Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/365

 CHANDLER EASTMAN POTTER.

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��the voice and manners of almost any person. Hence he was one of the best of story-tellers. He often intro- duced into his public addresses an appropriate anecdote, and illustrated his point with great effect, and on fes- tive occasions his ready wit and humor never failed to create merriment. He was a man of great enthusiasm, and entered with his whole soul into any subject which he discussed. Hence there was a great charm in his conver- sation. His mind was ever active, and he had the power of exactly adapting himself to all occasions and circumstances. He also had a faculty of placing himself in ju^t the proper relations to all persons whom he met, whatever might be their tastes or de- gree of intelligence. When among the learned he could lead as well as fol- low, and when in the society of the ignorant and undeveloped he never assumed airs of superiority, but placed himself on the most intimate and friendly terms with them, and was happy if he could succeed in arous- ing higher and nobler thoughts and grander conceptions in regard to the world and the ever changing phenom- ena about them.

He was naturallv a Democrat, re- spected the people, and never desired "to get above them," nor wished for more attention from others than he was willing to extend to them.

He became corresponding member of the New England Historic Genea- logical Society, March 24, 1855. In 1841 he was elected a member of the New Hampshire Historical Society, and was chosen one of the vice-presi- dents in 1852, in 1855. and 1857. In 185 1 he delivered a valuable and in- teresting discourse before the society, upon the aborigines of the country, at the conclusion of which, on motion of Hon. Samuel D. Bell, a vote of thanks was extended to him. Subse- quently he read several other interest- ing essays, one of which was upon the Penacook Indians. Beside these pa- pers, he contributed one of the chap- ters to Colonel Schoolcraft's valuable

��history of the North American Indians, He left many unpublished manuscripts bearing upon the history of New Hampshire. It was his design to pub- lish a full and complete history of the state, bringing it down to the present times.

He left two sons. His third son, Drown Potter, studied for the bar. At the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he was in the West, and im- mediately joined the first regiment of Michigan Volunteers, of which he was soon after appointed quartermaster sergeant. He was killed, while on duty with his regiment, at Garlick's Landing, Va., by a band of guerillas. He was a young man of fine talents, and was much esteemed by all who knew him.

Though Colonel Potter had a com- mendable ambition, he did not wish to be valued beyond his merits. His warm affection for his family was re- markable. He enjoyed no pleasures — wished to enjoy none — in which they did not participate. Even in his hours of unsparing labor, when intense thought was necessary to the business in hand, he loved to have them near him, and had acquired the faculty of sympathiz- ing in their amusements without suf- fering his mind to be diverted from his labor. He was happy in his fam- ily, and enjoyed life. He felt a just pride in the affairs of his town and place of residence, interesting himself in all improvements. He was a man of sin- gular purity of life, generous and hos- pitable ; his house was open and his numerous friends always welcome. He rests from his labors, and his works do follow him. From the midst of life's responsibilities he has been sud- denly called to a blessed eternity, leav- ing an irreparable void, by his depart- ure, in a loving circle of friends, over whom the dark shadow of sorrow has deeply fallen, for he was to all, within the sphere of his influence, a faithful and unfailing friend. No ostentation sullied the purity of his benevolence. His rare disinterestedness and emi- nent kindness of heart led him ever

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