Israel Potter
Israel Potter, who was prominently known throughout Delaware County, was for many years a resident of Leonardsburg, Brown Township. He was born September 29, 1806, in Chenango County, New York, and was a son of Asahel and Ann (Benton) Potter.
Asahel Potter and his wife were both natives of Connecticut and at an early date moved to Chenango County, New York, where their son Israel was born. In February, 1817, they emigrated to Ohio in a covered wagon, drawn at first by a yoke of oxen and one horse. Crossing mountains and streams, and over bad roads, their progress was very slow and attended with great difficulty. The horse gave out and it was necessary to replace him. After 47 days of hardship and privation, they reached Fairfield County, Ohio, with a few household goods and ten dollars in money. After one year they moved to Franklin County, and three years later to Peru Township, then a part of Delaware County, but now Morrow.
Israel Potter grew to maturity in Morrow County, and gave evidence of great energy and ability in his youthful days. He had but limited educational advantages, but throughout his life was a student of economic questions and matters of national import. He taught school when he was about 21 years of age. When matters of public interest arost he gave public expression to his views, his articles appearing in many journals. He was a thinker and a leader, and in the days of slavery was an important factor in the underground railroad. He identified himself with the first organization opposing the liquor traffic, and was an earnest advocate of temperance. In his early manhood he engaged in selling books for a Cincinnati firm, receiving as compensation $30 per month and expenses, a good salary for those days. He then turned his attention to farming and stock dealing, and many were the interesting accounts of his trips which he recalled in his later years. He made sixteen trips with cattle to Michigan, and was in the city of Adrian when the first train ran through there in 1841. In 1858 he moved from the old place in Peru Township to Leonardsburg, where he became possessed of large landed interests, and where he resided until his death on November 4, 1895. His widow survives him and resides with daughters at Leonardsburg.
Mr. Potter was an active member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and his death was a sad loss to the community in which he labored so long and faithfully. A broad-minded, thinking man, he did much in the way of making public improvements and elevating the moral tone of the community.
20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908