JACOB POTE

POTE, GOOD, TAYLOR

Posted By: Norma Nielson (email)
Date: 5/16/2004 at 21:00:32

"Jacob Pote was long and actively identified with general agricultural pursuits in Adair county and is still the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of valuable land but since January, 1911, has lived retired in Bridgewater. His birth occurred in Henry county, Indiana, on the 26th of January, 1849, his parents being Samuel and Anna (Good) Pote, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively. They were married in Indiana and resided in Henry county until 1854, when they came to Iowa, locating on a farm in Cedar county. In 1875 they removed to Adair county, taking up their abode in Jefferson township, where the father passed away in October, 1884, when sixty-two years of age. The mother reached the age of seventy-two years, her demise occurring about 1898.

Jacob Pote was five years of age when the family home was established in Cedar county, Iowa, and there he was reared to manhood. On attaining his majority he started out as an agriculturist on his own account, cultivating rented land in Cedar county, Iowa. In 1876, the year following his marriage, he went to Guthrie county, Iowa, but two years later moved across the line into Adair county. In 1884 he purchased an eighty-acre farm in Jackson township, the property lying a mile north and a mile east of Bridgewater, and in February, 1885, took up his abode thereon. Subsequently he bought additional farm land until at one time his holdings embraced four hundred and forty acres. Recently, however, he disposed of a quarter section, so that at present he owns but two hundred and eighty acres, which property is now being cultivated by his youngest son. In January, 1911, he put aside the active work of the fields and removed to Bridgewater, where he has since lived retired in the enjoyment of well earned ease.

In January, 1875, Mr. Pote was united in marriage to Miss S. N. Taylor, by whom he had five children, four of whom survive, as follows: Guy J., who is a member of the firm of Herbert & Pote, well known druggists of Bridgewater; Cora M., the wife of Dr. R. R. Chapman, of Bridgewater; Cleo A., a successful jeweler of Fontanelle, Iowa; and Paul McKinley, who operates the home farm.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Pote has supported the men and measures of the republican party and during a number of years past he has held various township offices. He and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church ad are two of the eight members who organized the church in Bridgewater. Two others of the original eight are still living. Mr. Pote has made his home in Adair county for the past thirty-seven years and is justly entitled to representation in its annals as one of its well known and highly respected citizens."

Source: The "History of Adair County Iowa and its People," Volume II. (Chicago, The Pioneer Publishing Company) 1915.