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Daniel W. Potter

While it is a great hardship and a deprivation of many advantages, still nothing develops strength of character more than for a boy to be left at an early age in charge of the fortunes of his mother and the younger children of the family. Here he develops self-reliance and ability for management, and realizes the value of sacrifice. Such boys in after life are usually developed into men who not only gain a sufficiency of worldly goods for their needs, but are also, like Mr. Potter, among the men whom the community regards most highly for their general character.

Daniel W. Potter was born in Bethel township, March 31, 1856, and is said to be the oldest white male child born in Bethel township. His parents were Robert C. and Lucinda (Andress) Potter.

Robert was the son of Daniel and Wealthy Potter (see early county history), who settled in Bethel township in 1856. Robert C. was a member of Company C, Thirty-eighth Iowa Infantry, enlisting as a drummer and serving as such until his death at Camp Carlton, near New Orleans.

He left a widow and three sons, Elmer, Daniel W. and William. Elmer and William died soon after their father, leaving Daniel and his mother alone. She remained on the place until her death, at sixty-three. Daniel took charge of the farm at sixteen, still owns it and lived there until September, 1909, when he retired to Alpha. The farm now consists of one hundred and twenty acres. He was married, at the age of twenty-two, on March 28, 1877, to Arlesta Mourer, daughter of Joseph and Amelia (Swauger) Mourer, of Fredericksburg township, Chickasaw county, where they settled when Arlesta was fourteen, she having been born in Wisconsin. Of this marriage five children have been born: Roy, of Greeley, Colorado; Orla, who is the wife of C. E. Pitts, a railroad man born in Sanborn. Iowa, was a Fayette county teacher; Ernest, farming on the old home place, married Della Patterson; Madge, who was married August 24, 1910, to Roy Finch; Clyde, a farmer of Chickasaw county.

Mr. Potter carried on general farming. He is a Republican, very active in politics and is township chairman. The Odd Fellows at Alpha claim him as a brother, and he has filled several of the lodge offices. He is also a member of the Yeomen, a fraternal insurance association. All his neighbors recognize him as a man of good ability and as a friend to all.

~transcribed for the Fayette Co IAGenWeb Project by Ann Borden