Potts Family History

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Introduction

Presently, the earliest known Potts relative is Rynaert Potts, who was born in Germany around 1725 and immigrated to northern Maryland before 1760, possibly as early as 1745. The area of his German origin is unknown but is suspected to have been from the Palatinate region. The following summaries are included in order to provide a perspective of the German culture from which he emerged and the experiences he may have encountered in the process of immigrating.

Germany

Life in Rural Germany, 1600-1800

SOURCE

Most Germans lived in rural areas between the 17th and 19th century. In the 18th century, statistics show that this was true for about 80% of the population. Most farmers were not owners of the land. The land belonged to wealthy land owners, and the cultivator of the land was a mere servant and in many instances, a serf. If a farmer was treated as a serf, he had no personal freedom, i.e., he was not able to marry without consent of his sovereign lord, he could not move anywhere else and could not sell or obtain land. Therefore, few people were able to sell out. If they did, they were free of obligations towards the authorities and could buy, sell, lease, inherit, etc., without interference.

People who were put in charge of land and a working farm were able to pass it on with the understanding that the successor would ensure the same care and yield as the previous user did. If a farmer died, several scenarios could take place. The farmland could be divided among all heirs or be given to the oldest or youngest son while other brothers and sisters received monetary compensations. If a farmer had no heir, the sovereign or manor lord took back the property and gave it to another farmer who could be a relative of the deceased.

The social hierarchy of a village was determined by the size of farmland and personal property. People with little or no property found themselves at the bottom on the social ranking. These were the sons and daughters of farmers who were not entitled to inherit the farm. The number of people in such predicament grew steadily after the Thirty Years War (1618-1648). They had to work as day laborers or seasonal workers and had to be very creative to make ends meet.

German Palatinate Region

Many of the German immigrants to Pennsylvania and Maryland from 1709 to the Revolutionary War originated from the Palatinate region of Germany.

18th Century Immigrant Ships

​ Typical 18th Century Immigrant Ship

"Patience" was a 200-ton ship, had 8 guns, and a crew of 16. Clipper ships carried passengers, but were built for speed and cargo. In 1748, the "Patience" carried 122 men over 16 (total passengers not given); in 1749, 137 men, 270 persons; in 1750, 124 men, 266 persons; in 1751, 255 persons; in 1752, 260 persons; in 1753, 108 persons

The following information is gleaned from the book:

Gottlieb Mittelberger's Journey to Pennsylvania in the Year 1750 and Return ...

By Gottlieb Mittelberger

Gottlieb's Journey follows the same path that Rynaert Potts is likely to have traveled during the same time period of colonial history. The final destination for Rynaert may have been Baltimore rather than Philadelphia. While the conditions experienced for all voyages are different, there are probably also many similarities.

In October, 1750 Gottlieb Mittelberger arrived at Philadelphia after a grueling 5 month voyage which involved drinking black water full of worms and ship's biscuits "full of red worms and spiders' nests." The harsh conditions on the overcrowded ships resulted in illness, death and for many families, being sold separately as indentured servants, possibly never to see each other again.

Mittelberger (1714-1758) wrote a rare first hand account - over 30 pages - detailing the immigration of German/Swiss in the 1700s. He traveled onboard the sailing ship 'Osgood' with an new organ to be the “organist and schoolmaster with the German St. Augustine's Church in New Providence," Philadelphia. He had lost his job in the Duchy of Wurttemberg in the Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) and would live in colonial America for four years. Upon his return, he wrote a book, with the purpose to warn Germans of the hardships of emigration.

The typical itinerary for German and Swiss emigres during the 1700s was Rotterdam (now in Holland) to Cowes (England) to Philadelphia. It took up to 6 weeks from lower Germany to travel on the Rhine River to Rotterdam because the ships were stopped at 36 custom houses. The passengers also had to wait around in Rotterdam and Cowes, thus using up money and supplies desperately needed for their ocean voyage.

The "people are packed densely, like herrings so to say" with some large ships holding "four to six hundred souls; not to mention the innumerable implements, tools, provisions, water-barrels..."

Water, stored in wooden casks, was "very bad and foul" ... "often very black, thick and full of worms, so that one cannot drink it without loathing, even with the greatest thirst...Great hunger and thirst force us to eat and drink everything; but many a one does so at the risk of his life. The sea-water cannot be drunk, because it is salt and bitter as gall."

Rations were "very poor and very little." The passengers were given warm food only three times a week (except during storms) and it was "so unclean." They ate "old and sharply salted food and meat."

Ship's biscuits (hardtack), near the end of the voyage, were eaten which "had been spoiled long ago; though in a whole biscuit there was scarcely a piece the size of a dollar that had not been full of red worms and spiders' nests."

Poultry, pigs, sheep and fish were described in his return voyage. After a severe storm the "poultry on board the ship was mostly found dead, the pigs and sheep were sick…"

To sail from Cowes (southern England) to Philadelphia it could take 7 to 12 weeks, and Mittelberger listed some of the horrific conditions and illnesses: "terrible misery, stench, fumes, horror, vomiting, many kinds of sea-sickness, fever, dysentery, headache, heat, constipation, boils, scurvy, cancer, mouth-rot, and the like..."

Many died, although the official tally upon arrival stated only the number of men over sixteen who died, women (particularly late pregnancies) and children also died. "Children from 1 to 7 years rarely survive the voyage… no less than 32 children [died] in our ship." After a four month voyage ending in Oct, 1727 seven men out of forty two (14%) died and ten were very sick on the 'Friendship,' the ship with my Swiss ancestor Peter Bicksler (Bixler).

​ 18th Century Philadelphia Engraving

"Sale of human beings" (indentured servants). The sea travel from Rotterdam to Philadelphia cost 10 pounds or 60 florins in 1750. Children 5 to 10 were half price and under 5 were free. If a spouse died more than half way through, the other would have to serve both terms (i.e. each 3-6 years). Families were usually separated, with children under 5 given away to work until they turned 21. Children over 5 were bought to pay their passage, and they too worked until they were 21. Since the indentured servants didn't know the various new owners who could live 40 hours away, the family may never have been reunited.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: More on Gottlieb Mittelberger's Journey to Pennsylvania

Rynaert Potts (1725-1799)

1. Germany (Abt 1725-Abt 1758)

2. Harford County, Maryland (Abt 1755-1789)

3. Welland County, Ontario, Canada (1789-1799)

Rynaert Potts was born in 1725 in Germany and died in 1799 in Willoughby Twp, Welland County, Ontario, Canada at age 74, and was buried in the village of Drummondville, Stamford Township, Welland County,Ontario.

Rynaert married Catrina Koppen in Oct 1756 in Bucks, Pennsylvania. Catrina was born about 1730 in Germany and died about 1785 in Maryland, USA about age 55. They had four children: Catherine (Cathran), Jacob, John, and Eliabeth (Elizabeth). Rynaert and Catrina

Children from this marriage were:

Catherine (Cathran) Potts was born in 1759 in Maryland, USA and died in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Catherine married Joseph Reese (Rees) on 23 Jun 1778 in Harford County, Maryland. Joseph was born in 1762 in Cloity, Glamorgan, Wales. They had four children: John, Anne, Catherine, and Elizabeth.

Jacob Potts was born on 14 Jan 1761 in Harford County, Maryland, died on 24 Jan 1838 in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 77, and was buried in Woodhouse United Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Jacob married Susannah Coard on 31 Oct 1782 in Harford County, Maryland. Susannah was born in 1752 in Maryland, USA and died in 1800 in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 48. They had five children: Rynard, Elizabeth, Jacob, William, and Hannah.

Jacob next married a woman who has not been Identified. It is speculated that the marriage would have occurred around 1809. They had no children.

Jacob next married Catherine (Richards) Duff about 1813. Catherine was born in 1778 in United States, died on 3 Nov 1853 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 75, and was buried in Potts Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. They had three children: George, Catherine, and Philip.

John Potts was born in 1766 in Maryland, USA.

Eliabeth (Elizabeth) Potts was born in 1774 in Maryland, USA.

