Father: William S.? Potts
Mother: Ann *****
Spouse: Mariah Hendrickson
Child-1: Peter H. - b: 13/Jul/1841 - OH
d: 25/Feb/1912 - Logansport, Cass Co., IN - bur: Mount Hope
Cem.
m: Prudence J. Humes - 9/Nov/1865 - Pulaski Co., IN
2: Sarah
E. - b: 1843 - OH - nra: 1880
m: Hiram McCumber - 14/Dec/1865 - Fulton Co., IN
3: Mary
A. - b: 17/Aug/1845 - OH
d: 17/May/1922 - bur: Winamac Cem., Pulaski Co., IN
m: Rufus W. Cox - 12/May/1867 - Fulton Co., IN
4: William
W. - b: Jan/1848 - Fulton Co., IN
d: Oct/1939 - Nodaway Co., MO - bur: Ohio Cem.,
Burlington Junction
m: Rosetta Freeman - 27/Feb/1870 - Mason Co., IL
m: Harriet Maria Short - 21/Jan/1877 - Mason Co., IL
5: Marcia
(Marcy) J. - b: May-Jun/1850 - IN
d: ~1875 - Mason Co., IL
m: Andrew Mohler, Jr. - 20/Sep/1868 - Fulton Co., IN
6: Jacob
Hendrickson
7: George
H., Jr. - b: 1854/1855 - Fulton Co., IN
d: 1866 - Fulton Co., IN - bur: Shaffer
Cem.
8: John
B. - b: 3/Oct/1857 - Fulton Co., IN
d: 25/May/1938 - Hammond, Lake Co., IN
m: Flora Etta Conger - 15/Nov/1885 - Fulton Co., IN
9: Elzina
Celista (Lessie) - b: 25/May/1861 - Fulton Co., IN
d: 1930 - bur: Cline Cem., Cass Co., IN
m: Jacob Kistler - 15/Apr/1890 - Cass Co., IN
10: Catharine (Cassie)
- b: 1865/1866 - Fulton Co., IN
Biographical Details:
According to his grandson, William McDaniel Potts, George H. Potts was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and later settled near Winimac, Indiana, where he married Mariah Hendrickson, but no details of his early life have come down through family tradition and the names of his parents remain yet to be definitively established (although there is, perhaps, reasonably good circumstantial evidence that he was the son of William S. and Ann Potts).1 Indeed, census records uniformly affirm George's birth in New Jersey and cemetery records further indicate a definite birth year of 1812; however, no precise date is known.2 In addition, census records further reveal that the three oldest known children of George and Mariah Hendrickson Potts, viz., Peter, Sarah, and Mary, were all born in Ohio between 1841 and 1845, perhaps, in either Butler or Warren County. In any case, George and Mariah Hendrickson Potts were living on a farm in Wayne Township, Fulton County, Indiana, by the time the census was taken in 1850. Moreover, his death notice published in 1899 implies that the Potts family evidently settled in this locality in late 1845 or early 1846.3 This is supported by a land patent issued to George H. Potts on April 10, 1849, for forty acres described as "the Northwest quarter of the Northeast quarter of Section Twenty-one in Township Twenty-nine of Range One East of the Second Principal Meridian", which corresponds to a location ten to twelve miles southwest of the present town of Rochester, Indiana, and about a mile west of the present village of Grass Creek.4 Within this context, it is evident that they located near the family of Mariah's uncle, Jacob Hendrickson, who reportedly settled in Fulton County about five years earlier and was issued a land patent for forty acres lying about a mile further north. Indeed, during the nineteenth century it was common practice for families to migrate and settle near relatives and former neighbors. Accordingly, it is clear from various sources that George and Mariah Potts remained resident in Fulton County for the remainder of their lives. This is further supported by local newspaper accounts affirming that George served as constable of Wayne Township in 1859 and as justice in 1864.5 Likewise, the Potts household appeared in the population schedule of the 1860 US Census for Fulton County as resident in Wayne Township and consisted of parents; George H. and Mariah, aged forty-eight and thirty-seven years, respectively, and children; Peter H.; Sarah E.; Nancy A.; William W.; Mercy J.; Jacob D. (sic - H.); George M.; and John B., nineteen, seventeen, fifteen, twelve, ten, eight, five, and three years of age, respectively. Two more daughters, Lessie and Cassie, were born in the 1860's. Even so, in census records of 1900 Mariah Potts stated that she was the mother of twelve children of which seven were then still living. Of these only ten are known to history, hence, it is almost certain that two children died young as was a common occurrence in the nineteenth century. Subsequently, about 1867 or 1868 the Potts family evidently settled in the town of Pleasant Grove, later Kewanna, located in Union Township and where George served as constable in 1875. This is affirmed by Fulton County population schedules of both 1870 and 1880 as well as by a number of additional newspaper accounts. Within this context, after 1860 George Potts appears to have supported himself and his family as a self-employed plasterer and stone mason (although, he was also probably engaged in agriculture, at least to some extent). George H. Potts died at his home in Kewanna on February 27, 1899, and was buried in Shaffer Cemetery, which lies slightly more than a half mile east northeast of the town.Source Notes and Citations:
1. Identification of the vicinity of Winimac as the location where George Potts and his family settled would not seem to be entirely accurate since census and civil records confirm that they actually settled in rural Wayne Township, Fulton County, Indiana, and later moved into the town of Kewanee, which is located in Union Township. Of course, Winimac is the county seat of neighboring Pulaski County and Rochester is the county seat of Fulton County. Within this context, there is no evidence that George and Mariah Potts ever lived in Pulaski County (although one of their daughters and her husband, viz., Rufus and Mary Potts Cox, apparently did). Even so, there is evidence that George Potts contracted a mail route out of Winimac in the 1870's. (William McDaniel Potts, private communication, May, 1968.)
