. War. and a relative of the celebrated General Gee of RI. the colonel house stands about two miles west of the Potter Place on what is not now Marcus Whitman highway. This ws quite a mansion in its day, with its central hall and stairway an large spacious rooms with fire places in every room and a large high roomy mantel over all. From the second story a long room runs around over the wood shed which was the hall where the festivities of the town were there and where many a young couple danced the graceful minute. the bricks for all the great chimneys, the circular window over the front hall door, much of the interior woodwork, doors, mantel, etc. were brought from Albany in wagons . Mrs. Green was Susan Waterman, a descendant of John Waterman and also of the fifth generation from Roger
Williams. the Greens having no children brought with them her niece, Betsey Waterman whom they adopted.
In 1866 she was married to Samuel Wyman and the adopted and brought up her oldest child, George who inherited the place. In later years the “Old Hall” as it was called was ---- by the Wyman Family for the carpet loom with flax wheel and spinning wheel and many hours were spent there carrying on the family industries.
In 1805 John Griffin of Connecticut moved from the eh town of Benton to Porter, opened the first store and built an ashery and distillery on the place which is now known on the Erwin Wells farm, about one half miles from nettle Valley. In 1812 he sold out to his brother in law, Richard Williams who had come to Geneva in 1793 and established one of the first stores there. His son, richard, and John Spler were the first commissioners of the county for the loaning of the united States deposit fund in 1842 he ws elected tot he Assembly and in 1883? to the state senate. it was through him that the law was passed requiring railway companies to large/lease? checks for the baggage carried. On the motions the bill to charter the Niagara Suspension bridge was reconsidered and passed after it had been voted down.
Dr. James Hermann came to Potter in 1824 and was the first physician in Yates county to receive a license to practice medicine. He studied with his uncle. Dr. Judd, at Rhinebeck on the Hudson and came first him to Penn Yan. On coming ot Potter he practiced for a time with Dr. Crane. The First Methodist Episcopal church and parsonage were built at Nettloe Valley. Later the church building was sold and moved to Branchport. About one mile from nettle Valley a level tract and the central terminus of the main roads was through to be the place for the town seat . Here a village called Potter Center, sprang up. The post office was moved from the Richard Williams farm. the mail was brought by stage from Penn Yan. The house used by John Cole for a number of years in a row owed by henry Eckert. The first hotel built in the village was erected by Peleg Thomas. and also the first dwelling house. this house is now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. J. Lafler. the original hotel was run successively by Masses Abe Cook, Hurburt, Dave Halstead and Torrey. It was destroyed by fire and rebuilt
Cyrus Dal--? built the first store which is now occupied by henry E Wert as a garage. His dwelling house ws owned for a number of years by James smith and is now owned by Wendell Wyman. For many years Benjamin Gleason and Jacob Hobbart manufactured carriages and wagons. Charles Woodruff did the painting . This building is now used by Jmes Blodgett of Rushville for a bean house. Two churches, the Methodist and Baptist were built in the early days and have since been enlarged and remodeled. the old parsonages are now owned by Frank Mattison and Mrs. William McManus.