Albert L. Potter, b. 10 Sep 1832

WARNER, DEARBORN, BENNETT, SHIBLY, POTTER, WILCOX, MATTISON, HALL, ANDERSON, MALTBY

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/20/2004 at 23:35:46

In speaking of the prominent and practical business men and farmers of Jackson County - those who are largely identified with its industrial interests - the name of the subject of this biographical notice, who is a proprietor of Mt. Airy Farm, and manufacturer and dealer of surghum and canned goods in La Motte, is always mentioned among the leading ones of this community. He is a native of New York, born in Holland Patent, Oneida County, Sept. 10, 1832. He is of English descent, and can trace his ancestry back many generations to one George Potter, from whom he is lineally descended. This George Potter was born in England, but first appears in the family record as a citizen of Portsnouth, R.I., in 1638. He appears to have been a man who did his own thinking, and was at variance with the popular theology of his time. He died early, leaving an only son, Abel. The widow marrying soon after, the young son Abel was "bound out" for a term of eighteen years. From this waif has descended a large family, 1570 names appearing on record, and doubtless as many more are not recorded. Abel Potter was united in marriage with Rachel Warner, Nov. 16, 1669, in Rhode Island, and subsequently lived in that State until his death, in 1692. His son John, who was born in Warwick, R.I., in 1680, and died there in 1770, at the ripe old age of ninety years, married Joan Dearborn, on the 19th of February, 1702. Of their children, Joseph, great-great-grandfather of our subject, was born in 1715, and lived to the age of three-score and ten years. Sept. 11, 1742, he was united in marriage to Freelove Bennett, who survived him many years, spending more than a century of her life on this earth. He was a true patriot, and fought for the independence of his country during the Revolution, as did each of his six sons. Nor should the patriotism of the heroic mother be forgotten. When danger threatened and men were needed, with husband and five elder sons in the patriot army, she said to her only remaining son, a lad of sixteen, "you can do some good, you had better go".

Among the sons, John, great-grandfather of our subject, was captain of a company in that war, and did brave service. He was born in Coventry, R.I., July 28, 1747, and married Susan Shibly. Their son Samuel, paternal grandfather of our subject, was born in Canajoharie, Montgomery Co., N.Y. He grew to manhood in his native county, and there engaged in farming. Later he moved to Oneida County, and carried on farming and milling, going from there to Jefferson County, in the same State, where he spent his last years. His son, John S., the father of our subject, was born in Montgomery County, N.Y., April 6, 1793. He removed with his parents to Oneida County, thence to Jefferson County, where, in 1835, he bought 150 acres of land, and began its improvement. Twenty years later he came with his family to Jackson County, Iowa, and buying a small farm in Richland Township, resided here until his demise, July 2, 1869. He was united in marriage with Miss Lydia M. Potter, March 14, 1815. She was born in New Canaan, Columbia Co., N.Y., Aug. 6, 1792, being a daughter of Augustus Potter, who was born in Coventry, R.I., May 1, 1767. He was a farmer by occupation, and was married Aug. 20, 1786, to Miss Achsah Wilcox. His father, Samuel Potter, was one of the six patriotic sons of Joseph Potter, before mentioned, who fought in the Revolution. He was born in Coventry, R.I., May 24, 1745, and married Lydia Mattison. Mrs. Potter received a good education, and previous to her marriage taught school several terms. She spent her last years in the home of our subject, dying Dec. 4, 1878. To her and her husband were born six children - Alvah, Delos, Augustus II., Samuel E. (deceased), Adelia A., and Albert L.

The latter, of whom we write, was but two years of age when his parents removed to Jefferson County, N.Y. He was there reared to maturity, receiving exceptionally good educational advantages in the public schools, and afterward further advanced his education by attending higher institutions of learning in Champion, Carthage and Orleans. Having unusually good mental ability, he became in early life well fitted for the profession of teaching, which he has successfully followed a good deal of the time since. In 1854 Mr. Potter, who was convinced that the undeveloped country of the West offered better inducements to active young men who wished to permanently establish themselves in life than the more populous Eastern States, left New York on the 12th of April, and, coming by rail to Warren, Ill., thence continued his journey to Galena by stage. From Galena he "hoofed it" to LaMotte, returning the next day with a farm wagon for his wife. LaMotte at that time was a small settlement on the frontier, and contained perhaps a dozen cabins, five or six small frame houses, a log hotel, two stores, in one of which was the post-office, a small frame school-house, but no churches. Here our subject invested in twenty acres of wild land, and began the improvement of a farm. He still contined to give considerable attention to teaching, and at times had charge of some of the most advanced town and rural schools in this part of the county.

