| Other People | Frank J. Bradley | Olive Rambo Cook | Jerry Litton | | |||
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Past and Present of Livingston County Volume 2. Biographies by Major A. J. Roof. 1913 |
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Page 225-226
D. S. Potter, traveling salesman for the Hershel Manufacturing Company of Peoria, Illinois, and connected with agricultural interests of Cream Ridge township as the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, was born in Lawnridge, Illinois, August 15, 1864, a son of Russell and Betsy (Taylor) Potter. The father, who was born February 13, 1828, was a farmer during his active life, but for several years before his death, which occurred May 4, 1899, lived retired. He is buried in Greenfield, Iowa, and is survived by his wife, who was born December 21, 1831, and makes her home there. In their family were four children besides the subject of this review, namely: Louisa, the widow of Asahel Fuller, of Lincoln, Nebraska; George W., who died at Greenfield, Iowa; Minnie, the wife of S. Y. Cornell, of Greenfield, Iowa; and Palmer, who has passed away and is buried at Lawnridge, Illinois.
In the acquirement of an education D. S. Potter attended the public schools of Lawnridge and later college at Galesburg, Illinois. He followed farming for some time thereafter and began his business career as an employe of the Hershel Manufacturing Company of Peoria, starting as shipping clerk and by reason of his energy, perseverance and industry winning rapid advancement, finally buying an interest in the concern. A short time afterward he went upon the road as a traveling salesman and for the past eighteen years has ably looked after the company's interests throughout the central west. In 1901 he established his residence in Livingston county, purchasing a one hundred and sixty acre farm in Cream Ridge township, which he now operates. He has made substantial improvements upon it, having erected a fine residence, barns and outbuildings and having installed new and labor-saving machinery. Mr. Potter annually harvests fine crops of grain and in addition is extensively interested in live stock, having fine herds of horses, cattle and swine. The property is a valuable one, its profitable condition being in a great measure due to the able work and careful management of Mrs. Potter who, during the absence of her husband in the interests of his firm, practically looks after all of the work, managing the farm with great ability and business foresight.
At Wichita, Kansas, on the 6th of December, 1886, Mr. Potter married Miss Lettie V. Witmer, a daughter of Levi W. and Mary A. (Lyons) Witmer, the former of whom was a sawmill operator and afterward a pioneer farmer in Kansas. He died June 7, 1911, at the age of eighty years, and was survived by his wife until October 25, 1912. Both are buried at Millersburg, Indiana. They had four children: Daniel S.; Lettie V., the wife of the subject of this review; and two who died in infancy. Mrs. Potter was burn at Millersburg, Indiana, and acquired her education in the public schools of that community, remaining at home until after her marriage. She and her husband have three children: Homer S., a mechanical engineer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Iva, who married W. R. Uhrmacher, a farmer in Cream Ridge township; and Levi R., aged four years.
Mr. Potter is a republican in his political beliefs, and fraternally is connected with the United Commercial Travelers' Association. He is a man of great energy, perseverance and ability and has made those activities, which claim his interests, of value in promoting his success.