back to bio.2. Jean C. Tombaugh and Wendell C. Tombaugh (comp), FULTON COUNTY INDIANA CEMETERY INSCRIPTIONS (with genealogical notes), Richland, Aubbeenaubbee and Union Townships, Tombaugh Pub. House, 700 Pontiac St., Rochester, IN, 46975-1538, 1993: pg. 247. (Ashley Howdeshell, Fulton County Library, Fulton County INGenWeb Archives, 2002.)
"SOUTH SECTION
Shaffer Cemetery
Row 1
POTTS, Zoe M., d. July 13, 1892, ae 2y-7m
POTTS
(1) George H., son, 1852-1866
(2) George H., father, 1812-1899
(3) Maria, mother, 1823-1906"
back to bio.3. "John (sic - George) POTTS, a pioneer resident of Wayne township, died Monday evening of old age at his home in Kewanna. He was eighty-six years old and had lived in Wayne township for fifty-four years."
In addition to the first name of the deceased, the account implies erroneously that the town of Kewanna lies in Wayne Township, but it actually is located in Union Township. (obituary: Rochester Sentinel; Rochester, IN, Thur., Mar. 1, 1899.) (Ashley Howdeshell, Fulton County Library, Fulton County INGenWeb Archives, 2003.)
back to bio.4. The United States of America; Certificate No. 17368; To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: Whereas George H. Potts of Fulton County Indiana has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States, a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Winamac whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said George H. Potts according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled "An act making further provision for the sale of Public Lands," for the North West quarter of the North East quarter of Section twenty one in Township twenty nine North of Range one East of the Second Principal Meridian in the District of Lands subject to sale at Winamac Indiana, containing forty acres according to the official plat of the Survey of the said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General, which said tract has been purchased by the said George H. Potts; Now know ye, That the United States of America, in consideration of the Premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress, in such case made and provided, Have Given and Granted, and by these presents Do Give and Grant, unto the said George H. Potts and to his heirs, the said tract above described: To Have and to Hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, to the said George H. Potts and to his heirs and assigns forever. In Testimony Whereof, I, Zachary Taylor, President of the United States of America, have caused these Letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the tenth day of April in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty nine and of the Independence of the United States the Seventy third By The President: Z. Taylor; By Tho. Ewing Sec'y; S. H. Laughlin Recorder of the General Land Office. (US Land Patent Certificate No. 17368; Washington, DC, issued 10 Apr 1849.)
back to bio.5a. Constable of Wayne Township (news item: Rochester Sentinel; Rochester, IN, Sat., Jun. 4, 1859.)
Constable of the town of Kewanna and also self-employed plasterer and stone mason (news item: Rochester Sentinel; Rochester, IN, Sat., Jul. 24, 1875.)b. Justice - Wayne Township (news item: Rochester Chronicle; Rochester, IN, Thur., Dec. 15, 1864 & Thur., Jan. 26, 1865.)
c. Delinquent Tax Notice - Wayne Township (public notices: Rochester Sentinel; Rochester, IN, Sat., Dec. 3, 1859; Sat., Dec. 8, 1860; & Sat., Jan. 4, 1862.) & (public notice: Rochester Standard; Rochester, IN, Thur., Jan. 10, 1867.)
Delinquent Tax Notice - Town lot, Pleasant Grove (public notice: Rochester Standard; Rochester, IN, Thur., Jan. 2, 1868.) & (public notice: Rochester Sentinel; Rochester, IN, Sat., Jan. 7, 1871.)
