The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-10-13
Inquiries About Potter Estate
| Coming From All Quarters
DESCENDANTS EVERYWHERE
The Chase for Share OF ANCESTOR
Fortune is on--Tcxas Notary
Thinks He Knows Where
Lands are Located
and Wants job.

From all parts of the union come
letters making inquiry as to tn,
reputed wealth OF Robert Potter
who was killed in Texas about tn,
middle of last century, and II 1t Il
relatives TO take up an unelaime,
fortune there will be no lack OF Pot
tiers and descendants of Potters I,
make grab at the enormous for
tune in far away Texas.
One letter comes from Plymouth
Wis. and is addressed TO the "oiiics
of Records" this city. The post
ouice people put it in the box Of Mr.
NJ. G. Markham. This letter is from
Miss Mary Clark. who says: In the
woman's National Daily. I see THAI
search is being made for the heirs
OF Robert Potter. AS | am a te-
scendant of one Margaret Potter.
am much interested and would like
to hear from you about the matter. .
There is no indication that she
ever i.ved in this part OF the country,
the native home OF the man who left
a million dollars In Texas oil lands.
But the dream of sudden wealth Il
an alluring one and old man Potter
win have more relatives than he ever
thought of. should investigations
prove that he did leave some yalu-
able land in the Lone Star State.
Too often this chase for the
wealth OF some rich, but unknown
ancestor. Is like the pursuit for the
pot of gold AZ the end OF the rain
bow, but another letter from a
notary public in Texas confirms the
newspaper story OF few days ago
as 10 the death OF Potter. and Offers
the services OF this notary In looking
up the lands OF Mr.. Potter. Tie
writer is j. w. Flanagan, OF Mar
shall. Harrison county. Texas. and
states that he has been living In the
state for the past 80 years, has been
In every county In the big state, has
a "kindsman" IN the Texas land
Office. brother n the state capitol.
Austin. Texas. and in other ways
qualities himself for the job Of hunt
ing up the titles 20 the estate OF
Potter.
After telling OF the relation OF
Potter TO the two bands. the Modera-
tors and Regulators. and OF his yio-
lent death in 1916 or ~. Mr.. Fiana-
gan SAYS: Now for business. as I
am in the general private secret SER
vice business. looking mp all sorts OF
people and claims. herewith tendt r
my services at a reasonable salary
or fee. know nearly every man In
this county. My father lived in this
county al the time OF Potter's life.
Ny father sold him goods. There
were three leaders Of these gangs,
Roldwear. Potter and Rose. they all
had their gangs. can come as near
TO tracing up Potter a. any one and
! would be please dto have the Job. .
The Texas notary not only offers
bis services flor a consideration IN
tracing the man, but also says that
be would be OF assistance In locating
these lands. Perhaps bis letter
states. some Of these lands you
speak Of are in the eastern portion Of
this. Harrison county. Several
valuable oil and gas well there. This
city, Marshall, Harrison county, Il
using natural gas from these wells .
The letter Of this old man is ad-
dressed TO the Durham Sun, Dur.
ham. y. G.. and he says that the
informing contents are for the
public. lie seems 10 have got.
ten hold Of the wrong end OF 'hs
string. The first story stated that
the attorneys we're trying 70 find the
relatives OF a man that had left Z
fortune IN Texas. The Texas notary
offers TO trace the man and locate
his lands. However, the letter from
Wisconsin goes at the right end Of
the affair. She thinks that maybe
she II one 81 the descendants land
the heir 20 unexpected fortune. Like
q fairy tale.