New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-03
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.

Ex-Congressrnan Orlando b. Potter raised HIM
self from the fate Of being an obscure working
man on New England hillside farm to wealth and
prominence mainly by indefatigable industry and
hard work. In the face of obstacles that would ex-
dscouragement on the part of almost any
one. No sudden stroke of great good fortune aided
him. but gradually he won his own way, and never
failed to hold what he got Born in Charlemont'
Franklin County. Mass, on March TO- 1S2' he came
of New England stock, his grandfather being one
of the original settlers of NewHaven. His father.
Samuel emigrated from Northfeld in 1919. carry
ing his few utensils by ox-team into the prmeval
forests about Charlemont settling there upon a
hillside farm. Orando's mother, Sophia Rice, was
n great granddaughter of Edmond Rice an Eng
lish Puritan one Of the founders Of Charlemont,
who was killed by the Indians in i7j5. Born into
such surroundings the boys first lesson in life was
self-reliance and to this characteristic more than
any other he was afterward accustomed TO at
tribute his success.
One hundred miles from Boston, the market town,
over miry wagon roads, with not much demand
ror their produce when they got there. with the
sickle and the scythe their only reaping tools the
ten children of this sturdy pair of pioneers all
helped their parents carve home out of the wilder
ness acquiring habits OF industry, economy and
perseverance which served them we'll in after years
The father and mother lived to see eight Of their
children educated for business school-teaching.
in which six of them engaged. and died at a good
old age
Orlando was the second son. and when the elder
brother was sent to school, heavy share OF the
teamwork fell on the boys shoulders The father
was away from home good deal, going and coming
between the farm and Boston by ox-team and tax
ing part In local politics. that in summer the
boy directed the seeding and harvesting and In VIM
ter after doing chores in the early morning led
the brothers and sisters to the country school, and
on his return after cattle and sheep had been fed,
spent the evening before the kitchen fire reading
pared himself for college and at the age Of eighteen
years obtained permission from his parents to leave
the farm and enter Williams College in the fall Of
1sfi.
FORCED TO LEAVE COLLEGE,
While at college he held high place in his class,
working hard and unremittingly at his books as
he had done at his chores. The natural result of
this complete change of habits followed. and dys-
pepsia soon brought him up with round turn.
He had TO leave college in his sophomore year, ana
take to outdoor work again Not caring TO go back
to farm work he went to sea on trading schooner
for a time. and then began teaching school at Cape
Cod and reading up for a law course. Prohtng by
his former experience, he rented three acres Of
ground the seashore. and after school hours
cultivated 1t a garden. When school closed In the
fall he found fifty barrels of potatoes or his own
raising his hands that he could not sell in the
village Dennis. he took them on a schooner to
Provincetown. and peddled them from door to door.
W
he entered Dane Law School, Harvard College in
the fall of ls4o Here he studied hard while his
money lasted and when 1t was exhausted went to
Boston as clerk in the law Office Of Charles G.
Thomas, now dead. There he worked along, sadly
hampered by lack of money, teaching for a month or
two at a time, cooking his meals and sleep
ing In small upper room in Sewell Place.
Before long he began to attract attention from old
practitioners the lookout for smart young part
ners, and in preparing and trying small cases in
justices courts-a privilege Mr. Thomas allowed
his clerks-began to give some earnest Of the stuff
that was in him. So that when he was admitted
the bar there In 1915 he felt that his pecunary
straits passed. and. declining an Offer OF CO.
partnership with his employer. Mr.. Thomas he !
opened office of his own in Court Square. Bos- |
ton. and a branch concern in South Reading, a
village ten miles out of the city. where he returned
each night to sleep. doing business there In the |
evening hours.
HOW HE MADE COLLECTION.
Almost his first case OF any importance was the
collection Of a claim OF $500 from a hardened old |
sinner down Cape Cod who had secured goods
by Misrepresentation from Boston firm. had locked
them up In his father-in-laws barn. and defed the
Sheriff or his officers to arrest him alive touch
the goods Mr.. Potter went down with the Sheriff
and directed him to forcibly enter the barn. The
debtor bully began to buster and threaten. and the
Sheriff cowed. The young lawyer however,
had not developed his muscles holding the plough
and swinging the axe for nothing and, caring little
for threats he kicked that door clean off It's
hinges marched In and ordered the Sheriff
after That Official seeing no blood follow this
plucky defiance. but rather that the bully began to
weaken. pluoked up heart OF grace attached the
This was the kind OF collector Boston cred
itors. wanted and clients INCREASED rapidly HIS
and endsavor 70 affect sei1emSeGts s,SeG without law
departure from 'ne 'nreedc,opsS ~ ,.en IN VSser oSer
practitioners brought him more money in the