Nancy Potter

Nancy Potter (Wilkinson)

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/125309005/nancy-potter

Nancy was born in Cumberland, Providence County, Rhode Island, and came to Jerusalem, Yates County, New York in 1807. The journey from Providence to Penn Yan occupied thirty-one days. She married for her first husband in 1808, John Potter, who was the son of Thomas Hazard Potter, who married Patience Wilkinson, sister of Jemima, and consequently her own cousin. The wedding took place on Sunday, and Monday a frame house was erected for them on a farm of 336 acres in the town of Potter, now Yates County, near where she now resides. There were 30 or 40 acres cleared, and they commenced life with fair prospects. At that time the country was a wilderness—with no roads—not even a wagon track. Blaized sic trees and Indian trails were the guides to the early settlers' home in the forests.

An Indian camp was near by, wolves and panthers were very plenty, and awakened mid-night echoes all around them. One day she was on a visit to a neighbors sic a few miles away, and night coming ere they were aware, she mounted her horse, and, with her infant babe in her arms, made her way through the dense woods towards home. The wolves were soon howling upon her track, and she urged her horse to the top of his speed in order to pass a certain dismal place before they should overtake her.

Fortunately she arrived home in safety. In a ravine near by was a place called the wolves howling place. Here they appeared to congregate and make the night hideous by their incessant and prolonged howling. The concert would commence with a solitary howl from the eastern hills, which would be replied to from a western acclivity, and then another from the north, and a fourth from the south until the whole forest resounded with their dismal howlings.

Mrs. Potter introduced straw braiding, and making hats which were in great demand at that time. In 1813 Mr. Potter erected the first sawmill on his farm, and afterwards, while aiding in similar enterprises farther down the stream, he became involved in consequence of fire, and lost several thousand dollars. All this tract of country from the center of Seneca Lake to the middle of Canandagua sic Lake—44,000 acres, was originally purchased by the Potters. It's a fertile and beautiful section well wooded and watered, well adapted to grain and grazing. Mr. Potter died in 1854. Mrs. Potter is still living at the advanced age of 80—a woman of remarkable energy and perseverence. She says, she has seen that country "from a wilderness to a garden."

In 1862 she married for a second husband James Johnson, and still resides in the town of Potter near her first residence there, in a house of her own building. By her first husband she had nine children, some of whom have lived and become distinguished in their callings. They are as follows:

Eliza A., born on June 20, 1809, married February 27, 1827, by Rev. Dennison Smith, M.E.C., r. at Middlesex, Yates County, New York, to John H. Gleason, son of John Gleason and Anna Holmes, his wife. He was born April 6, 1799, in Pomfret, Connecticut.

Known Children:

George Henry, born on May 1, 1830, died on December 29, 1831
Harriett Ann, born on January 6, 1835, married Peleg Gardner
Edwin Henry, born on February 19, 1836, died on February 28, 1837
Helen Mar sic, born on June 4, 1840, married Melville W. Robert.

Hazard Arnold, born on December 21, 1810, married Louisa Ballou of Cumberland, Rhode Island, resides at Geneva, New York. Mr. Potter is a practicing physician. He has a great reputation as a surgeon. He studied with Dr. Frank Potter of Penn Yan—a cousin—attended lectures at Boston, Massachusetts, Bowdoin College in Maine, Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, and took his diploma at Bowdoin.

He first settled on Cumberland Hill, Rhode Island, then in Potter, Yates County, New York, and had a good practice in both places. He moved thence to Battle Creek, Michigan, where he remained some time, and in 1855, removed to Geneva, where he now resides. He was principal surgeon in the Army during the Great Rebellion.

As a surgical operator no man in America has a more extend sic reputation, and in Europe he is well known.

An account of one of his operations in the March No. of the "New York Medical Journal of Collateral Sciences." He was the first to operate upon the spine, and frequent mention is made of his surgical exploits in the public prints. He has a son of great promise, now a surgeon in the Army—a graduate of Hobart College.

Jeptha Avery, b. April 24, 1813, married, August 27, 1840, Sarah, daughter of Noah Davis, a native of Wales, has no children. He has interested himself in taking boys, and educating them in the business of farming, one of whom is now the owner of a farm in Michigan. He resides on the old homestead in the town of Potter, Yates County, New York, and owns a farm of 320 acres which is worth more to-day than the 44,000 bought by his ancestors at the time of their purchase.

He is engaged in the sheep business and owns the best stock sheep in the world. He paid $3,000 for a single buck which he found in the state of Vermont, and values him at $4,000. This sheep sheared thirty-one and a half pounds in 1865, and paid for himself within a year or two from the time he was bought.

Mr. Wilkinson is an active member of the Methodist Church with which he united in 1847, during the pastorate of Rev. George Wilkinson. He has been frequently solicited to town and county offices, but declines the honor.
John Wilkinson, born on September 9, 1816, studied medicine with his brother Hazard—attended lectures at Geneva Medical College where he took his diploma. He was never settled but practiced at different places—was never married—resided for a time at Prattsburgh sic, Steuben County, New York, and died on July 11, 1856 from the effects of virus taken from a fractured arm of a patient, at the age of 40. He was a prominent and promising young man.

William, born on October 5, 1818, married Teresa Barse, resided at Avoca, Steuben County, New York.
Nancy Ann, born on April 27, 1821, resided at Potter, New York, died on July 27, 1822.
Alvira Ann, born on March 16, 1823, married Albert Angell, r. Providence, Rhode Island.
Edward Pitt, born on December 30, 1824, married Elizabeth Moore, resided in Yatesville, New York. He commenced the study of medicine with his brother Hazard, but never completed his studies. He was a natural mechanic, and was accidentally killed March 4, 1852, by being shot while out hunting.
Henry Dexter, bon on December 23, 1828, r. Potter, New York, died on April 4, 1829.