Frederick
Story POTTER, of Henry, Illinois, is one of the best known and
most highly honored of the attorneys of Marshall county. He was born in
New Haven, Connecticut, November 3, 1837, and is the son of Frederick
and Caroline A. (STORY) POTTER, who were also natives of the nutmeg
state. His father was a contractor and builder and followed that
occupation the greater part of his life. In 1840 the family came to
Illinois, locating in Christian county, between Decatur and Springfield,
where they remained until 1846, and then removed to Beardstown, where
the mother died in 1865. Some years after the father removed to Henry,
where he, too, passed away April 2, 1892, at the age of seventy-eight
years.
The boyhood and youth of our subject were spent with his
parents until sixteen years of age. His health failing him at
Beardstown, he came to Henry, where for three years he was in the employ
of Robert DAWSON as bookkeeper. He then engaged in general merchandising
on his own account and continued in the business until 1862 with fair
success. Closing out his stock of merchandise he entered the office of
P. S. PERLEY, under whose instruction he read law, and was admitted to
the bar in September, 1864. Forming a partnership with his preceptor,
they were associated together until August, 1873, since which time he
has practiced alone. Mr. PERLEY, who is now a resident of Phoenix,
Arizona, is a man of great ability, a graduate of Bowdoin college, being
a classmate of Gen. O. O. Howard, John N. Jewett, and other men who have
since become noted in the history of our country. In 1870 he was a
member of the Illinois constitutional convention which framed our
present state constitution.
In 1872 Mr. POTTER was elected
state’s attorney for Marshall county, and served four years with credit
to himself and to the county which he represented. Faithful in the
discharge of every duty, he prosecuted the evil-doer without fear or
favor, while tempering mercy with justice. Since his retirement from
that office, he has given attention wholly to his private practice, of
which he has always had his full share. He is regarded by all who know
him as a safe counselor, one whose advice it is wise for the client to
follow. It has never been a practice with him to advise litigation when
other counsels would subserve the same ends. He has followed in this
respect in the footsteps of such wise counselors and advocates as
Abraham Lincoln, John T. Stuart and others who became noted at the
Illinois bar.
Politically, Mr. POTTER was originally a Douglas
democrat, following the lead of that eminent statesman during that great
contest with Lincoln in 1858, when the latter represented the newly
organized republican party as its candidate for the United States senate
in opposition to Douglas, who was then serving as United States senator,
and was the democratic candidate for re-election. With all the ardor of
a young man, Mr. POTTER entered into that canvass at a time when he
should exercise the rights of franchise for the first time. Again, in
1860, he followed the lead of Douglas, who had been nominated by one
wing of the democratic party for the presidency. But Douglas was
defeated, some of the southern states passed acts of secession, the war
followed, and young POTTER became a war democrat. The transition from
that position to republicanism was easy, and from early in the ‘60s to
the present time, he has been an uncompromising republican. In every
campaign his voice is heard upon the stump, and he has dealt some
stalwart blows for the principles espoused. In 1880 he was quite active,
supporting the side of Grant against Blaine, but his purpose was
accomplished with the defeat of both by the nomination and election of
Garfield.
Mr. POTTER has been twice married, his first union
being in 1858, with Miss Louisa V. DAWSON, of Henry, by whom three
children were born: Ellsworth Story, now a traveling salesman, residing
in Peoria; Carrie Louisa, who married Daniel S. SCHNEIDER, but who died
in September, 1892; and Ida, now the wife of Eugene D. LANE, of
Sterling, Illinois. The wife and mother died July 21, 1871, her death
being mourned by husband and children and a large circle of friends who
esteemed her for her worth as a genuine womanly woman, a loving wife and
mother, and faithful friend.
Some three years after the death of
his first wife, on the 29th of April, 1874, Mr. POTTER was united in
marriage with Miss Sarah Isabella HOUSE, daughter of Willard HOUSE, an
early merchant and miller of Grand Detour, Illinois. By this union three
children were also born: Gertrude and Fred W., graduates of the high
school class of 1895; the latter is now a student in his father’s law
office; and Sarah Elsie, a high school student.
In addition to
his legal duties Mr. POTTER is interested in everything calculated to
build up and strengthen the business of his adopted town and county. For
twenty-four years he has been a director of the Henry Bridge Company,
and for fifteen years its president. A friend of education, he does all
in his power to promote the interests of the public schools. For many
years he has been an active worker in the Masonic order, and is a member
of Henry lodge, No. 119, F. & A. M., and of Chillicothe chapter, R. A.
M., of Lacon. He is not a member of any church, but contributes to the
support of the Protestant Episcopal church of Henry, of which his wife
is a devoted member. As a citizen he is held in the highest esteem by
his fellow townsmen.
Extracted March 2011 by Norma Hass from The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois, 1896.
| Bureau Putnam La Salle | |||
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| Peoria | Woodford | ||