Rynaert Potts was born in Germany around 1725 and immigrated to northern Maryland before 1760, possibly as early as 1745. Neither the area of his German origin nor his ancestry have been traced at this point. Many of the German immigrants during this period originated from the Palatinate region of Germany. Economic, political, and religious upheavals during the early to mid seventeen hundreds had prompted many inhabitants of southwestern Germany to seek better living conditions. Those choosing to emigrate to America would begin their travel by riverboat up the Rhine River, and then make their way to Holland. It took several weeks to reach an Atlantic seaport. The difficult and dangerous ocean voyage to arrive in the colonies required another eight to 10 weeks. To pay for their voyage, many impoverished immigrants resorted to selling themselves or their family members into indentured servitude. This would legally bind them to an employer in America for several years, until their debt was paid. The conditions of indentured servitude could be very harsh - working long hours and living under strict discipline and meager living conditions.

A descendant (James Henry Potts) provided a published account, Every Life a Delight, of stories passed down regarding his great grandfather's life. He told of Rynaert having no money in the fatherland. Wanting to come to America, he sold himself for a period of eight years in order to obtain a ticket across the Atlantic. Before the end of this term he met and fell in love with a woman (Cathran or Catrina) he wished to bring with him as his wife. In order to achieve that he had his period of servitude extended another three years. The couple was also required to work without compensation throughout the voyage as part of the condition by which they obtained tickets. They arrived in Baltimore with only their clothes and a penknife. Baltimore had only about five hundred inhabitants at that time.

It is more likely, however, that the period of servitude followed rather than preceded their voyage. The prevailing process at that time was to grant passage on ships under the agreement that they would undergo a period of servitude in order to reimburse the cost incurred by a colonial purchaser of their services. The purchasers were often landowners who were seeking cheap labor to tend and harvest their crops. Periods of servitude generally spanned four to eight years. The selection process for the “masters" was somewhat similar to the bidding arrangement used in the purchase of slaves. Many of the early slaves were white Europeans, often convicts and felons expelled from England and Ireland to the colonies as part of their sentence. There were also ever increasing numbers of black slaves captured in Africa. Among the obvious differences between the indentured servants (also referred to as redemptioners) and slaves were the presence of choice and the limit to the period of service. Indentured servants and slaves often shared duties and living quarters. The treatment of each was mostly dependent on the perspective and temperament of the master. In some cases, there were colonial rules and laws regarding treatment of redemptioners and rewards for completion of the period of servitude. Some contracts even included the acquisition of small amounts of land which may have been the case with Rynaert Potts. It is also possible that the meeting between Rynaert and his future wife could have occurred in Germany, on the voyage or even during his period of indentured servitude.

The family writer continues to describe the couples journey into the forest to locate their land, said to be about twenty miles from Baltimore. They constructed their home and developed the property, raising food crops and livestock. Rynaert and his wife resided in an area of Baltimore County referred to as the Susquahannah Hundred located near the mouth of the Susquahannah River. When Baltimore County was divided into several smaller counties in 1773, this area was situated on the eastern border of what is now Harford County.

The writer also tells a story regarding Rynaert's Maryland employment as an overseer of slaves on a colonial tobacco farm, where he was fired for establishing friendly relationships with slaves and refusing to whip them under orders from the slave owner. This story is also present in the narrative, A Maryland Plantation Overseer, about Rynaert and his family as related in the book The Long Point Settlers by Ronald Robert Mutrie.

Depiction of colonial tobacco cultivation by David B. Scott

Rynaert and Cathran had at least four children: Catherine (1759), Jacob (1761), John (1766) and Elizabeth (1774). The period of the American revolution had a very large impact on the lives of the Potts family. There may have been family members who had opposed the revolution or refused to fight on behalf of the patriots and were, consequently, regarded as Loyalists. There has been no indication that Rynaert or his eldest son actively fought on behalf of the British and as a German immigrant it would have been unlikely for him to have had strong ties to a British homeland. Rynaert would have been around 50 years old at the onset of the war and his eldest son Jacob would have been 14 years old. There are some social and religious factors that may have exacerbated the tension between the family and the Maryland Patriots. The Susquahannah Hundred was well populated with adherents to the Quaker and Methodist faiths. The Potts family were Methodists in Canada and that affiliation may have had its origins in Maryland. Many Quakers and Methodists were pacifists and refused to fight for either side. Sentiment among the Maryland Patriots was quite hostile to those who failed to support the revolution. In addition, Methodists had a history of opposing slavery - a position that was extremely unpopular with both Patriot and Loyalist elites. One of the most active of the Methodist abolitionists, Freeborn Garritson, also had residency in the Susquahannah Hundred. The following excerpt is taken from a paper discussing Maryland Methodists during this period.

One group became "bound in conscience not to fight" and condemned violence on moral grounds.· But, American patriots often misinterpreted the religious motivations of conscientious objectors and labeled them Tories. Freeborn Garrettson was assailed by mobs, beaten into unconsciousness and jailed on suspicion of being a British spy. Many Methodists encountered some form of persecution.

For whatever reason, the social and political atmosphere precipitated a move in 1789 to Willoughby Township in Welland County, near Niagara Falls, Canada for some members of Rynaert's family (his wife, Cathran, had died by this time) and his son Jacob's family. (see The Niagara Settlers) Jacob, who was by now 28 years of age and married to Susannah Coard, made the move with the couples' five children. It is believed that at least two additional children of the elder Rynaert Potts also migrated to Canada at this time.

Willoughby Township in Welland County near Niagara Falls area of Canada

Some estimates indicate that as much as one third of the population of the colonies left following the Revolutionary War - mostly to England or Canada. The Potts families resided in Welland County with many other United Empire Loyalists. Rynaert died there in 1799 and was reported to have been buried in Drummondville in nearby Stamford Township. Jacob, Susannah and their family moved to Long Point Settlement along the shore of Lake Erie the following year.

Jacob Potts (1761-1838)

1. Harford County, Maryland (1761-1789)

2. Welland County, Ontario, Canada (1789-1800)

3. Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada (1800-1838)

Jacob Potts was born on 14 Jan 1761 in Harford County, Maryland, died on 24 Jan 1838 in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 77, and was buried in Woodhouse United Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Jacob married Susannah Coard on 31 Oct 1782 in Harford County, Maryland. Susannah was born in 1752 in Maryland, USA and died in 1800 in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 48. They had five children: Rynard, Elizabeth, Jacob, William, and Hannah. Susannah Coard

Jacob next married a woman who has not been Identified. It is speculated that the marriage would have occurred around 1809. They had no children.

Jacob next married Catherine (Richards) Duff about 1813. Catherine was born in 1778 in United States, died on 3 Nov 1853 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 75, and was buried in Potts Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. They had three children: George, Catherine, and Philip. Catherine Duff

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Potts Cemetery and Memorial Plaque

Children of Susannah Coard

Rynard Potts was born on 19 Jan 1783 in Harford County, Maryland, died on 18 May 1869 in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 86, and was buried in Potts Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Rynard married Esther Austin in 1805 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. Esther was born in Jun 1788 in Orange County, North Carolina, died on 25 Feb 1813 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 24, and was buried in Woodhouse United Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. They had two children: Jacob and Jonathon.

Rynard next married Catherine Baumwart Decou in 1816 in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. Catherine was born on 30 Jan 1784 in Washington County, Maryland, died on 3 Jan 1864 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 79, and was buried in Potts Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Elizabeth Potts was born in 1784 in Harford County, Maryland, died on 4 May 1866 in Ontario, Canada at age 82, and was buried in Woodhouse United Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Elizabeth married Jacob Lemon about 1798 in Norfolk County, Ontario. Jacob was born on 4 Apr 1774 in Oxford, Warren County, New Jersey, died on 28 Oct 1851 in Ontario, Canada at age 77, and was buried in Woodhouse United Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. They had 11 children: Sarah, Mary, Harriet, Catherine, Rebecca Ann, Jacob, Charity, Eliza, Jane, Matilda, and Lavina.

LTC Jacob Potts Jr. was born on 18 Dec 1785 in Harford County, Maryland, died on 15 Feb 1867 in Port Dover, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 81, and was buried in St. Johns Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Jacob married Rebecca Ann Lockwood, daughter of Joseph Lockwood and Polly Drake, on 3 Dec 1809 in London, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada. Rebecca was born on 25 Mar 1792 in Victoria, Canada, died on 5 Jun 1827 in Charlotteville, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 35, and was buried in Old Woodhouse Methodist Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. They had six children: Edwin Lockwood, Sarah Ann, Elizabeth "Eliza," Mary, Harriet and Rebecca Ann.

Jacob next married Helen "Margaret" Wyckoff about 1826 in Norfolk County, Ontario. Helen was born on 12 Nov 1787 in Rhode Island, USA, died on 13 Feb 1873 in Port Dover, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 85, and was buried in St. Johns Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

William Potts was born about 1785 in Harford County, Maryland, died on 22 May 1862 in Delhi, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 76, and was buried in Delhi Cemetery, Delhi, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

William married Jane "Jennie" Davis about 1810 in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. Jane was born on 6 Feb 1790 in Orange County, North Carolina and died in 1871-1881 in Delhi, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 81. They had two children: Nelson and Barbara.

Hannah Potts was born in 1786 in Harford County, Maryland, died on 29 Aug 1880 in Lynn Valley, Ontario, Canada at age 94, and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. Hannah Austin

Hannah married Jonathan Austin, son of Solomon Austin and Joanna Thomas, in 1806 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. Jonathan was born on 8 Feb 1784 in Orange County, North Carolina, died on 15 Oct 1849 in Port Dover, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 65, and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. They had eight children: Charlotte, Mary, Joanna, William, John, Catharine, Elizabeth, and Rebecca Ann.

John Potts was born in 1788 in Harford County, Maryland, died on 12 Feb 1813 in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 25, and was buried in Woodhouse United Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Children of Catherine (Richards) Duff

George Potts was born in 1814 in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, died on 5 Jul 1899 in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 85, and was buried in Potts Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

George married Mary Jane Buck, daughter of Adam Buck and Elizabeth Pattison, about 1837 in Woodhouse, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada. Mary was born on 26 Oct 1817 in Crowland Twp, Welland County, Ontario, Canada, died on 20 May 1891 in Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 73, and was buried in Potts Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. They had nine children: Mary, Jonas Lewis, Ambrose, Helen, Martha, Eliza, Samuel, Orilla Amelia, and George.

Catherine Potts was born in 1816 in Ontario, Canada.

Catherine married Edward Powers on 28 Feb 1848 in Welland County, Ontario, Canada. Edward was born in 1805 in Ontario, Canada. They had four children: Melissa, Susan, Catherine and Mary.

Rev. Philip Potts was born on 19 Apr 1819 in Ontario, Canada, died on 25 Jan 1873 in Galesburg, Michigan at age 53, and was buried in Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. Philip Potts

Philip married Fanny Ann Buck, daughter of Adam Buck and Elizabeth Pattison, on 5 Feb 1840 in Welland County, Ontario, Canada. Fanny was born on 7 Dec 1821 in Ontario, Canada, died on 25 Jan 1864 in Galesburg, Michigan at age 42, and was buried in Galesburg City Cemetery, Galesburg, Michigan. They had ten children: Lucy, Anson G., Charity Ann, Nathaniel P., James Henry, Philip Austin, Jacob Leland, Sabra A., George, and Frank F.

Philip next married Rebecca Ann Osborne about 1868 in Galesburg, Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Rebecca was born in 1823 in Brookfield, Ohio.

Jacob Potts was born in Harford County, Maryland on January 14, 1761 the son of German immigrants, Rynaert and Catrina Potts. He had an older sister, Catherine (1759), a younger brother, John (1766) and younger sister, Elizabeth (1774). Jacob grew to adulthood, became a member of the Methodist Church at the age of seventeen and married Susannah Coard on 31 Oct 1782 in Maryland at age 21. Jacob and Susannah began raising a family in the aftermath of the Revolutionary War (1775-1783). Susannah gave birth to Rynard in 1783 followed by Elizabeth (1784), Jacob (1785), William (1785), Hannah (1786) and John (1788). Jacob’s mother, Catrina, died around 1785.

The family of Ryneart Potts had been identified as Loyalists during the American Revolution and were likely subjected to hostility as well as loss of land, homes and possessions. In order to avoid further persecution, the family chose to move to the Lyons Creek area of Welland County, near Niagara Falls, Canada in 1789. Jacob, his wife, Susannah Coard and their five children (aged 1 to 7 years), Jacob's father, Rynaert Potts, and possibly two or more of Rynaert’s children sought asylum in this refuge for United Empire Loyalists. Several members of the family, including Jacob, were granted land and settled in Welland County.

After Rynaert died in 1799, Jacob Potts and his family along with two other families made the arduous journey along the shore of Lake Erie to Long Point Settlement, another developing Loyalist Settlement. John Misner and his family and a part of the Slaght family, moved with them.

Jacob and Susannah’s five children were now aged 11 to 17 years of age. They drove their stock along the lake shore as they brought their goods in boats. They were granted land to clear and farm in an area known as Woodhouse Township in Norfolk County, Ontario. Susannah died shortly after arriving at the settlement at the age of 48 years and was buried at Woodhouse United Church Cemetery, Halfway House Corner, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

According to The Long Point Settlers narrative: “Jacob built the largest barn in that section of the settlement. It was built of logs and was fifty feet long. When it was raised the help of every settler for fifteen miles around was required, and everybody said Mr. Potts would never grow enough quantity of grain to fill it. In the early years the wolves were very troublesome in this section, and it was necessary for Mr. Potts to build the walls of his log sheepfold high and very flaring at the top to keep them from destroying his flock.” He paid $2.50 an acre for additional Woodhouse land. Jacob's now adult children began raising families of their own. Also, according to a story in the Long Point Settlers chronicle Jacob entered into another marriage to a woman who was the widow of John Stone and Peter Metsler. This would have occurred around 1809, however, she has not been positively identified. There were no children from this marriage and no records of marriage, annulment, divorce or death have been found. Jacob next married Catherine Richards Duff, former wife of John Duff, around 1813. Catherine had one child, David Duff (1805) and bore three more; George (1814), Catherine (1816) and Philip (1819) with Jacob Potts. Philip was born when Catherine was 41 and Jacob was 58 years of age. Jacob died in 1838 at the age of 77 and was buried at Woodhouse United Church Cemetery, Halfway House Corner, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. Catherine passed away in Woodhouse Township in 1853 at the age of 75 and was buried in Potts Cemetery, Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

LTC Jacob Potts (1785-1867)

1. Harford County, Maryland (1785-1789)

2. Welland County, Ontario, Canada (1789-1800)

3. Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada (1800-1867)

LTC Jacob Potts Jr. was born on 18 Dec 1785 in Harford County, Maryland, died on 15 Feb 1867 in Port Dover, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 81, and was buried in St. Johns Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Jacob married Rebecca Ann Lockwood, daughter of Joseph Lockwood and Polly Drake, on 3 Dec 1809 in London, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada. Rebecca was born on 25 Mar 1792 in Victoria, Canada, died on 5 Jun 1827 in Charlotteville, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 35, and was buried in Old Woodhouse Methodist Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. They had six children: Edwin Lockwood, Sarah Ann, Elizabeth "Eliza," Mary, and Harriet and Rebecca Ann. Rebecca Ann Lockwood

Jacob next married Helen "Margaret" Wyckoff about 1826 in Norfolk County, Ontario. Helen was born on 12 Nov 1787 in Rhode Island, USA, died on 13 Feb 1873 in Port Dover, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 85, and was buried in St. Johns Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. They had no children. Helen Wyckoff

Children of Rebecca Ann Lockwood

Edwin Lockwood Potts was born on 30 Nov 1809 in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, died on 7 Sep 1876 in Long Point Settlement, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 66, and was buried in St. Johns Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Edwin married Martha Bell on 30 Sep 1834 in Long Point Settlement, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. Martha was born on 10 Apr 1808 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada, died on 24 Jul 1889 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 81, and was buried in St. Johns Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. They had five children: Francis, John Edwin, Thomas Robert, Albert J., and Henrietta Josephine.

Sarah Ann Potts was born on 17 Nov 1812 in Vittoria, Ontario, Canada and died on 23 Apr 1869 in Vittoria, Ontario, Canada at age 56.

Sarah married Peter Wyckoff Rapelje, son of Abraham A. Rapelje and Sarah Wyckoff, on 29 Jan 1835 in Vittoria, Ontario, Canada. Peter was born in 1808 in New York, New York and died on 9 Mar 1889 in Vittoria, Ontario, Canada at age 81. They had five children: John Wyckoff, Sarah, Arthur, Clara, and Charles Peter.

Elizabeth "Eliza" Potts was born in 1816 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, died on 27 Dec 1868 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 52, and was buried in St. Johns Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Elizabeth married James Graham Wilson on 13 Dec 1849 in Charlotteville, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. James was born on 18 Sep 1820 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, died on 15 Mar 1859 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 38, and was buried in St. Johns Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. They had one son: James Finlay.

Mary Potts was born in 1819.

Mary married David Smith Ross on 27 May 1845 in Charlotteville, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. David was born in 1810 in Scotland.

Harriet Potts was born on 9 May 1822 in Norfolk County, Ontario, died in Nov 1898 in Halfway House Corner, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 76, and was buried in St. Johns Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Harriet married Dr. Joseph Backhouse Culver, son of Joseph Culver and Jemima Maria Backhouse. Joseph was born in 1827 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, died on 10 May 1863 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 36, and was buried in St. Johns Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Harriet next married Duncan McPherson on 5 May 1874 in Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. Duncan was born in 1812 in Invernesshire, Scotland, died on 16 Mar 1875 in Quebec, Canada at age 63, and was buried in Quebec City Cemetery, Quebec, Canada.

Rebecca Ann Potts was born on 13 Sep 1826 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada and died on 25 Sep 1882 at age 56.

Rebecca married Richard Uria Wilson in Charlotteville, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. Richard was born in 1827 and died on 5 Feb 1859 in Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 32.

LTC Jacob Potts Jr., was born December 18, 1785 in Harford County Maryland. After the Revolutionary War Jacob's family moved to Welland County Ontario, Canada around 1789. Jacob would have been around five years old at the time. Jacob was fifteen years old in 1800 when the family moved to Long Point Settlement on Lake Erie.

According to Wikipedia, "Norfolk County had an important role during the War of 1812. Fort Norfolk was built in Charlotteville (near Vittoria and Normandale) in 1813 with accommodation for 300 troops. The Battle of Nanticoke, against American troops, was an important event in 1813. In August 1812, Major General Isaac Brock gathered a force of about regulars and militia at Port Dover. Using boats on the lake, they reached Amherstburg (also in Upper Canada) and then attacked and captured the American Hull's Army at Detroit. The Americans forces later burned Port Dover. The Americans forces also burnt Port Dover, Port Ryerse and the Walsingham settlement in 1814."

Jacob joined the militia, attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Canadian army and was considered a war hero for his efforts in defending Canada from United States incursions during the War of 1812. Jacob participated in the Battle of Lundy's Lane which became on of the turning points in the war. In Summary from the Lundy's Lane Monument in cemetery Niagara Falls, Ontario: "This was the site of the bloodiest battle of the War of 1812. On the afternoon of 25th July, 1814, Lieutenant-General Gordon Drummond with about 2800 men engaged the invading American army which had recently been victorious at Chippewa. The armies were evenly matched and the six-hour battle lasted until darkness and heavy losses put an end to the fighting. Each force had lost over 800 men. Although each claimed victory, the Americans had failed to dislodge Drummond from his position. They withdrew the next day, ending their offensive in Upper Canada."

Battle of Lundy's Lane by Alonzo Chappel Video summary of the Battle

Jacob had married Rebecca Ann Lockwood in 1809 and settled in Charlotteville, Ontario. Rebecca gave birth to six children: Edwin Lockwood (1809), Sarah (1812), Elizabeth (1816), Mary (1819), Harriet (1822) and Rebecca Ann (1816) before passing away in 1827. Rebecca was buried in Woodhouse United Church Cemetery, Halfway House Corner, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. Jacob then married Helen "Margaret" Wyckoff. The family was very active and supportive of the Church of England.

Agriculture was of great importance to the commerce of Norfolk County with wheat being the primary crop. Jacob attained high levels of success as a farmer and in the process was able to accumulate considerable wealth. He was also a lawyer and magistrate for Charlotteville. Jacob died in 1867 in Port Dover, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at the age of 81. Hellen passed away in 1873 in Port Dover, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 85. Jacob and Hellen "Margaret" were buried in St. John's Anglican Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

The following Charlotteville, Ontario obituary provides additional insights into his life:

In the death of Col. Jacob Potts which took place at Vittoria of the 15 ult., another of the early and invaluable settlers of the Township passed away: and thus one more of the few links the remain has been broken, which connects the present time, with the early settlement of the country. The deceased came to this province with his father very shortly after the close of the Revolutionary War: having left their home in the state of Maryland for the unbroken Wilderness of Canada, from the attachment to the British Throne and Institutions. The same unswerving loyalty which prompted his father to relinquish comfort and comparative affluence, for the hardships of life in the primeval forest, far remote from modern civilization and its advantages; was the distinguishing characteristic through a very long life of the deceased. In 1812 he held a commission in the Militia, and was present at, and took part in the Battle of Lundy's Lane: and was ever after ready at his country's call, to go forward in her defense. Nearly sixty years ago he came into the Township of Charlotteville from the adjoining one of Woodhouse, where he settled and continued to reside for nearly fifty years. He carried on farming for many years on an extensive scale, and the skill that he evinced, and the untiring industry that he employed in his pursuits were followed by an unusual amount of success and acquired for him the reputation of being one of the best farmers in this section of the country. He was widely known and esteemed for his moderation, forbearance, kindness of heart, urbanity of manner, and sterling excellence of character. His long continued labor and enterprise having resulted in the acquisition of wealth, he proved himself to be an unostentatious, but liberal steward of good things of the world he had been blessed with. He was for many years a most upright and zealous magistrate, and for a long time an associate Judge of the Court of Assize. He was a most consistent, exemplary member, and very liberal supporter of the Church of England, and an estimable husband, father, and friend. The uniform practice of high and honorable principles in the discharge of all the duties of life, won him the esteem and regard of his friends and acquaintances; and so as truth, justice, loyalty, patriotism and religion are held in veneration by men, so long will the memory of the late Col. Potts be entitled to admiration and respect: and his character and conduct be deemed a fit model for emulation and imitation.

Edwin Lockwood Potts (1809-1876)

1. Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada: Born - November 30, 1809, Died - Long Point Settlement September 7, 1876

Edwin Lockwood Potts, son of LTC Jacob Potts Jr. and Rebecca Ann Lockwood , was born on 30 Nov 1809 in Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, died on 7 Sep 1876 in Long Point Settlement, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 66, and was buried in St. Johns Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Edwin married Martha Bell on 30 Sep 1834 in Long Point Settlement, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. Martha was born on 10 Apr 1808 in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada, died on 24 Jul 1889 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 81, and was buried in St. Johns Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. They had five children: Francis, John Edwin, Thomas Robert, Albert J., and Henrietta Josephine.

Children from this marriage were:

Francis Potts was born on 23 Jan 1837 in Charlotteville, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, died on 7 Jun 1894 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 57, and was buried in St. Johns Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Francis married Constance Alice Barclay. Constance was born on 27 Jul 1844 in Norfolk County, Ontario, died on 25 Mar 1921 in Detroit, Michigan at age 76, and was buried in St. Johns Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. They had four children: Mary Louise, Frances Mabel, Henrietta Josephine, and Nina C.

