BIO: William Bigler POTTER, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 944 & 945.
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  WILLIAM BIGLER POTTER, a merchant and prominent citizen of Karthaus, Pa., has 
been in the mercantile line here since 1884.  He was born at Mulsonburg, 
Clearfield county, Pa., June 9, 1863, and is a son of Dr. Johnson William and 
Alamanda (Hoffman) Potter.
  Dr. Johnson William Potter was born March 6, 1835, in Clarion county, Pa., and 
for a period of forty years was one of the leading citizens of Clearfield 
county.  He lived with his parents until he was eighteen years of age, then went 
to Indiana county, Pa., where he was a clerk in a store for one year.  From 
there he came to Clearfield county and for two years taught school at Driftwood 
and then read medicine with Dr. Matthew Woods of Clearfield, and through the 
influence of George Bigler received a government appointment at Washington 
entitling him to instruction in the National Medical College, where he continued 
his studies until 1860, when he returned to Clearfield county.  He practiced 
first at Lecontes Mills, then at Mulsonburg and later at what is now known as 
Keewaydin, Covington township.  He subsequently moved to Three Runs, now known 
as Pottersdale, where he operated a saw and grist mill, and also conducted a 
general store.  He later returned to Keewaydin, where he had a handsome 
residence and for a few years was engaged in the lumber business and then 
retired to Clearfield, where his long and busy life closed March 31, 1898.  
During his later years he gave up the practice of medicine.  He was influential 
in the Clearfield County National Bank and was a director until his death, his 
son, William Bigler Potter, now serving in the same capacity.  He was interested 
in public affairs, was a member of the school board for four years and in 1873 
was elected, on the Democratic ticket, a member of the state legislature, in 
which body he was useful and active.
  Dr. Potter married Miss Alamanda Hoffman, who was born at New Bethlehem, 
Clarion county, Pa., in 1858, and to this marriage three daughters and six sons 
were born, three of the latter still surviving, namely:  Roger L., who lives at 
Pittsburg; William Bigler, and Frank, who is a resident of New Jersey.  Dr. 
Potter was a member of the session of the Presbyterian church.
  William Bigler Potter attended the local schools regularly through boyhood and 
youth, and when he reached his majority bought his father's interest in the 
Karthaus store and conducted it, in partnership with a brother, for one year, 
when he bought his brother's interest and has since managed the business alone.  
In the fall of 1898 he met with a serious loss in the destruction of his store, 
house and barn by fire.  In 1899 he rebuilt the store and resumed business in 
September of that year.  He is interested also in coal operating under the firm 
name of Potter, Bigler & Potter, the company operating the Horse Shoe mine.  He 
is otherwise interested in business, being a conservative capitalist, although 
an energetic and efficient citizen.  His political preferences are such as to 
make him a Democrat and he has capably filled many local offices where judgment 
and foresight were necessary qualifications along with business probity.
  In February, 1887, Mr. Potter was married to Miss Emma B. Emerick, who was 
born and reared in Karthaus township, a daughter of George and Lavina (Reiter) 
Emerick, both of whom are now deceased.  They have seven children, namely:  
Bessie, Grace, Johnson W., Dudley, Mary, George and Harry Bryan.  Bessie, the 
eldest daughter, makes her home with her grandmother in Clearfield.  Mr. Potter 
has been identified with public spirited movements.  He belongs to the Masonic 
fraternity, connected with the lodge at Driftwood.