Botetourt-Carroll County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Biographies.....Potter, Thomas Harry 1866 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 26, 2008, 9:24 pm Author: Leonard Wilson (1916) THOMAS HARRY POTTER THE name Potter is doubtless of Norman origin. In ancient times, when the several trades were, to a large extent, in the hands of particular families, if its members were well skilled in the handicraft, the occupation naturally gave them notoriety. As the same trade was oftentimes pursued generation after generation, there was a certain dignity in connection with making the name of the occupation the permanent family name. Then, too, each member of a trade held his particular craft in the highest esteem. It is found that, even among primitive races, there has always been a tendency to distinguish an artificer by the name of his calling. The author of the "Teutonic Name System Applied to the Family Barnes of France, England and Germany," respecting the name "Potter," says: "It has been remarked that names derived from trades are more common in France than in England. I should rather say that it is the termination in 'er' which is more common, and that among a multitude of names with this termination there are many which accidentally coincide with names of trades. We have, in almost all cases, both in French and English, names which contain the roots and names which form other compounds. Regarded from this point of view French and English names mutually throw great light upon each other. When I doubt whether Potter means a maker of pots, it very much strengthens my suspicion to find, not only a French Potier, but also Poterie with a corroborated termination." In a work entitled, "The French Blood in America." is found a list of English surnames of French derivation. Concerning these names the author says: "Many of our American families can trace through this source French blood, in very many cases known to be Huguenot." The name Potter, French Potier, occurs in this list. In Bishop Meade's "Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia," page 468, is found a list of the families in Virginia who derived their descent from the Huguenots. Bishop Meade's information was obtained both from individuals and from records. The name Potter is contained in his list. The particular family to which the subject of our sketch, Thomas Harry Potter, belongs, has been, for several centuries, established in England. The Coat of Arms of the family is as follows: Argent on a pale azure, three wings conjoined of the first. Crest: A star of twelve rays or, between a pair of wings argent. Thomas Harry Potter, of Troutville, Botetourt County, Virginia, was born at Laurel Fork, Carroll County, April 1, 1866. He is the son of William Christopher Columbus and Julia Ann Omohundro Potter. He is one of a family of nine children, namely: Charles S. G. Potter, Plourney Bishop, Lou Annie, George Allen, William Columbus, Thomas Harry, Spottswood Dean, Emma May, and Hannibal Omohundro. Charles S. G. and Hannibal Omohundro died in childhood. George Allen died in the State of Utah in 1906. All the others now live and own property in Oklahoma, Colorado and Utah. Mr. Potter's father, William Christopher Columbus Potter, deserves especial mention. He was a stalwart and daring soldier during the great war between the States. During his service he was promoted, becoming captain. In the years that followed the war he became prominent in dentistry and dental surgery. He died December 10, 1888. William Christopher Columbus Potter's widow, Mrs. Julia Ann Omohundro Potter, has recently passed her eighty-third birthday. She is the joy and comfort of her family. She is vigorous both in mind and body. Her devotion to her family is manifested by her ready response to their urgent invitations for her presence in their home. She has made her tenth trip across the Rocky Mountains, visiting those members of her family who have made their home in the West. William Christopher Columbus Potter's family was divided in the great strife. His brother, Tazewell Potter, served as captain of an Indiana company in the Northern Army, and lost his life in the cause. This branch of the family lived in Missouri, the old Potter burying ground being near Pikeville. Thomas Harry Potter's grandfather, William Christopher Potter, came to Virginia soon after the War of the Revolution. He has the distinction of being one of the early teachers in Virginia. And it is to men of his like that the South owes a lasting debt of gratitude. There are numerous instances on record of English school masters and the service they rendered in Colonial days, before the system of public schools was inaugurated in Virginia. His influence on his students was of incalculable value to the Commonwealth. It is interesting to note the recurrence of the name "Christopher" in the Potter family. The first of the Robinson family of whom there is any account