John Edwin Potts was born on 8 Oct 1838 in Vittoria, Ontario, Canada, died on 28 Mar 1909 in Sedro Wooley, Washington at age 70, and was buried in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.

John married Margaret Louise Wilson, daughter of William Wilson and Maria Loder, on 11 Sep 1861 in Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. Margaret was born on 6 Nov 1842 in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada, died on 18 Dec 1915 in Detroit, Michigan at age 73, and was buried in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. They had six children: Charles Edwin, Robert Vernon, Ethel Grace, Effie Louisa Cowan, Marion "Minnie" Bell, and Lena Florence.

Dr. Thomas Robert Potts was born on 9 Jan 1841 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, died on 11 Mar 1866 in Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada at age 25, and was buried in St. Johns Church Cemetery, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Albert J. Potts was born in 1842 in Charlotteville, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Albert married Janet Anderson, daughter of John Anderson and Ellen, on 11 Jan 1874 in Vittoria, Ontario, Canada. Janet was born in 1850 in Charlotteville, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. They had two children: Laura Martha and Lottie Louise.

Henrietta Josephine Potts was born in 1844 in Charlotteville, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada and died in Dec 1871 in Vittoria, Ontario, Canada at age 27.

Henrietta married Miles Richard Burke Cowan, son of John Cowan and Ann Cowan, on 13 Oct 1870 in Vittoria, Ontario, Canada. Miles was born on 5 Mar 1833 in Sandwich, Windsor, Essex, Ontario, Canada and died on 3 Aug 1922 in Sandwich, Windsor, Essex, Ontario, Canada at age 89. They had one daughter: Henrietta Annie.

Edwin Lockwood Potts was born in 1809 in Norfolk County, Ontario Canada. He was the eldest child of LTC Jacob Potts and Rebecca Ann Lockwood. Sisters Sarah Ann Potts was born in 1812, Elizabeth "Eliza" Potts in 1816, Mary in 1819 and Harriet in 1822, Rebecca Ann in 1826. Edwin’s mother died in 1827 when he was eighteen years old. Edwin’s father married Helen Wyckoff around 1828.

Edwin married Martha Bell in Long Point Settlement, Norfolk County, Ontario in 1834 at the age of 25. They had four sons; Francis in 1837, John Edwin in 1838, Thomas Robert in 1841, and Albert J. in 1842. A daughter, Henrietta Josephine, was born in 1844.

Because Norfolk County was heavily forested, logging became a major industry between 1860 and 1880. Edwin Potts gained prominence in Charlotteville as a businessman, lumberman and speculator in pine timber. Edwin and Martha's son, John Edwin, worked in his father’s business until striking off on his own, gaining notoriety as a lumberman and businessman in Ontario and Michigan. John would also manage lumbering enterprises in the states of Arkansas and Washington during his career.

John E. Potts (photo taken in Canada in 1875)

Their son, Dr. Thomas Robert Potts, attained high honors as a physician before dying young at the age of 25.

​ Robert Potts (circa 1865)

A daughter, Henrietta Josephine Potts, married Miles Cowan in 1870 but died in 1971 after giving birth to their first child.

Edwin Lockwood Potts remained in Norfolk County Ontario throughout his life and died there in 1876 at the age of 66. His wife, Martha Bell Potts passed away in Norfolk County at the age of 88 in 1889. They were buried in Saint John's Anglican Church Cemetery, Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada

John Edwin Potts (1838-1909)

1. Vittoria, Ontario, Canada (1838-1875)

2. Au Sable and Detroit, Michigan (1875-1891)

3. Ogemaw, Ouachita County, Arkansas (1891-Abt1897)

4. Sedro Wooley, Washington (Abt1897-1909)

John Edwin Potts was born on 8 Oct 1838 in Vittoria, Ontario, Canada, died on 28 Mar 1909 in Sedro Wooley, Washington at age 70, and was buried in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.

John married Margaret Louise Wilson, daughter of William Wilson and Maria Loder, on 11 Sep 1861 in Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada. Margaret was born on 6 Nov 1842 in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada, died on 18 Dec 1915 in Detroit, Michigan at age 73, and was buried in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. They had six children: Charles Edwin, Robert Vernon, Ethel Grace, Effie Louisa Cowan, Marion "Minnie" Bell, and Lena Florence. Margaret Wilson

Children from this marriage were:

Charles Edwin Potts was born on 8 Jul 1862 in Vittoria, Ontario, Canada, died on 21 Dec 1925 in Crookston, Minnesota at age 63, and was buried in Oakdale Cemetery - Crookston, Minnesota.

Charles married Hannah Greenfield Youhill, daughter of Samuel Youhill and Mary Jane Youhill, on 8 Jul 1887. Hannah was born on 14 Oct 1861 in London, Ontario, Canada, died on 24 Jan 1944 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota at age 82, and was buried in Oakdale Cemetery - Crookston, Minnesota. They had three children: Edna Louise, Ethel Marguerite, and Mary Edwina.

Robert Vernon Potts was born on 27 Jun 1867 in Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, died on 15 Apr 1868 in Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, and was buried in Saint John’s Anglican Church Cemetery.

Ethel Grace Potts was born on 2 Jul 1870 in Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, died on 25 Feb 1871 in Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, and was buried in Saint John's Anglican Church Cemetery.

Effie Louisa Cowan Potts was born on 3 Aug 1872 in Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Effie married Archibald D. Anderson on 9 Oct 1895 in Ogemaw, Ouachita County, Arkansas. Archibald was born in 1870.

Marion "Minnie" Bell Potts was born on 1 Sep 1874 in Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Lena Florence Potts was born on 7 Sep 1877 in Simcoe, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Lena married William Wyatt Sumner, son of William Putman Sumner and Mercia Minerva Wood, on 23 Jan 1907 in North Avon, Washington. William was born in Feb 1874 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan and died in 1955 at age 81. They had two children: John Howard and Robert W.

John Edwin Potts was born on October 8, 1838 in Vittoria, Ontario, Canada, the second son of Edwin Lockwood Potts and Martha Bell Potts. Elder brother, Francis was born in 1837 and John’s birth was followed by Thomas “Robert” in 1841, Albert in 1842 and Josephine in 1844. Robert died young at the age of 25 in 1866 as did Josephine who died in 1871 at the age of 27 following the birth of her first child.

John attended school near Guelph, Ontario and at the age of fifteen was employed in the general store of William Wilson, in Vittoria. Four years later, in 1857, John Potts and William Dawson established a general store at Port Rowan which they managed with good success until 1865. He then sold his interest in the store, and moved to Simcoe where he, like his father, established a career in the wholesale lumber business.

John married Margaret Louise Wilson in 1861 in Simcoe, Ontario. Margaret gave birth to Charles Edwin in 1862 in Vittoria. The family moved to Simcoe where her next two children, Robert Vernon (1867) and Ethel Grace (1870) each survived for less than a year after birth. Records indicating the cause of their deaths have not been found though outbreaks of smallpox, typhus, cholera, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, whooping cough, influenza or measles were not uncommon in those times. In the next decade daughters Effie Louisa (1872), Marion "Minnie" (1874), and Lena Florence (1877) were born.

He had purchased extensive woodland properties in Simcoe as well as several of the surrounding townships. He operated a sawmill in Charlotteville and owned at least one sailing vessel with which he shipped lumber to other ports on the Great Lakes. John built a large home on the outer edge of Simcoe which he named Elmhurst. Elmhurst would be destroyed by fire in 1907.

Potts residence “Elmhurst"

Around 1875 in order to expand his operations John purchased the Backus Brothers mill at the mouth of the Au Sable River in Au Sable, Michigan. He also purchased extensive woodland properties inland and along the Au Sable River. He named his company the J.E. Potts Lumber and Salt Company. John built a home in Au Sable where his family would reside. His son Charles was now an adult and active in the lumber mill operations. Charles married Hannah Youhill in 1887 and they would add two children to the household; Edna Louise in 1888 and Ethel Marguerite in 1890.

Believed to be Margaret Wilson Potts and granddaughter Edna Potts, circa 1890

Potts residence in Au Sable, Michigan

John's sawmill in Au Sable, Michigan became one of the largest at the time. He owned ships for transporting lumber to several ports on the Great Lakes. In addition to the Au Sable docks, he built docks along the Detroit river in the Delray neighborhood of Detroit. The Potts company provided lumber camp facilities at remote work sites as well as housing in Au Sable for workers in the local sawmill operations. The men on the logging crews worked long hours under often difficult and dangerous situations. It is not surprising that there were dissatisfactions and strikes among the workers.

He had purchased tracts of forest land in Wisconsin and around 1884 built another large saw mill in De Pere, Wisconsin, southwest of Green Bay.

In 1886, John began building a narrow gauge (3-foot space between the rails) logging railroad, which he named the Potts Logging Railway. It was headquartered in Potts, Michigan (later renamed McKinley, Michigan). The railroad was constructed in two different directions from Potts to harvest stands of timber. One line was built northwest to what would become Fairview, then on to lumber camps at a place called Tong in north-west Oscoda County. A second line was built south-west into northern Ogemaw County, then west, then north back into Oscoda County, along Big Creek to Lewiston. His trains carried logs from his camps to the banks of the Au Sable River. Around this time (1888) the J. E. Potts Salt and Lumber Company employed about 450 men and around 700 men during the skidding seasons.

J. E. Potts Lumber Mill

Potts Lumber Camp

John also had a home in Detroit where he was listed as a prominent member of the Detroit’s economic elite.

As the railroad expansion was nearing completion a recession precipitated large reductions in the demand for lumber. Having borrowed heavily in order to finance his railroad, the loss of capital forced John Potts into bankruptcy in 1890. Ironically, in its last year of existence, Potts' mill at AuSable produced 98,000,000 feet of lumber to set a new world's record. Much of his properties, equipment and materials were sold off through receivership. Eventually the mill, railroad and much of the equipment was purchased by the H.M. Loud Lumber Company.

There was speculation in the press at that time regarding the events that led up to the failure of the John E. Potts Salt and Lumber Company. The following narrative appeared in the Cheboygan Democrat, Cheboygan, Michigan on May 19, 1894.

J. E. Potts, the once wealthy Au Sable lumberman, has gone to the wall again at Ogemaw, Arkansas. After the failure of the Potts Lumber company at Au Sable, Potts cleaned up $80,000 and went west. He bought pine land, bought a mill and started the town of Ogemaw. Speaking of his failure, the Au Sable Monitor says "Mr. Potts deserves better than failure. Had he not been robbed by the wholesale by a number of men whom he trusted here he would have made a success of his Au Sable business, even with his continued sickness. It has been estimated that he was robbed outright of $600,000 or $700,000 (equivalent to 19 to 22 million dollars in 2023 money). One man in Bay City is said to have made $75,000 in a little over a year. Another man who we might name is ahead $80,000 or $90,000. Scores of men who only existed in the employ of the company by name, were allowed and paid their time."

The Potts family moved to Ouachita County, Arkansas in 1891. John’s son, Charles Potts, took over the management of a failed M. A. Johnson Lumber Company and John was involved in that business enterprise. The eldest daughter of John and Margaret Potts (Effie Louisa Cowan Potts) was married to Archibald D. Anderson at the home of John Potts in Ogemaw, Arkansas on October 9, 1895.

Around 1899 Charles Potts moved his family to Marion, Indiana and John Potts moved to Sedro Wooley, Washington. In the 1900 census Margaret and daughters Marion “Minnie” and Lena Florence were indicated as residing in Lewiston City, Idaho on the Washington border. It is possible that this was a temporary living situation while John was establishing himself and finding suitable housing for the family in Washington. Lena Florence married William Wyatt Sumner on January 23, 1907 in nearby North Avon, Washington. William was a Detroit native and the couple was residing in Detroit in 1910.

John had apparently been able to retain enough of his wealth following his Michigan bankruptcy in order to establish business in Arkansas and now in Washington. He may have also been able to secure some financial backers. Here he established and managed the Day Creek Lumber Company, a shingle and lumber mill. There is a Potts Road in the town of Day Creek which may have been named after him. John remained in Washington until his death on March 28, 1909 in Sedro Wooley, Washington at age 70. Despite some levels of success in Washington, his final liabilities were, once again, greater than his assets.

John Edwin Potts was buried in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. Margaret returned to Detroit, Michigan where she resided near her daughter Lena. She died on December 18, 1915 in Detroit at age 73. She was also buried in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.

In 1911, the neighboring cities of Oscoda and AuSable, Michigan burned to the ground in what has been called the "most devastating fire in the history of Michigan".

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Oscoda and AuSable Fire

Charles Edwin Potts (1862-1925)

1. Vittoria, Ontario, Canada (1862-1875)

2. Au Sable, Michigan (1875-1891)

3. Magnolia, Arkansas (1891-1897)

4. Marion, Indiana (1897-1907)

5. Crookston, Polk, Minnesota (1907-1925)

Charles Edwin Potts was born on 8 Jul 1862 in Vittoria, Ontario, Canada, died on 21 Dec 1925 in Crookston, Minnesota at age 63, and was buried in Oakdale Cemetery - Crookston, Minnesota.

Charles married Hannah Greenfield Youhill, daughter of Samuel Youhill and Mary Jane Youhill, on 8 Jul 1887. Hannah was born on 14 Oct 1861 in London, Ontario, Canada, died on 24 Jan 1944 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota at age 82, and was buried in Oakdale Cemetery - Crookston, Minnesota. They had three children: Edna Louise, Ethel Marguerite, and Mary Edwina. Hannah Youhill

Children from this marriage were:

Edna Louise Potts was born on 22 Apr 1888 in AuSable, Michigan, died on 22 Jan 1962 in Rock Springs, Wyoming at age 73, and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Lisbon, North Dakota.

Edna married Milton Edward Code, son of Edward Code and Susan Matilda Wadge, on 10 Jun 1908 in Crookston, Minnesota. Milton was born on 19 Dec 1886 in Park River, Dakota Territory, USA, died on 21 Jan 1962 in Rock Springs, Wyoming at age 75, and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Lisbon, North Dakota. They had eight children: Dorothy Louise, Charline Virginia, Edwin Arthur, Charles Milton, Eleanor May, Marjorie Ann, Betty Lou, and Lois Ann.

Ethel Marguerite Potts was born on 22 Feb 1890 in AuSable, Michigan, died on 17 Mar 1969 in Fargo, North Dakota at age 79, and was buried in Oakdale Cemetery, Crookston, Minnesota.

Ethel "Marguerite" married Howard Harold Clapp, son of William Thomas Clapp and Anna Eliza Wilcox, on 19 May 1915 in Crookston, Polk County, Minnesota. Howard was born on 28 Sep 1891 in Monmouth, Jackson, Iowa and died on 1 Jan 1973 in Fargo, North Dakota at age 81. They had four children: Geraldine Ann, Robert W., Mildred and Mary J. Ethel Marguerite and Howard Clapp

Mary Edwina Potts was born on 6 Oct 1900 in Marion, Indiana, died in 1983 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada at age 83, and was buried in Thomson in the Park Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Mary married Earl Clayton Wilcox, son of Delos Byron Wilcox and Cora Asenath Bradley, on 28 Jun 1923 in Crookston, Polk County, Minnesota. Earl was born on 5 Aug 1897 in Monmouth Twp, Jackson County, Iowa, died on 22 Dec 1960 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada at age 63, and was buried in Thomson in the Park Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They had two children: Donald and Kenneth. Mary and Earl Wilcox

Charles Edwin Potts was the first child of John Edwin Potts and Margaret Wilson Potts. He was born in Vittoria, Ontario in 1862. The family moved to nearby Simcoe where a brother, Robert Vernon Potts was born in 1867 and died the following year. In 1870, a sister, Ethel Grace Potts was born and she too died within a year of her birth. No records for cause of death was found for either child. Three sisters were born in Simcoe during the following decade; Effie Louisa Cowan Potts in 1872, Marion "Minnie" Bell Potts in 1874 and Lena Florence Potts was born in 1877. Charles attended school in Simcoe and finished his education at Upper Canada College, a prestigious preparatory school in Toronto.

