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- Family Note: II. Nancy was born in Cumberland, R. I., and came to Jerusalem, Ontario Co., N. Y. in 1807. The journey from Providence to Penn Yan occupied thirty-one days. She married for her first husband in 1808, John Potter, 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 Co., 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 saw-mill 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 is 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., b. June 20, 1809, m. Feb. 27, 1827, by Rev. Dennison Smith, M.E.C., r. at Middlesex, Yates Co., N. Y., to John H. Gleason, son of John Gleason and Anna Holmes, his wife. He was born April 6, 1799, in Pomfret, Ct. They have
George Henry, b. May 1, 1830, d. Dec. 29, 1831;
Harriett Ann, b. Jan. 6, 1835, m. Peleg Gardner;
Edwin Henry, b. Feb. 19, 1836, d. Feb. 28, 1837;
Helen Mar sic, b. June 4, 1840, m. Melville W. Robert.
Hazard Arnold, b. Dec. 21, 1810, m. Louisa Ballou of Cumberland, R. I., resides at Geneva, N. Y. 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, Mass., Bowdoin College, Maine, Dartmouth College, N. H., and took his diploma at Bowdoin. He first settled on Cumberland Hill, R. I., then in Potter, Yates Co., N. Y., and had a good practice in both places. He moved thence to Battle Creek, Mich., 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. Apr. 24, 1813, married, Aug. 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 Co., N. Y., and owns a farm of 320 acres which is worth more to-day than the 44000 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 $3000 for a single buck which he found in the state of Vermont, and values him at $4000. 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, b. Sept. 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 Prattsbergh sic, [Steuben Co.,] N. Y., and died 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, b. Oct. 5, 1818, m. Teresa Barse, resided at Avoca, [Steuben Co.,] N. Y.
Nancy Ann, b. April 27, 1821, resided at Potter, N. Y., d. July 27, 1822.
Alvira Ann, b. March 16, 1823, m. Albert Angell, r. Providence, R. I.
Edward Pitt, b. Dec. 30, 1824, m. Elizabeth Moore, r. Yatesville, N. Y. 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, b. Dec. 23, 1828, r. Potter, N. Y., d. April 4, 1829.
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Abt 1786 - Yes, date unknown