John Potts - Detroit

SOURCE

The History of Detroit and Michigan: Or, The Metropolis…, Volume 2

By Silas Farmer

Land Dealers, Lumber Manufacturers, etc. Page 1227

JOHN EDWIN POTTS was born in Vittoria, Ontario, October 9, 1838, and is the Son of Edwin S. and Martha (Bell) Potts. His father was born in Victoria, Ontario, in 1811 and his mother in Toronto, Ontario, in 1807. He attended school near Guelph, and at the age of fifteen entered the general store of William Wilson, in his native town. Four years later, in 1857, in company with William Dawson, he established a general store at Port Rowan. They managed it with good success until 1865; Mr. Potts then sold his interest in the store, and moved to Simcoe where he embarked in the lumber trade, a business he has followed ever since.

Finding Michigan better territory to operate he left Simcoe in 1876 and moved to Au Sable, in this state, where remained until 1881, when he came to Detroit. Being possessed of unusual push and enterprise, his business has gradually grown until it has become among the largest in the State. In 1884 Mr. Tisdale became a partner, and since then the business has been conducted under the name of the J. E. Potts Salt and Lumber Company. The largest sawmill in world is owned by this company and is located at Au Sable and they have also a large mill at De Pere, in Wisconsin. In connection with the mill at Au Sable, they have built and own some 50 miles of railway and employ about seven hundred men during the skidding season. In order to ship their lumber, they own and operate two barges, the Silana and the Cickands, and they are also forced to charter other vessels during most of the season.

Mr. Potts has been so engrossed in business that he has had very little time for politics, and has made but few acquaintances outside of this business, but those he has made are warm and appreciative.

He married Margaret Wilson on September 11, 1861. She was born at Simcoe, Ontario. November 6, 1842, and is the daughter of William and Maria (Loder) Wilson. Her father was born in Magria, Ontario, in 1792, and her mother at Ancaster, Ontario, in 1800. Mr. and Mrs. Potts have had six children four of whom, Charles E., Marian B., Florence L., and Effa L., are living and at home.