As our subject was able he bought land adjoining his homestead, and in due time became the possessor of a farm of 200 acres, lying on sections 9 and 16 of Richland Township, known as the Mt. Airy Farm. It is well watered by springs, and is under excellent cultivation, with a good, bearing orchard, and groves of cedar and evergreen, which he set out in 1875. Mr. Potter has erected substantial buildings, his barn, 40 x 72 feet, being the largest in the township. Besides tilling the soil our subject pays especial attention to stock-raising, his cattle being of fine grades, and his horses of the celebrated Norman breed.

In 1865, Mr. Potter, who has always believed in utilizing his land and his means to the best advantage, began raising and manufacturing sorghum on a small scale. Being prosperous in that enterprise, he entered into it more extensively, and in 1882 put up a steam apparatus, and now carries on quite a large business in that line. In 1884 our subject learned the art of canning fruit and vegetables, and, in connection with sorghum making, yearly cans a large amount of sweet corn, tomatoes, string beans, etc., of his own raising, at his finely-equipped sorgo and canning works on his homestead, where he gives employment to a score or more operaties. Mr. Potter pays the most careful attention to the minor details of his business, raising only the finest varieties of fruit and vegetables, and personally supervises the work at the factory and packing house, and has thus acquired a reputation in that branch of industry second to none in this section of the country. Mt. Airy Farm Home-Canned brand of goods, and Potter's Sorghum are well and favorably known, and meet with a ready sale in this and surrounding counties. Mr. Potter is a strong supporter of the theory that many and small canning factories will produce a better quality of goods, and at the same time be more profitable to the proprietors, than a few large factories. He would locate a factory in every neighborhood, large enough to supply all local demand.

Our subject is a man of practical ability, and claims that to produce the best results his factory should draw as little as possible from abroad. Acting on this principle he has reduced the money sent abroad to the minimum. Even the necessary printing is done by his sons on a amateur press bought for them some years ago, and costing originally several hundred dollars. As an educator, Mr. Potter says he considers this the best investment he has ever made for his sons, and he designs that his daughters shall take a hand at type-setting when old enough.

Speaking of the educational and literary surroundings of this home, we must not omit the fine library of five or six hundred volumes. Libraries, like everything else, may be good or bad according to the make up, but this seems to have been selected solely for its usefulness. It contains many books of rare merit, and some are valuable because no longer obtainable.

The marriage of Mr. Potter with Miss Eliza Hall was solemnized in La Fargeville, N.Y. Sept. 13, 1853. During their happy wedded life five children have blessed their home, the following being their record: J.A., born Sept 20, 1861, is a student in the medical department of the State University at Iowa City; Carl Hall, born Dec. 13, 1864, married Miss Sarah Anderson, Jan. 14, 1889, and both are pursuing their studies in the university at Madison, Wis., he being a student in the agricultural department, and she taking the English course; Herbert D. was born July 9, 1870; Elbert L., Dec. 3, 1871, and Francis D., Feb. 27, 1876.

Mrs. Potter was born in Jefferson County, N.Y., Nov. 13, 1838, of English lineage, and is the descendant of a line of patriots. Her great-grandfather, Joseph Hall, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, was taken prisoner, and was starved to death while held in durance by the British in the old jail at New York. His son, also named Joseph, Mrs. Potter's grandfather, was a farmer by occupation, and did good service in the War of 1812. Gideon P. Hall, father of Mrs. Potter was a native of New York State, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits in Jefferson County; his death occured in Oswego County, in October, 1853, while yet in the prime of life, he having been accidently killed by a falling stone while stoning a well. The maiden name of his wife was Lois Maltby. She was a daughter of the Rev. Joseph Maltby, and spent her entire life in the Empire State, having been born in Genesee County, and dying in Oswego County. To her and her husband were born four children, namely: Gideon W., living in Lockport, N.Y.; Grove M., a minister in Madison, Dak.; Eliza, and William H.H. The latter enlisted, in 1861, in the 107th New York Infantry, and served four years in the late Civil War.

Mr. Potter is a finely educated man, of more than ordinary business capacity, and is a worthy representative of the enterprising citizens of Richland Township. In the village of LaMotte, which he helped raise to its present prosperity, he is held in cordial regard, and highly esteemed by the whole community. In educational matters Mr. Potter has always taken a deep interest, and given hearty support to all schemes for their advancement. He is a man of sound principles and unblemished honor, of broad and enlightened views. Inherently religious, in early life he thought seriously of entering the ministry, but a change of views led him to abandon this. A strong religious nature, "like Banquo's ghost, will not down." To investigate religious subjects is, with him, a necessity, and much close study and thought have made him a fine ecclesiastical and theological student. He is a very pronounced freethinker, liberal in fact as well as in profession. His sympathies are with the Unitarians, he regarding this the most hopeful wing of liberal religious thought at the present time. To these views his estimable wife, and indeed all the family give unqualified assent. So there has never been any bone of discord in the family over religion. In politics our subject is independent, voting for the men whom he thinks will conscientiously work for the highest interests of their country.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois)