Elmer Nelson Potter Senior and Nellie Gertrude Hinckley Potter
This picture is of our grandparents. Elmer Nelson Potter Sr. and Nellie Gertrude Hinckley. Elmer was born 7/14/1863 and died 5/10/1925. He was born in Green Bay Wisconsin. He moved from Wisconsin to Ware, Iowa in 1903. All his children, except our Dad, were born in Wisconsin. He married Nellie Gertrude Hinckley on 10/3/1885. In 1916, he moved to Bigstone South Dakota and homesteaded 160 acres. Nellie was born 9/8/1865 and died 8/17/1928. Their children were:
Gertrude Potter - born 7/7/1886. Married Peter Martes.
Matie & Mamie Potter - Twins died at birth in 1889.
Lily Potter - Died shortly after birth in 1890.
Estella Mae Potter - Born 1/31/1892 - did not marry.
Lettie Potter - Born 7/22/1895 - Married Bert Whitney.
Eunice Potter - Born 7/25/1897 - Married Arch Lookabill.
Elmer Nelson Potter Jr. - Born 3/17/1906 - Married Verna Curtis.
(The following information was submited By Warren Whitney)
My memory of Grand dad makes him a giant, in reality your dad was taller and heavier than grand dad. Both grand dad and grand mother were very strong and hard working. A memory of grand mother telling of his death. He slept with his arms behind his head and she always got up first to start breakfast. He called her and said I can't move my arms. She went in and took his arms down and he sat up. Then he laid down and said Oh well, and died, How can it be better than that? I know you are interested in history so will add some little known facets from the Potter history.
It seems that during the years of about 1380 to1400 sailors utilized an ancient type of compass that utilized a bowl of water with a needle floating in it. This was called a Tates compass. The Potters being potters furnished the bowls for this arrangement. For some reason this type of compass failed which led to the adage " he who hesitates is lost. Also during the settling of the west a Colonel Francis A. Potter, later he became a provisional general, known as General Potter. He became a supporter of a little known chief of a small tribe," Long Face". This chief was a very charismatic individual, so much so that he gained friends in Washington. The chief had suffered the loss of his only son. Falling Rock. General potter was instrumental in having legistration passed to aid the chief in his search for his son. Which is why today we see on our high ways the signs saying Watch for Falling Rocks.
Nellie Potter had a fiery temper. Grampa killed a rooster who had chased me across the yard. She made grampa give her the money to buy a new rooster,as she was not digging in her egg money when it was his fault. She cooked the old rooster and gave Grampa the back. That was one tough old bird, the chicken I mean. When ever they got time they went fishing in the big slough, at that time it was called a lake. Do not remember what they called it. Also Warren and Elmer trapped the lake, a few mink, mostly skunk and musk rat. Warren and my dad shot the first pheasant the had ever seen. They had heard of the Chinese pheasant being planted, but they were hunting prairie chicken, and shot to soon. They both claimed the other had shot it. Being good shooters they probably were both guilty.
Farming in Dakota was not an easy life. They lost two barns due to storms, and several head of live stock, more cows than horses.