Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-01-12

'arIz'ng himself with every detail OIL
newspaper publication, and establish
ing In 1880 . department Of the pa
per at Lena, In which no did theI
Srepsrtori.l work. SHe was untiring'
sin bis labors in every undertaking.
'9and when he came to Rock Island his!
whole being was put into The ARGUS
aHe was not content with deiegatipg
Ito others any duty or responsibility
Eathat k5 might assume himself
: Throughout his office thia ives the
same. There was no department.
that he was not a. fully equipped for
4,he management Of as the one in
Scharge, and no enc In his employ was
xexpected to do what he could mot and
> would not do himself. His own ex .
3 ample was ever before those about
) him, and those who could not profit
Eby that example we're unworthy Of
;jthe associations OF such q man. He
demanded two things Of those in HE
!, empl"y-that they do their duty and
prove worthy Of his confidence
Those who filed these requirements
I Feceived in return tho full measure
sof his confidence, and that once
Egiven was NOT to be shaken. Tie
afriendship Of such q man is to those
1 $50 favored the highest boon Of earihl,
Efortune. To all who looked to him
sfor advice AID counsel he was never
kfailing. He was prompt to decide
supon all questions where his Judg-
4ment was involved, and having de-
Stermined, there was no receding
aThose who acted upon his instruc.
ijtion or advice he never deserte,
iThis was true OF his every relation
sto life. He never forgot friend nor
htired Of kind and thoughtful acts for
pthose to whom he was attached
EWhen committed to q principle. that
Twas sufficient to command bis entire
abeing. lie was unfsiling In his
idevotion to o course, answering
airom the path laid cut. courae eout
Hand true. But q week ago when
Shaving arisen from his bed OF pain
.1he came to THE ARGUS office, he ca,
Sat his desk and w.ote out letter
ITO Secretary Of War Alger protest
Eng against any injustice that nigh,
ybe done to ths men employed al
aRock Island arsenal. 1t was one o,
ibis last acts, an appeal for his fellow.
9men-a mere incident in his life, bu,
;5is was one Of those occurrences b,
never permitted his paper to speak Of
Cor ever referred to.himsel; Modest,
twas one Of his most marked chara-.
Iteristics. and 1t was as natural will
ibim as the breath Of life.
y His nature repealed tho least evi
,ldence Of sham. Frank and hoaesr
Jhimself in all his dealings. b.
s,could not tolerate = contrary dis
OPPOSITION in others. lie was conscieu
,;tious in all that he did, steadfas,
and loyal.
n Mr.. Potter was appointed pos.
master 81 Rock Island By Presiden
Cleveland in June, 1893. and he en-
3tered upon his duties July /, follow
5irg. As postmaster be employed
lthe same thorough, practical meth
gods, the same attention to detail
Shat always characterized his pri
ssvate business. 1t was the poprla
Ssentiment that he was model pos:
5master. 1t was during his term O
i.oilice that the pcstoffice was moved
, Ito the new postofiice building. II
20 measure it was chargeable 10 hi,
Itevotion TO public trust that hi
i'm ,lady gained such Roadway. Hi.
Sterm Of service expired early in Sep
Ttember last, his appointment having
.ioeen under vacstion, and had b,
,sbeen relieved then, or even before as
5he would like to have had it, h,
Knight then have submitted to tn,
Operation before it was too late
But he would not consider the tax
;.ing Of any chances while the respou.
d isibility Of government Office rested
.Supon him. and he waited. When tn,
change was made Oct. /. he was il
!, such failing health that he thought
acouple Of months at his Deiavar
.Lake. Wis. cottage might prove ben
sefcial. But 1t was nc. SO to be.
Like his father before him. be we.
Intense snd unillnching in his devo
,tion to democratic principles, aut
sihis paper was always outspoken
constant and ceaseless in the sdvanc
sment Of the tenets Of the party
iFrom 1888, for eight years, he served
Gas member Of the democratic stat,
Hcentral committee. and for 10 year.
.,wss Q delegate to all state conven
.tions OF his party. He was chairman
Eof the democratic congressional com
mittee in the year 1890, when Hon
Ben 7. Cable was elected to con
5gress.
Il Socially. he was q charter member
,aoi st. Paul lodge No. lC7. Knights o
Y Pythias, and also Of c. ". Halves
HCamp Nc. 1850 Of the Modern Woo5
.Emen Of America.
Mr.. Potter and Miss Minnie z. Alb
bott, daughter of the late Mr.. anc
Mrs. Fisher Abbott, we're united II
marriage March 5. 1889. Three chill
tren have blessed the union, Mar
d guerite. John W. and Ben, who will
Mra Potter. together with q brother
Z Osler F.. Of Fresport, and o sister,
Marion E Of Minneapolis. survive
There are numerous other near aud
Gdear relatives. among whom lie Mrs
ST F. Xeeka Of Mirpeanalis 4,