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George F. Potts is the owner and manager of a general
store in Colesburg and is ranked as one of the prosperous and up-to-date
merchants of the town. He was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, December 26,
1840, a son of John W. and Eliza (Coyle) Potts, also natives of Pennsylvania.
The parents came to Iowa in 1846 and settled upon a tract of government land in
Clayton, county, residing there for many years but moving to Colesburg in 1869,
and both died here. Of the children born to them six grew to maturity, but the
subject of this review is the only one now living.
George F. Potts remained under the parental roof until June, 1862,
when he enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining Company F. Twelfth United
States Infantry. He served in the Army of the Potomac for three years and was
honorably discharged in 1865. He participated in a number of hard fought battles
but was fortunate enough to go through the three years without a scratch. At the
end of the war he returned home to Iowa and in the spring of 1866 went to
Montana, where for three years he followed mining. He then returned to Delaware
county and located in Colesburg, where he has since lived. On the 1st of
January, 1885, he entered the mercantile field and has since conducted his
store, which is liberally patronized by the people of the town and the
surrounding country. His reputation for giving full value for the money received
and his anxiety to please his customers have been potent factors in the success
of his business and insure its continued growth.
Mr. Potts was married on the 23d of September, 1869, to Miss
Ann E. Peck, a native of the state of New York and a daughter of Samuel D. and
Nancy W. (Moreland) Peck. The father was born in New York and the mother in
Pennsylvania. They came to Iowa with their family at an early day, remaining
here until called to their final rest. Mrs. Potts is one of a family of nine
children and by her marriage became the mother of five, namely: Effa, the wife
of C. H. Jacobs; Clara, at home; Nannie E., who married Louis A. Kocher; and
Samuel W. and Bertie, both deceased.
Mrs. Potts is a member of the Congregational church and can
be depended upon to do her part in the promotion of any good cause. Mr. Potts
owns the building in which his store is located, his residence and four lots in
Colesburg and is one of the valued citizens of the town, having aided in no
small degree in its business expansion. |
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