In order to expand his lumber business John Potts moved the family to Au Sable, Michigan around 1875. Charles was most likely involved in the daily operations at the J. E. Potts Salt and Lumber Company. At age 25, Charles married Hannah Greenfield Youhill in 1887 and they had two children (Edna Louise in 1888 and Ethel Marguerite in 1890) while in Au Sable.

Following the bankruptcy of his father’s lumber company, Charles and his family moved to Ouachita County, Arkansas in 1891. The M. A. Johnson Lumber Company had began operations near the community of Evans in 1889, but the business failed and on October 17, 1891 Charles Potts took over the business. As the lumber business grew, a number of businesses opened in the area.

The Ogemaw Post Office opened in 1892, with Charles Potts as the postmaster. The name of the community was selected by Potts and is shared with communities in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and elsewhere. Ogemaw is translated as “chief” from the language of the Ojibwe. The first post office was in the same location as the former Evans office. This post office ceased operations in 1968, and the Stephens Post Office took responsibility for the area.

By 1900, Ogemaw had a population of around 500. Businesses in the area at that time included at least three general stores, a physician’s office, two sawmills, a shingle mill, and two hotels. The family of Charles Potts appears to have lived in Magnolia, Arkansas for a period of time. It is suspected that John E. Potts was also involved in this lumber venture or related enterprises and was also residing in the area with his wife, Margaret, and their three daughters. Charles’ sister Effie Potts married A. D. Anderson in October of 1895 in Ogemaw, Arkansas, presumably at the home of her father.

Around 1898 Charles and Hannah moved to Marion, Indiana where Hannah gave birth to a third daughter, Mary Edwina in 1900. Charles’ father, John E. Potts had moved with his family to northwestern United States around by time. Charles and Hannah continued to raise their children in Indiana while Charles was most likely invested in another lumber enterprise.

Crookston Minnesota, 1910

Around 1907 they moved to Crookston, Minnesota. At that time, he appears to have been managing the Robertson Lumber Company in Park River and the Atlas Lumber Company in Crookston. On December 30, 1910 he purchased the Atlas Lumber Company and renamed it the Home Lumber Company. The Potts family were loyal members of the Christ Episcopal Church in Crookston and Charles was instrumental in the rebuilding of the church. Their eldest daughter, Edna Louise married Milton Code in 1908. Milton worked for several years setting up telephone systems in North Dakota and Washington, however, in 1915 Edna and Milton returned to Crookston with their family and Milton was hired to help manage the lumberyard.

Daughters Ethel Marguerite Potts married Howard Clapp in 1915 and Mary Edwina Potts married Earl Wilcox in 1923. Charles continued to manage the lumberyard until his death in 1925 at the age of 63. Milt carried on the management of the company until moving his family to Lisbon, North Dakota in 1927. Hannah had retained ownership of the lumberyard but soon ended that affiliation. By 1930 she was residing with her daughter and son-in-law, Marguerite and Howard Clapp, first in Crookston and later in Hallock, Minnesota. She continued to live with the Clapp family until at least 1940. Sometime between 1940 and her death in 1944 she was admitted to the Minnesota State Hospital in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, possibly experiencing a form of senile dementia. She passed away there at age 82 and was returned to Crookston, Minnesota for burial.

Edna Louise Potts (1888-1962)

1. Au Sable, Michigan (1888-1891)

2. Magnolia, Arkansas (1891-1897)

3. Marion, Indiana (1897-1907)

4. Crookston, Minnesota (1907-1908)

5. Park River, North Dakota (1908 -1910)

6. Toppenish, Washington (1910-1915)

7. Crookston, Minnesota (1915-1927)

8. Lisbon, North Dakota (1827-1962)

Edna Louise Potts, daughter of Charles Edwin Potts and Hannah Greenfield Youhill was born on 22 Apr 1888 in AuSable, Michigan, died on 22 Jan 1962 in Rock Springs, Wyoming at age 73, and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Lisbon, North Dakota.

Edna married Milton Edward Code, son of Edward Code and Susan Matilda Wadge on 10 Jun 1908 in Crookston, Minnesota. Milton was born on 19 Dec 1886 in Park River, Dakota Territory, USA, died on 21 Jan 1962 in Rock Springs, Wyoming at age 75, and was buried in Oakwood Cemetery Lisbon, North Dakota. They had 8 children. Family of Milton Code

Children from this marriage were:

Dorothy Louise Code was born on 7 Jan 1909 in Park River, North Dakota, died on 04 Oct 1995 in Ramsey County, Minnesota at age 86, and was buried in Lakewood Cemetery - Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Dorothy married Cecil John Rhoades, son of Blutcher Wellington Rhoades and Mary Catherine Seibert, on 19 Dec 1930 in Minnesota. Cecil was born on 29 Apr 1902 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, died on 21 Nov 1984 in Minneapolis, Minnesota at age 82, and was buried in Lakewood Cemetery - Minneapolis, Minnesota. They had 2 children. Dorothy and Cecil Rhoades

Dorothy next married Harold Norman Jacobsen on 18 Dec 1988 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Harold was born on 21 Jan 1907 in Minnesota, died on 14 Apr 2000 in St. Paul, Minnesota at age 93, and was buried in Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral Columbarium - Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dorothy and Harold Jacobsen

Charline Virginia Code was born on 22 Nov 1910 in Crookston, Minnesota, died on 27 Feb 1999 in Dallas, Texas at age 88, and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Portland, Maine.

Charline married Alonzo Lewis Gaubert, son of Lewis Ring Gaubert and Ethel Charlena Gaubert, on 19 Oct 1936 in New York, New York. Alonzo was born on 27 Mar 1910 in Livermore Falls, Maine, died on 9 Jan 1984 in Ellsworth, Maine at age 73, and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Portland, Maine. They had 2 children. Charline and Alonzo Gaubert

Edwin Arthur Code was born on 23 Aug 1913 in Toppenish, Washington, died on 12 Sep 2001 in Williston, North Dakota at age 88, and was buried in Petersburg, North Dakota.

Edwin married Wilhelmina Karen Hildre, daughter of Ole Petersen Hildre and Berthine "Tina" Enga Josephine Reiten, on 9 Mar 1946 in Petersburg, North Dakota. Wilhelmina was born on 13 May 1914 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, died on 23 Mar 1989 in Fargo, North Dakota at age 74, and was buried in Petersburg, North Dakota. They had 5 children. Edwin and Wilma Code

Eleanor May Code was born on 8 May 1916 in Crookston, Minnesota, died on 27 Mar 2002 in Palm Springs, California at age 82, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Bayfield, Wisconsin.

Eleanor married Glenn Gladstone Gregory Jr., son of Glenn Gladstone Gregory Sr. and Jessica Ann Scott around 1941. They were divorced around 1942. Glenn was born on 12 Aug 1919 in New York and died on 15 Dec 1989 in Houston, Texas. They had no children.

Eleanor next married Craig Burton Ladd, son of Charles Benjamin Ladd and Ann Julia Burton on 12 May 1947 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Craig was born on 30 May 1919 in Wisconsin, died on 12 Jan 1949 in Rhein Main, Germany at age 29, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Bayfield, Wisconsin. They had no children. Eleanor and Glenn Gregory and Craig Ladd

Charles Milton Code was born on 3 Nov 1917 in Crookston, Minnesota, died on 23 Nov 1999 in Minneapolis, Minnesota at age 82, and was buried in Fort Snelling Cemetery - Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Charles married Marion Nora O'Brien, daughter of Robert O'Brien and Nora Guiney, on 29 Jun 1945 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Marion was born on 5 Jan 1922 in Baker, Montana, died on 3 Apr 2008 in Chaska, Minnesota at age 86, and was buried in Fort Snelling Cemetery - Minneapolis, Minnesota. They had 5 children. Charles and Marion Code

Marjorie Ann Code was born on 22 Mar 1922 in Crookston, Minnesota and died on 4 Jun 2010 in Fargo, North Dakota at age 88.

