Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-01-31
JOHN n. POTTER.
Death Of Former Well Known Augusta
Man in Duluth, MINI.

The Duluth (Minn.) Evening Herald
of Tuesday, Jan. %. contained the fol-
lowing particulars OF the death of John
II. Potter, formerly Of this city, which
occurred in Duluth on the preceding
evening:
After an illness Of a few days John
II. Potter died last evening at his home
1923 South street. of pneumonia. His
funeral will be in charge of the Ma
sonic fraternity and will probably &C.
cur next Friday.
Judge Potter was taken i'll quite sud-
denly one day last week when he was
visiting n. IL. Wilson. at the lattcr'S
office in the Torrey building. A car
riage was callc.l and the aged attorney
WAS removed to his home as quickly rs
possible, but little hope was had from
the first that he would survive owing
to his infirmity.
During the sixteen years that he has
resided at Duluth. Judge Potter has
said but little to his friends and ac-
quaintances here of his earlier life in
the East. though he has at times re-
lated instances that came to memory
which showed that he has met i'm legal
fray some Of the best law talent in the
East.
John II. Potter was born in White
field, Nc, Dec. 23. 1885. AS young
man, after nothing more than Il COM
mon school cducation, according to
statements that Judge Potter has
made. he opened a law Office at Win
thrOp. Me-. where he practiccd for Il
few years and built up reputation
that aftcrward raved the way to a
partnership with F:bcn F. Pillsbury of
Augusta. Nc, one of the foremost law
Errs in Maine at that time and who is
still regarded as one of the ahlest
members of the legal profession in New
England The law firm Of Pllsbury &;
Potter fourishcd and was a power in
legal circles until failing cyesight be-
gan to seriously handicap Judge Potter.
1t is said that while he was in the
midst of the trial of an important case
he was suddenly stricken with blind
ness.
Later he rcgaincd q little Of his eye
sight. but never to such degree that lie
could depend on it for his own reading.
Discouraged by the unfortunate cir
cumstanccs. Judge Potter determined
to come West. which he did in 1890.
locating in Duluth. He opened Il law
office and continued practicing up
to the time of his death. but his clicnt-
age in later years fell off because of
ehis increased infirmity as age crept
|upon him.
For number of years afte. his COM
ing to Duluth Judge Potter's law read
ing depended much on the efforts of
his ward. a relative who came TO the
West with him. After she returned
East. Judge Potter had to depend on
the kindness Of his friends. which, ow-
ing to the eXactions of a LAWYERS line
of reading. was most unsatisfactory.
Judge Potter. however. had a clear
mind, as many attorneys of this city
who have long been acquainted with
him will testify. He had n wonderful
memory for law and could discourse
with vigor that showed his familiar
ity with history and literature. During
his residence here he has tried many
cases. civil and criminal and there We're
times when striking returns of his
former brilliancy were apparent.
Judge Potter was OF kindly, genial
disposition and was respected and liked
by all vino know him. Although he
fought long and hard an unequal bat
tie against 2dVcrSity. he rarely be-
.trayed ly action or word the discour-
agcmcnt that must have been his.
Little is known of Judge Potter's
family i'm the East. lie was married
to Sarah NJ. Tovlc of this city. Nov.
-. 1909. who still survives him at their
home on South street.