Amador
County
Biographies
ELEAZER S. POTTER
Eleazer S.
Potter, who is living in Plymouth, Amador County, came to the sate at an early
era in its development. He is numbered
among the native sons of Connecticut, his birth having occurred in Harwinton,
Litchfield County, on the 16th of November, 1826. The family is of English lineage and was
early founded in the New England states.
Isaac Potter, the father of our subject, was born in that state and
married Miss Hanna Scovill. They were farming people and staunch
Presbyterians in their religious faith.
The father attained the age of sixty-four years, while his wife departed
this life in her sixtieth year. Three of
their eight children are still living, namely:
Synthia, now the wife of B. F. Wyne, a resident of Platteville, Wisconsin; Abijah, who also is living in Wisconsin; and Eleazer Scovill, of this review.
The last named was reared on his
father’s farm, acquired a good common school education and entered upon his
business career as a peddler in his native state. In 1847 he removed to Illinois and thence to
Platteville, Wisconsin, remaining in the latter place for three years. He afterward spent two years in Missouri in
search of lead ore and then returned to the Badger state, where he occupied a
clerkship for a time. In 1852 he paid
seventy-five dollars for the privilege of coming with an ox train across the
plains to California. He also worked for
his passage. One boy in the train died
of cholera on Big Sandy River, but with that exception all reached their
destination in safety. Mr. Potter arrived
at Volcano, Amador County, in the fall of 1852 and at once engaged in placer
mining, making from ten to twelve dollars a day. Like others, however, he lost much that he
made in mining operations and after two years went to Tuolumne County. In 1853, in Drytown, he saw the heads of
Joaquin and Jack on exhibition. They
were atrocious murderers and robbers who had been captured and killed. On one occasion during those early mining
days Mr. Potter and two companions were engaged in placer mining when a young,
green-looking fellow came along and asked them where he had better begin
digging; thinking to play a joke on him, they told him to dig near a certain
tree. He followed their advice, and much
to their surprise, secured more gold than all the others. His findings soon enabled him to return home
with a handsome competence. After a time
Mr. Potter engaged in merchandising at the Arkansas diggings, purchasing his
goods in Sacramento. That venture proved
a profitable one, and after five years he removed to the Buckeye Valley, where
he was engaged in business for four years, when he came to Plymouth. In 1866 he purchased one hundred and sixty
acres of land adjoining the town, and has since been engaged in farming, raising
grain, hay and stock. His industry has
been rewarded with success and he is now one of the substantial citizens of the
community.
In 1858 Mr. Potter married Miss
Harriet Louisa Howard, of Forest Home and a native of Michigan. They have fourteen children, five of whom are
now living, namely: H. E., a prominent
merchant of Plymouth; F. M., who is a successful farmer; Mary, now the wife of
L. G. Griffith; Kate, the wife of Dennis Madden; and Charles, who is now living
with his father. Mrs. Potter, who was a
true and loving wife and mother, died in 1897 and her loss was deeply mourned
throughout the community.
In politics Mr. Potter has always
been a stalwart Republican, and in 1883 was chosen by his party as a candidate
for county supervisor. Being elected,
his service was most creditable, gaining him high commendation. Since 1851 he has been a member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is now the treasurer of his lodge. His life has been characterized by
unfaltering activity and by reliability in all business transactions, and all
those who know him esteem him for his sterling worth.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern California”,
Pages 252-253. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Amador County Biographies