Marjorie married Arnold Joseph Johnson, son of John W. Johnson and Freda, on 23 Jan 1942 in Moorehead, Minnesota. Arnold was born on 2 Jan 1921 in Lisbon North Dakota and died on 26 Jul 2008 in Lisbon North Dakota at age 87. They had 5 children. Marjorie and Arnold Johnson

Betty Lou Code was born on 11 Oct 1923 in Crookston, Minnesota and died 29 Sept 2020 in Chandler, Arizona.

Betty married Stanley LeRoy Moslet, son of Sivert Pedersen Moslet and Oline Olsdtr, on 1 Nov 1942 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Stanley was born on 17 Apr 1924 in Luck, Wisconsin and died on 16 Jan 1983 in Billings, Montana at age 58. They had 4 children. Betty and Stanley Moslet

Betty next married John Clyde (Jack) Fish, son of Clyde Melford Fish and Clarice Eleanor Halverson, on 9 Oct 1979 in Trenton, Maine. John was born on 18 Dec 1925 in St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota and died on 29 Oct 2011 in St. Paul, Minnesota at age 85. Betty and Jack Fish

Lois Ann Code was born on 14 Dec 1928 in Lisbon North Dakota.

Lois married Leo Francis Egan, son of William Anthony Egan and Margaret A. Fitzpatrick, on 17 Apr 1948 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Leo was born on 16 May 1925 in Savage, Minnesota and died on 22 Apr 1981 in Minneapolis, Minnesota at age 55. They had 6 children. Lois and Leo Egan

Edna Louise Potts was born in Au Sable, Michigan in 1888 where her father Charles E. Potts was involved in the timber industry with Edna's grandfather, John E. Potts. Edna’s sister, Ethel Marguerite, was also born in Au Sable in 1890. Following the bankruptcy of the J. E. Potts Salt and Lumber Company in 1891, the family moved to Magnolia, Arkansas when Edna was three years old. There her father purchased the failed M. A. Johnson Lumber Company. Edna’s grandfather had also relocated to this area of Arkansas and remained at least until 1896. The Charles and Hannah Potts family again moved, this time to Marion, Indiana around 1897 where her father was most likely involved in another lumber venture. Edna’s sister Mary Edwina was born there in 1900. At the age of nineteen, Edna moved with her family in 1907 to Crookston, Minnesota where her father took over management of the Atlas Lumber Company. He would later purchase the company which he would rename The Home Lumber Company. Around 1907 Charles Potts was also managing the Robinson Lumber Company in Park River, North Dakota and this may have been the link that enabled Edna’s introduction to Milton Edward Code of Park River.

After a rather short courtship Edna and Milt were married in the home of her parents in Crookston on June 10, 1908. The Reverend Richard Cox, an Episcopal minister, officiated. Edna's sister, Miss Marguerite Potts and Milt's father, Edward Code, were the attendants. After a wedding supper they took the Northern Pacific Flyer to Minneapolis, where they honeymooned at the Nicollet Hotel.

Edna Potts and Milton Code wedding photo (1908)

Milt’s father had been involved in the development of early telephone service in the area and it is likely that Milt had learned the necessary skills to expand telephone service to nearby towns and rural areas. During their early years the family lived in Park River, Lankin and Grand Forks, North Dakota while Milt was employed by the Northwestern Telephone Company to install area telephone systems. After the birth of daughters Dorothy (1909) and Charline (1910), Edna moved to Toppenish, Washington in 1910 where Milt was managing telephone lines and switchboards. A third child, Edwin Arthur, was born in Toppenish in 1913.

Edna Potts Code with first child, Dorothy (1909)

In 1915 the family moved to Crookston, Minnesota where Milton helped Edna's father, Charles, in running the Home Lumber Company. Edna gave birth to four more children in Crookston; Charles in 1917, Eleanor in 1919, Marjorie in 1922 and Betty in 1923. They remained in Crookston for ten years until Charles Potts died in 1925. Milt then took over management of the lumberyard.

There were apparent difficulties between Milt and Charles Potts’ widow, Hannah, who had retained ownership of the lumber yard. Unresolved conflicts prompted a move in March of 1927 to Lisbon, North Dakota where Milt found employment managing the Thompson Lumber yard. Their daughter, Lois, was born in Lisbon in December of 1927.

Code Family, circa 1926: (left to right) Milton – holding Betty, Edna, Dorothy, Charline, Edwin, Eleanor, Charles and Marjorie.

Edna raised eight children through several moves as well as the Great Depression. In Lisbon, the children attended Lisbon High School and the family was very active in the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. All were baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church. Several of her children as well as their spouses served in the war effort during World War Two.

After high school Dorothy attended St. Barnabas Hospital School of Nursing and married Cecil John Rhoades on December 19, 1930 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Charline also graduated from St. Barnabas Hospital School of Nursing in Minneapolis and married Alonzo Lewis Gaubert on October 19, 1936 in New York, New York. Eleanor attended Minneapolis Business College and worked in the Polyclinic in Denver, Colorado. Eleanor married Glenn Gladstone Gregory Jr in 1940 and they were divorced around 1942. Edwin entered the U. S. Navy in December of 1941. He served with the 1st Division of Marines that landed on Guadalcanal and returned to the United States in 1944. He then served as Pharmacist Mate 1-c on the U. S. naval hospital staff in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After returning to North Dakota he married Wilhelmina Karen Hildre on March 9, 1946 in Petersburg, North Dakota. Charles Code attended the University of Idaho prior to entering the service in July of 1942. He was a Sergeant in an army air corps repair squadron serving in France and England. Charles married Marion Nora O'Brien on June 29, 1945 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Marjorie attended Burroughs Business School in Minneapolis and married Arnold Joseph Johnson on January 23, 1942 in Moorehead, Minnesota. After high school Betty Lou married Stanley LeRoy Moslet on November 1, 1942 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Lois Ann married Leo Francis Egan on April 17, 1948 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Edna’s mother had developed memory and cognitive issues later in life and was placed in the Minnesota State Hospital in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Edna made regular trips to visit her there until Hannah Potts passed away in 1944. She also cared for Milton's father, Edward Code, who lived with them from the early 1930s until his death in 1947. Through it all she remained active in the community, in Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and in the Order of Eastern Star where she was Worthy Grand Matron of the North Dakota Eastern Star and National Committee member of the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Edna Code with daughters: (left to right) Dorothy Rhoades, Charline Gaubert, Margorie Johnson, Edna Code, Lois Egan (behind Edna), Betty Moslet and Eleanor Ladd. (1950)

She was a district and regional officer of the Federated Women's Club and in 1945 was named North Dakota's first "Mother of the Year".

The families of Edwin and Charles Code and Marjorie Code Johnson chose to remain in Lisbon to raise their children. Edwin took over management of the Lisbon Cash Supply when Milt retired and Charles work at the lumberyard until he became Commandant of the North Dakota State Soldiers Home in Lisbon. Marjorie’s husband, Arnold Johnson managed the Red Owl Grocery store in Lisbon. Milton and Edna were able to share many visits and holiday celebrations with these three families which included fifteen grandchildren. In 1954 the families mourned the loss of Carol and Roger Johnson, children of Arnold and Marjorie Johnson. Carol (aged 8) and Roger (aged 6) drowned in the Sheyenne River in Lisbon on February 21, 1954.

In 1958 Edna and Milt celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary which was attended by all their living relatives and many friends from the community.

Edna and Milt enjoyed traveling with friends within the United States often to the west and southwest. On one of these trips Milton Code died as a result of an automobile accident near Rock Springs, Wyoming on January 21, 1962. Edna died from her injuries the following day. They were traveling to California with close friends who were seriously injured but survived the crash. The funeral was held at The Holy Trinity Episcopal Church where members of the Code family had been active throughout their lives in Lisbon. Edna and Milton were buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Lisbon.

Note: Additional family information and photos can be found in the Milton Code section of the Code branch of this website.

PHOTO: Code Photos