in Virginia married Elizabeth, daughter of Christopher Potter, of Cleasby, Yorkshire, England. This branch of the family settled in Middlesex Parish, Virginia. We also find a record of Dr. Henry Potter, the celebrated botanist, in Middlesex County. Through Mr. Potter's maternal line he is a descendant of the distinguished Omohundro family, which came to Virginia from Ireland. They were established in Westmoreland County, and were also large slave owners in Norfolk County. There is a street in Norfolk, Va., named for this fine old Colonial family. Thomas Harry Potter's early childhood and youth were passed in the country. He attended the Mountain Normal School. His scholarship was of a high order and he received a diploma in the business department of this school. The following account is given of Mr. Potter's career. As a young lad he commenced life as a clerk in the store of a joint stock company, the salary being purely nominal. But this position did not long satisfy the ambitious young man. He engaged in other business, and, five years later, moved to the country. He subsequently sold the farm property which he owned and invested the proceeds in other acreage. In addition to his many duties in connection with the supervision and direction of his agricultural property, Mr. Potter has time for other enterprises. He is President of the People's Exchange Bank of Troutville, and has been for two terms the nominee of the Democratic party to the Legislature. He gives of his time freely in the service of education. He is Clerk of the School Board at this present time, a position he has filled creditably for the past ten years. Mr. Potter has some excellent theories for the public schools of the State and is a thorough believer in compulsory school laws. At present he is trying to interest philanthropists to donate funds to the common schools, as well as to colleges and universities. The subject of child-welfare is the one nearest to Mr. Potter's heart. He believes that to properly train the child is to safeguard the nation. Mr. Potter is a follower of William Jennings Bryan. He, like Mr. Bryan, is an ardent temperance advocate. Mr. Potter is a frequent contributor to the County papers and gives a great deal of his time to reading and study. Among those books which he has found most helpful he acknowledges his indebtedness, first, to the Bible, then to biographies of great and good men. In point of vocation Mr. Potter has chosen the basic industry, agriculture. He is intensely interested in country life and stock raising, believes that the activity of the "middle-man" should be curtailed and that farm products should be standardized and sold on their own merit. Mr. Potter was first married at Dobson, North Carolina, August 1, 1888, to Elizabeth Hylton, the daughter of Bethuel and Catherine Hylton. Elizabeth was born August 9, 1870, and died September 12, 1899. His second wife was Lavenia Harman, the daughter of Jonas and Martha Harman, born August 24, 1872. Mr. Potter's children by his first wife are as follows: Edward Lee Potter, Hannibal Ellis, Lola Dean, Belva Julia, Ferry Bryan and Lizzie Ethel May. His children by his second wife are Thomas Willoughby, Charles Steptoe, Jonas Orian, Virginia Ella, Annie Marye, Harry Harman, William Columbus and John Russell. All of these are living except Virginia Ella, who died November 8, 1911. Edward Lee and Hannibal Ellis have each graduated at Washington and Lee University. Ferry Bryan is at present a student in the same institution. Lola D. has graduated from St. Vincent's Hospital, of Norfolk. Belva J. is a graduate of the State Normal School, at Farmville, and is now teaching at Woodstock, Virginia. Edward, for the past two years, has been studying law in the George Washington University, passed the State Bar examination in June, 1915, and is now practicing law at Hopewell, Virginia. He was a former Superintendent of Schools in the Philippine Islands. Hannibal Ellis is Principal of the Norwood High School, and loves his profession. In fraternal circles Mr. Potter is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, District Deputy Grand Master, Consul, of M. W. A. He is a member of the Baptist Church, in which he serves both as clerk and deacon. Additional Comments: Extracted from: MAKERS OF AMERICA BIOGRAPHIES OF LEADING MEN OF THOUGHT AND ACTION THE MEN WHO CONSTITUTE THE BONE AND SINEW OF AMERICAN PROSPERITY AND LIFE VOLUME II By LEONARD WILSON, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSISTED BY PROMINENT HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WRITERS Illustrated with many full page engravings B. F. JOHNSON, INC. CITY OF WASHINGTON, U. S. A. 1916 Copyright, 1916 by B. F. Johnson, Inc. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/botetourt/photos/bios/potter74gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/botetourt/bios/potter74gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/vafiles/ File size: 10.2 Kb