Benjamin F. (1850-1908) & Eleanor (1853-1909) POTTER

Spotted this tombstone here in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington in the Greenwood Cemetery. The inscription is weathered but reads:  Frank Potter, 1850-1908;  Eleanor Potter, 1853-1909. (As best as I could discern.)

Doing some quick research, Benjamin F. or F. Benjamin was born in Jan 1850 in Pennsylvania; he married Eleanor ??  in 1887. Benjamin was the son of George H. and Elizabeth Potter, as found on the 25 July 1870 census of Pennsylvania. He had siblings Jacob Henry, Mariah, Amelia, John. He died on 2 Nov 1908 in Spokane.

Eleanor, according to her death certificate, was born in 1853 or 1854 in Indiana, daughter of F. Phar and Samantha Riggs.  She died on 11 Feb 1909 in the even smaller town of Elk, Spokane County, Washington.

On Benjamin's death record it shows his father's name as George and his mother's name as Benedict. On the 25 Jul 1870 census, an 85 year old Susen Benedick, b. Pennsylvania, is listed in the household.

Looks like Benjamin F. Potter served in the Civil War, the 148th PA Infantry and received a pension.

On 11 Jun 1900, the couple were living in Chattaroy, a small town about 40 miles north of Spokane but still in Spokane County. He was listed as a farmer.

As of this posting date, I found very little else on either of these Potters in the Ancestry or FamilySearch databases, or on our Washington State Digital Archives website.

(I had to wonder who gave that information as apparently this couple had no children. Listed in the 1900 census it shows 0/0 for her regarding children.)

James Potter & Mary Ann "Polly" Kirby.... Lived in McCracken Co, KY, in the mid-1800s.

This was a write-up in the Sunday, May 30, 1971 issue of the Paducah Kentucky Democrat. The article was spotlighting the upcoming reunion of the family.

"In 1830 a young married man received a land grant in McCracken County where he would build the log house that was to serve for many years as the home for his growing family.

"That man was James Potter and his wife was Mary Ann "Polly" Kirby and their 3-year-old son William.

"James and Mary Ann's twelve children were William, James, Monroe, Samuel John D., John and four daughters who died in infancy, Mary Jane, Pauline, Lizzie Nancy and Virginia, and living daughters Laura Frances (m. Oldham), and Emirella (m. Cook, then Vance).

"These pioneers, their children and grandchildren wee destined to play an important role in the growth and development of McCracken County.

"The property remained in the Potter family for 129 years; the last owner was Edd Potter, son of William, who died in 1967, having sold the property in 1959.

"James Potter, with the help of his oldest son, William, helped to hew the logs and to build the Highland Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Most of the family members were Baptists, but some were Presbyterians and Methodists.

"The plot in Hall Cemetery was purchased by son William in 1972. In it are buried James, who died in 1882; Mary Ann, who died in 1887; and William and his wife. Many other members of the Potter family are also buried in the 1/4 acre plot, some in unmarked graves.

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This copied newspaper article appeared in Potter Profiles, Volume 12, May 1987, page 23.