Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/406

 POTTER

POTTER

PLOTTER, Edward Elmer, soldier, was born in New York city, June 21, 18'J3 ; sou of Ellis and Elizabeth (Ehner) I'otter ; grandson of Ellis and Agnes (Crowell) Potter and of Dr. Philemon Elmer, and a descendant of Marmaduke Potter, who immigrated to America from Stony Strat- ford, England, settled in Woodbridge, N.J., in the latter part of the ITth century, and from Edward Elmer, who emigrated from England long before the American Revolution. Edward Elmer Potter was graduated from Columbia col- lege in 18-13 ; and after studying law, he went to California, making his home in New Jersey after his return. He was appointed captain and com- missary of subsistence in the Federal army in February, 1803. served in North Carolina, and in October, 1862, recruited and was commissioned colonel of a regiment of x\orth Carolina volun- teers. He took part in the operations in North and South Carolina and East Tennessee ; was pro- moted brigadier-general of volunteers Nov. 29, 1862, and was brevetted major-general of volun- teers March 13, 1865. for distinguished services and bravery. He resigned July 24, 1865, and resided in Madison, N.J. He never married. He died in New York city, June 1, 1889.

POTTER, Eliphalet Nott, educator, v^as born in Scheneotudy, N.Y., Sept. 20, 1836 ; son of the Rev. Alonzo and Maria (Nott) Potter. He was educated at the Protestant Episcopal academy of Philadelphia, Pa., and St. James's college, Md., and graduated from Union college in 1861, He attended the Berkeley divinity school, Mid- dletown. Conn.; was admitted to the diaconate, June 22, 1862, at Troy, N.Y"., appointed to mis- sionary duty in the Lehigh valley. Pa., and in charge of the Church of tlie Nativity, South Bethlehem, Pa., 1862-69. He served during the civil war as chaplain under his brother, General Robert B. Potter (q.v.) ; was ordained priest in tiie Clmrch of the Holy Communion, New York city, March 19, 18G5; and was secretary of the board of trustees and professor of ethics at Le- high university, 1866-71, serving also as asso- ciate rector of St. Paul's churcli, Troy, N.Y., 1869- 71. He married, April 28, 1870, Helen, daughter of Josepl) Wiltsie and Mary (WolO Fuller, of Troy. He succeeded Charles A. Aiken as president of Union college in 1871, being inaugurated June 26, 1872, and under his presidency the college as- sumed organic relations with the Albany Law school, the Dudley observatory, and the Albany medical college, be- coming Union university in 1873. He resigned the presidency of the university in 1884, being

made its chancellor, and on June 25, 1884, was elected bishop of Nebraska, which office he declined, accepting a pending election as pres- ident of Hobart college, which position he filled, 1884-97. He was also president of the Cosmo- /politan university (a correspondence univer- sity), 1892-1901. The honorary degree of D.D. was conferred on him by Union college in 1869, and by Columbia in 1871 ; LL.D. by Williams college in 1880; D.C.L. by Trinity college, Toronto, and by the University of tlie South in 1889, and L.H.D. by St. Stephen's college, Annandale, N.Y., in 1895, having been a trustee of the latter college, 1872-86, He is the author of: TJiree Witnesses to the Truth of Religion ; memoirs of Dr. Tayler Lewis and Dr. Isaac Jackson ; and Washington, a Model in his Library and Life. He died in the city of Mexico, Feb. 6, 1901.

POTTER, Elisha Reynolds, representative, was born at Little Rest (South Kingston), R.I., Nov. 5, 1764 ; son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Rey- nolds) Potter ; grandson of Ichabod and Margaret (Potter) Potter, and of Elisha and Susanna (Pot- ter) Reynolds, and a descendant of Nathaniel Potter, who settled in Portsmouth, R.I., where he died in 1644. Elisha Reynolds Potter learned the blacksmith's trade, and enlisted as a private in the Revolutionary army. He was educated in Plainfield academy, was admitted to the bar in 1789 and practised in South Kingston, R.L He was a representative in the Rhode Island legisla- ture, 1793-96, 1798-1808, and 1816-35, and speaker of the house five terms. He was a Federalist representative from Rhode Island in the 4tli con- gress, completing the term of Benjamin Bourn, resigned, and in the 5th, 11th, 12th and 13th con- gresses, serving 1796-99 and 1809-15. He was defeated for governor of Rhode Island in 1818 by Nehemiah R. Knight, by 616 votes. He was married first to Mrs. Mary Perkins, widow of Joseph Perkins, and secondly, to Marv', daughter of Pardon Mawney of East Greenwich, R.I. He died at South Kingston, R.I., Sept. 26, 1835.

POTTER, Elisha Reynolds, jurist, was born in South Kingston, R.L, June 20, 1811; son of Elisha Reynolds (q.v.) and Mary (Mawney) Potter, and grandson of Pardon Mawney. He was graduated ac Harvard in 1830 ; was admitted to the bar in 1832, and practised in South King- ston. He was a representative and state senator in the Rhode Island legislature for several years ; was adjutant-general of the state, 1835- 37, and was a member of the state constitutional convention of 1841-42. He was a Law and Order representative from the western district of Rliode Island in the 28th congress, 1843-45, and was defeated for re-election in 1844; was state commissioner of public schools, 1849-54, and was associate justice of the supreme court, 1868-