John Potter History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894 USGENWEB Montana Archives,maintained by burns@asu.edu John Potter, to whom belongs the distinction of being the first Postmaster of Helena and who is now one of her most respected citizens, is a native of the state of Maine. He was born in Somerset County, that state, February 17, 1834, a descendant of English ancestors who settled in New England long before the Revolution.Joseph Potter, his father, was born in Reidville, Maine, in 1798, the son of William Potter, who was also a native of the Pine Tree State. Joseph Potter married Ellen Wheeler, also a native of Maine and of English extraction and they reared a family of eight sons and three daughters. Eight of this number are still living. Indeed, the family have been noted for longevity. The father reached the advanced age of ninety-two years and the mother was seventy-two at the time of her death. The latter was a member of the Congregational Church.John Potter was the ninth born in the above family. He was reared to manhood in the town of Athens, in which he had been born. He finished his education in the Somerset Academy and after completing his course there was engaged in teaching school for four or five years. In 1855 he sought a new field of operation in the western part of Minnesota, which at that time was on the frontier. After clerking in a hardware store for a while, he engaged in the lumber business on his own account, cutting logs and rafting them down the Mississippi and other rivers. Also while there he took claim to a tract of land and platted the town of Osakis, named after a lake near it. This place has grown to be a town of about 2,000 inhabitants.In 1862, we find Mr. Potter en route across the plains for Montana, the journey being made by way of the Red River to Fort Benton, in company with a party of fifty-two men. Although they had some trouble with the Indians, they reached their destination in safety, landing at Deer Lodge in August. Gold had just been discovered and they camped there. Mr. Potter mined for three years at Bannack and Alder Gulch (now Virginia City). He and three others, Charles Wyman, Washington Wyman, and Joseph Bowers, camped and mined together, were very successful in their mining and often took out $300 per day; but like nearly all miners they invested in toehr mines, hoping for big returns but instead losing all they had.August 29, 1865, Mr. Potter was appointed as first Postmaster of Helena, and two years later received the second appointment, the latter being from President Andrew Johnson. Previous to the establishment of the postoffice at Helena, the mail was brought by express at the rate of $1 a letter. As soon as the Helena office was opened it at once did a large business, people coming to this point from a radius of 150 miles to receive their mail. Often after the arrival of the mail 200 men could be seen standing in line, each waiting for his turn at the delivery. Often someone would pay another $1 for his chance. Stamps were paid in gold dust, one grain of gold for a three-cent stamp. In two years and a half the office became one of the first class. It was then located on Main Street, two doors north of the present store of Gans and Klein, was in a two story frame building 22 x 60 feet. Mr. Potter had a bedroom in the back part of the office, where he slept and the upper story was used for a courtroom and was occupied by the district Judge nad his clerk. The Helena postoffice was the second one established in Montana. Mr. Potter continued as postmaster for about five years, his successor being Mr. Crounse.In 1864 Mr. Potter had been appointed Justice of the Peace by Governor Lyon. Subsequently he was appointed United States Court Commissioner for Madison County by Governor Edgerton. In the meantime he had given his attention to the study of law, and in 1872 he was admitted to the bar. In 1873 he removed to Gallatin County and at Hamilton engaged in the general merchandise business under the firm name of Potter and Small. Shortly after they established themselves in business Mr. Small died, and from that time up to 1891 Mr. Potter continued alone. Then, after a successful career, he retired from active business.During nearly the whole of his history in Montana, Mr. Potter has been more or less interested in mines and mining. He is now one of the owners of the Whitelatch, a good gold mine and of the Iron Mountain, a valuable silver claim. He was one of the developers of the Potter and Cockrell mine. During his early life in Montana, he was a member of the Vigilant Committee and as such rendered efficient aid in helping to put a stop to the lawlessness and crime throughout the various mining camps.April 21, 1869 he married in Helena to Sarah Elizabeth Small, a native of Holton Maine. They have six children, three of whom died in infancy, the other being: Melville Mortimer, now engaged in the mail service between Helena and Butte City; and Clarence and Emma, who are at home.Mr. Potter has long been identified with the Republican party and also with the Masonic fraternity. He was one of the organizers of the Morning Star Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of Helena, and was Deputy Grand Master of the Territory for three terms. He is now a Knight Templar. Mr. Potter built a residence on Rodney Street, Helena in 1868 and since then has from time to time made other investments in real estate in this city. He is a fair representative of the Montana pioneers. During his long and useful career here he has won the respect and esteem of hosts of friends. USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format forprofit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express writtenpermission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist.