Isaac Potee
Isaac Potee, London, retired farmer, was born near the National pike in Somerford Township, September 16, 1823. He is a son of Sutton Potee, a native of Maryland, who came from Baltimore to Somerford Township, this county, in 1816. He purchased 270 acres of land, paying for a portion of it the sum of $16 per acre. He was a butcher by trade, and a farmer by occupation. He resided on his farm in Somerford Township till death ended his earthly labors, in March, 1803. He is buried in the "Old Wilson" or "Mill Graveyard." He married Hannah Makley, also a native of Maryland. Six children were the fruits of this union, four now living -- one sister and three brothers. Mrs. Potee died in February, 1868, and is buried near her husband. The subject of this notice was the youngest child, and consequently his education was somewhat limited. He grew up amid pioneer surroundings, often seeing a drove of twenty deer pass his father's door. He resided on the old homestead until twenty-four or twenty-five years of age, and in 1850 married Rachel Marsh, a native of Madison County, and daughter of Josiah L. Marsh. He remained with his father-in-law one year, and until his wife's death, which occurred the same year (1852). His second marriage occurred March 25, 1853, when he was united to Elmira, daughter of Claudius Mitchell, and a native of Champaign County, Ohio, near Mechanicsburg. A year after this second marriage. Mr. Potee removed onto a farm of fifty acres in Somerford Township, and the following fall to Mr. Mitchell's farm in Champaign County. On March 10, 1857, he returned to Somerford Township, and bought a farm of 158 acres from Thomas Taylor, and located one mile northeast of Somerford Village, on the old Columbus road. He there resided, and was engaged in farming until January, 1880, when he removed to his present residence in London. Mr. Potee is connected with no organization whatever. except the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which be has been an able member for over forty years. In 1873, while a resident of Somerford Township he erected at a cost to himself of over $2,500, what is known as the Somerford Methodist Episcopal Church, and it was dedicated in fall of 1874 by the Rev. Granville Moody. Mr. Potee was a Trustee of the congregation at that time, and also served as a member of the school board, being Republican politically. Ten children have been given Mr. and Mrs. Potee, seven living. They are as follows: Claudius D., who married Emma Brown, of Logan County, Ohio -- he owns a farm of 105 acres, in Somerford Township, but is now in the employ of the Howe Sewing Machine Company; Amelia, wife of Frank J. Kiefer, a farmer. residing two miles west of Somerford; Idelia, Della, Gabriel, Isaac Milton and Cordelia. Both wives have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]