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Contributed by JoAnn Potts Bunyard |
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My g-g-grandfather's name was Stringer Potts, but he was called Stringer. According to the Bond Co. Illinois website he was born in Rutherford Tennessee and his father's name was Daniel. He ran away from his father as a young boy and joined Gen. Jackson's command and participated in the Battle of New Orleans. He had 12 children - 9 of them born in Tennessee: Daniel, Zephaniah, Henry, Elizabeth, Amos, John W., Millie, Robert, Lucinda, Felix, William and Stringer. I have followed them from North Carolina to Tennessee to Illinois. I was in Illinois for my Mother's 96th birthday and went to Green cemetery and found Stringer and Anne(Winsett) Potts tombstones. The tombstones are in good shape but the writing is faded. At the foot of Stringer's grave is a plaque that said he was in the Illinois Militia 1812. There are quite a few Potts buried there. "An Economic and Social History of Bond Co. Illinois before 1850: In 1820 Stringer Potts owned 42 horses and cattle, 45 geese, 100 hogs and 5 lots of sheep. When he passed away his personal estate amounted to $1200.00 large at the time. There were 12 heirs to share it." History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois O.L. Baskin & Co., 1882 Felix G. Potts, farmer, PO Greenville. Of the early settlers of Bond County, Stranger or "Stringer" Potts was among those who came in during the winter of 1830. He was born about the year 1797, in Rutherford County, Tenn., son of Daniel Potts. "Stringer" ran away from his father when a lad, and joined Gen. Jackson's command, and partcipated in the battle of New Orleans. He married Anna, daughter of Amos Winset, and by this union twelve children were born, viz: Daniel, Zephaniah, Henry, Elizabeth, Amos, John W., Millie, Robert, Lucinda, Felix G., William and Stranger. Of this number, nine of the eldest were born in Tennessee; of this number are living - Daniel and Wesley, reside in California; Henry, in Highland, Madison County; Amos resides in Clinton County; Millie in Moultrie County, wife of M. Miller. Stranger Potts emigrated to Bond County, locating in Pocahontas Township, in the winter of 1830, but soon after came to this township, and remained here until his death, which occurred in February, 1838, his wife dying the year previous. Felix G. was born April 18, 1829, and was left fatherless at an early age. He went to live with Andrew Mills, of this township, and remained with him until grown; he then hired out, and then laid the foundation of his present possessions. He had a very limited education, yet he worked hard and patiently. In August 1852, he married Margaret A. Brown, daughter of James Brown, from Tennessee. Mr. Potts has nine children - Louisa Jane, Mary, James, Henry, Martha Ellen, Nancy, Henrietta, Millie and Marion. He has 540 acres, all accumulated by his own industry. 1850 Bond County Census Daniel Potts, 33, M, Farmer, TN Matilda, 28, F, IL William, 17, M Stringer, 14, M Ryal, 13, M Nathan, 7, M Nancy, 2, F Henry Potts, 30, M, Farmer, TN Magdaline, 27, F, Germany John W. Potts, 25, M, Farmer, IL Matilda, 21, F, IL 1860 Bond County Census Amos Potts, 40, M, Farmer, IL Margaret, 30, F, IL William, 12, M John, 10, M Frank, 8, M Daniel, 6, M Sarah, 3, F Douglas, 6/12, M Felix G. Potts, 31, M, Farmer, TN Margaret, 32, F, TN Mary, 6, F James, 4, M Henry, 2, M Back to Home Page |
