Potts Family Arkansas

Marriage of Effie Potts

Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957

Name: A D Anderson - Age: 24

Residence: Ogemaw, Ouachita, Arkansas

Spouse's Name: Effie L C Potts - Spouse's Age: 23

Spouse's Residence: Ogemaw, Ouachita, Arkansas

Marriage Date: 9 Oct 1895

Information regarding the marriage of daughter Effie Potts is an indication that John E. Potts may have also been residing in Ouachita County, Arkansas – assuming that the entire family had moved to this area and the wedding was held at or near his residence. He was possibly involved in the lumber business with his son Charles (See below). In addition, John's obituary states the following "He then removed to the Southern States and was engaged in the same business there for a number of years, finally going to the Puget Sound lumber district, where he was occupied in lumbering until the time of his death."

Charles E. Potts - Ogemaw, Arkansas

The following was provided by this site and indicates the presence and business venture of Charles E. Potts and in this part of Arkansas. SOURCE

Additional Ogemaw History Narrative

Ogemaw (Ouachita County)

Ogemaw is an unincorporated community located in Ouachita County about four miles northeast of Stephens (Ouachita County) and fourteen miles southwest of Camden (Ouachita County). The community was founded to support timber operations in the area, but the local economy evolved in the early twentieth century with the discovery of oil nearby.

Early settlers in the area included Thomas Meredith, who obtained more than 200 acres from the land patent office in 1859. Thomas lived with his wife, Mary, and their ten children on the property. They were served by the post office in the nearby community of Seminary (Ouachita County).

The Cotton Belt Railroad began operations in the area around 1882. With the construction of the railroad and the founding of Stephens, the population began to increase.

The early name for the community was Evans. A post office with this name opened in 1890 but closed after just over a year of operation and was consolidated with the office in Buena Vista (Ouachita County). The M. A. Johnson Lumber Company began operations near the community in 1889, but the business failed in 1891. On October 17, 1891, Charles Potts took over the business. As the lumber business grew, a number of businesses opened.

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 office was in the same location as the former Evans office. The 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 economy of Ogemaw and much of southern Arkansas changed with the drilling of the Lester and Haltom Well Site Number 1 on April 14, 1920. Located about one mile south of Ogemaw, the well produced between 70 and 100 barrels of oil a day for a few months before it ceased production. The last well drilled in the area reached a depth of 6,000 feet in 1983, but no oil was found.

Location of Ouachita County in Arkansas

Early map shows the location of Ogemaw in the county.

Magnolia, Arkansas

Location of Columbia County, Arkansas

Location of Magnolia, Columbia County, Arkansas

Family of Charles Potts resided in Magnolia, Arkansas. Note location of Ogamaw in neighboring Ouachita county (upper right) where Charles Potts' lumber business was located.