He is the son of Taylor Franklin Potts and Mary Ann Johnson.

He was a Union soldier during the Civil War. He served as a private in Company D, 80th Regiment Indiana Infantry.

Washington Gazette
April 4, 1915
Page 5

Thomas Potts Was Native of Kentucky

Thomas Potts, son of Taylor Potts and his wife, Mary A. (Johnson) Potts, was born in Clay county, Kentucky, April 6, 1836. His father and mother came to Daviess county, this state, when Thomas was only six weeks old, and settled in Reeve township. He married Miss Jane Armes in 1857, and enlisted in 1862, in Company D, 80th Indiana volunteers, and served three years with honor and distiction in his country's defense, and returned home, locating on the farm where he lived until his death, in Harrison township, near Glendale.

Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Potts, of who ten are living. They are George Potts, Alex Potts, James Potts, William Potts, Thomas Potts, Pheobe Jacobs, Minnie Logan, Julia Bennett, Mollie Mallary and Philip Potts. His wife died August 15, 1900, at the family home. He has thirty-six living grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren; two brothers, Morgan Potts and Benjamin Potts, and one sister, Mrs. Catherine Combs, who survive him. He was a life-long republican, and while not a member of any church, his choice was for the United Brethren faith.

He died at his home Monday, March 29, 1915, and was buried at Oak Grove cemetery, near his home, in Reeve township, the funeral sermon being delivered by the Rev. Mr. Reason of the United Brethren church.

Mr. Potts lived a blameless life, noted for his honesty, industry, justice, patriotism and goodness in his family and to his friends and neighbors.

His father was the founder of the Potts family in Daviess county, and his descendants now number probably 500 people.