Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 2.djvu/67

 RICHAKD POTTER.

��59

��Mr. Buckingham spoke with much feeling of the "Genial Showman." and with a "tender respect for his memory;" dwelt at length on the details of his long and intimate acquaintance with him; and declared him to be one of the noblest and most generous men he had ever known.

Now Buckingham left the office of the Greenfield Gazette and went to Boston in 1800. He had but recently established himself there when he was introduced to Potter. The fact that Potter enquired of Bradley for a printer, coupled with the generally-understood fact that the re- nowned magician commenced his career in Boston, would indicate that he was just starting in business for himself, and had had no printing done before. This might have been in 1800, and was not probably later than 1801. In 1800, Pot- ter was seventeen years old.

In the story told to Fellows he said that he left the employ of the circus and started business when about eighteen years of age, which would exactly coin- cide with the time at which he was hav- ing his first printing done in Boston. This would tend to enhance the proba- bility that the story was not all fiction, and that he learned his art from some company of mountebanks with which he was associated when a boy.

From that time forward there is no trace nor tradition of Richard Potter, connected with any fixed date or loca- tion, that I have been able to discover, for the next twenty years. An examina- tion of files of newspapers, published in Boston, and various other towns and cities of the Eastern and Middle States, would doubtless throw some light on his history during that period. But such examination I have not been able to make.

His headquarters, and whatever'horae" he had, are supposed to have been in Boston. It is certain, however, that he travelled widely, and had become known and famous, previous to 1820. It is cer- tain that he had, within that time visited Europe, for he was for a time with Na- poleon; though not as a soldier. It is certain that he had married and that his

��two children were born before the latter date. It is certain that his wife travelled and performed with him, until she be- came unfitted to do so, from* habits of intemperance.

But with what particular successes or adventures he met ; how extensively he circulated, what countries he visited: when, where and whom he married, or where his children were born, the writer knoweth not.

In the winter of 1875, at my suggestion and request, and in order to procure for me the information I desired, Moses B. Goodwin, Esq., above named, visited An- dover (N. H.), where Potter spent the last fifteen years of his life, and made minute enquiries of the old residents of the place, who had been acquainted with him and his family.

From a near neighbor to Potter, dur- ing his residence in Andover, whose son was, at one time, Potter's travelling as- sistant and partner in the business; from Hon. Geo. W. Nesmith of Franklin, who was acquainted with Potter's affairs ; and from Mrs. Isabella West, an aged and in- telligent lady of Franklin, whose hus- band in Potter's day, kept a tavern in Boscawen, at which Potter and his wife were frequent guests, Mr. Goodwiu ob- tained much reliable intelligence con- cerning the great magician. From his subsequent letters, and from his article in the Merrimack Journal above referred to, a large part of the facts of this his- tory were obtained ; for which the writer hereby expresses his grateful acknowl- edgements.

About 1820 Potter purchased a farm of about 175 acres in that part of Andover which now bears his name. On this he erected a residence 22x38 feet, fronting on the turnpike, the whole second story of which was one room ; the lower story being divided by a hall running through the house. This he finished and furnished with elegant display, regardless of the cost; and, it was said, with taste and judgment. He was generous to a fault, kept open house, and dispensed a liberal hospitality. In another house, entire- ly separate from the mansion, was done all the cooking and housework.

�� �