Delinquent Tax Notice - Town of Kewanna (public notice: Rochester Sentinel; Rochester, IN, Sat., Jan. 4, 1879.)d. Marrige license granted to H. M'Cumber and Sarah E. Potts (public notice: Rochester Chronicle; Rochester, IN, Thur., Jan. 4, 1866.)
e. Kewanna items: "PETER H. POTTS has moved from Illinois to his friends in this county." (news item: Rochester Sentinel; Rochester, IN, Sat., Oct. 4, 1873.)
"On the last of December PETER POTTS killed two snakes ..." (news item: Rochester Sentinel; Rochester, IN, Sat., Jan. 8, 1876.)
"Spring moving will soon commence. Among the number anticipating a change are REUBEN MINTON, JOSEPH MURPHY, BURT BENHAM and PETER POTTS." (news item: Rochester Sentinel; Rochester, IN, Sat., Mar. 4, 1876.)
"G. H. POTTS stepped down and out of the Winamac mail route last Friday ..." (news item: Rochester Sentinel; Rochester, IN, Sat., Jul. 8, 1876.)
"Miss CATHARINE POTTS received the first prize in the primary spelling match tonight ..." (news item: Rochester Sentinel; Rochester, IN, Sat., Feb. 3, 1877.)f. "ALLOWANCES MADE BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF FULTON COUNTY ... Dec. Term, 1876. ... GEORGE H. POTTS" (public notice: Rochester Union Spy; Rochester, IN, Fri., Dec. 15, 1876.)
g. "GEORGE H. POTTS appointed Administrator of the estate of LOVEY MOHLER. late of Fulton county, deceased ... April 17, '77." Lovey Mohler can be identifed as the mother of George Potts' son-in-law, Andrew Mohler, and, thus, probably a close neighbor. (administration notice: Rochester Sentinel; Rochester, IN, Sat., Apr. 21, 1877.)
"GEORGE H. POTTS, Administrator of the estate of LOVEY MOHLER, deceased, has filed her petition to sell the Real Estate ... SAMUEL KEELY, Clark, F.C.C. MILO R. SMITH. Atty. July 26 ..." (administration notice: Rochester Sentinel; Rochester, IN, Sat., Jul. 28, 1877.)Summary of miscellaneous items mentioning George H. Potts and members of his family appearing in Fulton County newspapers. (Ashley Howdeshell, Fulton County Library, Fulton County INGenWeb Archives, 2003.)
back to bio.
Additional Citations:
6. 1850 US Census Population Schedule for Fulton County, Indiana, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 454A, (microfilm: roll M432_146; img. 586).7. 1860 US Census Population Schedule for Fulton County, Indiana, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 557, (microfilm: roll M653_260; img. 50).
8. 1870 US Census Population Schedule for Fulton County, Indiana, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 146A, (microfilm: roll M593_316; img. 292).
9. 1880 US Census Population Schedule for Fulton County, Indiana, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 118B, (microfilm: roll T9_279; img. 18).
10. Wendell C. Tombaugh, Fulton County Indiana Death Record, 1882-1920, Tombaugh Pub. House, 700 Pontiac St., Rochester, IN, 46975-1538, 1994: pg. 74.
11. Marrige Bk. B, Fulton Co., IN, pgs. 297, 408, & 497 & Marrige Bk. D, Fulton Co., IN, pg. 586. (Ashley Howdeshell, Fulton County Library, Fulton County INGenWeb Archives, www.fulco.lib.in.us/genealogy/fc_marriage.htm, 2002.)
12. Death Certificates, 1910-1955, Missouri State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Jefferson City, MO, (Death Certificate No. 36773 - Bureau of Vital Statistics, State of Missouri, Jefferson City, MO).
13. Shaffer Cemetery, Fulton County, Indiana (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=86837&CScn=Shaffer&CScntry=4&CSst=17&CScnty=816&, continuously updated).
14. Mount Hope Cemetery, Cass County, Indiana (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=86017&CScn=Mount+Hope&CScntry=4&CSst=17&CScnty=800&, continuously updated).
15. Winamac Cemetery, Pulaski County, Indiana (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=84785&CScn=Winamac&CScntry=4&CSst=17&, continuously updated).
16. Ohio Cemetery, Nodaway County, Missouri (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=30626&CScn=Ohio&CScntry=4&CSst=26&CScnty=1470&, continuously updated).
17. Cline Cemetery, Cass County, Indiana (www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=84658&CScn=Cline&CScntry=4&CSst=17&CScnty=800&, continuously updated).