POTTER, Stillman 1811-1905

POTTER, BETTS, PELTOU, MESSINGHAM

Posted By: Marilyn O'Connor (email)
Date: 11/4/2008 at 09:22:54

Osage News
March 16, 1905

Stillman Potter was born October 11, 1811, at Waterford, Caledonia Co. at the foot of the White Mountains in Vermont. He has said "Its a wonder I had not been killed falling down from those mountains." He lived there until he was fourteen years of age when he went to Canada and lived there nine years.

In 1833 he moved to Erie county, Pennsylania where he lived until 1862, when he came to Mitchell county and settled on a farm five miles east of Stacyville. There he lived until three years ago then he came to Osage to live with his son Stoddard S. Potter and that has been his home until the time of his death.

He was the father of nine children, eight of whom survive, Louise Potter of Cannon, Colo.; Mrs. Harriot Betts and Myron Potter of Spooner, Wis., Mary E. Pelton and Stoddard S. Potter of Osage, Bethel Potter of Spooner, Wis. and Roxana Messingham of Sisseton, S. Dak. One daughter, Laura died January 10, 1880. He also had thirty grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren.
Mr. Potter was the last of his family, five children were older and five younger. One of his brothers until his ninety sixth year.

Mr. Potter has always farmed and always enjoyed good health, having never taken a dose of medicine until about three years ago. He was rugged and his mind was clear until the last, when he died in his chair very easily, like an old clock run down, last Sunday morning, March 12, 1905.

He has voted for seventeen presidents and always considerded it his duty to vote. He was an active member of the Methodist church at Stacyville for years. He was a great reader and always posted on current events.

The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon conducted by Rev. J. A. Lapham from the text Job 5:26, "Thou shalt come to the grave in a full age like a shock of corn cometh in his season."
Interment took place in the Osage cemetery, Osage, Mitchell county, Iowa.