JOHN W. POTTER, postmaster at Rock Island, and editor and publisher of the Rock Island Argus, it may well be said is a newspaper man by birth and adoption. A native of Ireland, he was born in Skibbereen,
county Cork, August 17, 1861, and is the son of John W. and Josephine (Ryan) Potter, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Buffalo, New York, where their marriage occurred. They were the parents of three children: Osier F., John W. and
Marion E.
John W. Potter, Sr., was reared in his native country, and there learned the printer's trade. He first came to America in 1853, and while working in Buffalo formed the acquaintance of Josephine Ryan, with whom he was united in marriage in 1856. Shortly after that event he returned with his young bride to his native country, where
they remained until 1865.
Believing the opportunities for material advancement greater in the new than in the old world, with his family he again came to
the United States, and in Buffalo, New York, worked as a journeyman printer for a time and then came west, locating at Freeport,
Illinois. In 1867 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he remained four years, and then went to Bolivar, Missouri, and established the Bolivar Herald which he continued two years, with fair success.
Disposing of the Herald, Mr. Potter returned to Freeport and purchased an interest in the Freeport Bulletin, with which he was connected until his death, in 1885, at the age of fifty-one years. His wife passed away five years previously, dying in 1880.
Both were consistent members of the Episcopal church. John W. Potter, Sr. , was a thorough newspaper man, and was truly wedded to
his profession. His boys he brought up in the same profession, his oldest son, Osier F., being connected with the Freeport Bulletin
until 1S95. In 1882 he came to Rock Island and purchased the Argus of Richardson & Powers, placing our subject in the office as general manager. In 1 877 he established the first daily paper in Freeport.
Politically he was a thorough Democrat, and through his newspapers wielded a large influence in his party throughout the State.
In 1880 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Cincinnati, which placed in nomination General Hancock for the Presidency.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, also named John Potter, was a native of England. He engaged in the publishing business in Ireland, being the founder of the West Cork Eagle, of Skibbereen, which he edited and published for many years and which is now continued by one of his sons.
His death occurred in Skibbereen in 1871 at an advanced age. The maternal grandfather Ryan, who was engaged in the shipping business, died in New York State in middle life.
John W. Potter, our subject, came with his parents to the United States when but four years of age. He remained with them until he attained his majority, his literary education being confined to the public schools. When but nine or ten years of age he commenced to learn the printer's trade in his father's office, and when but eleven
years old had charge for a time of the mechanical department of the Bolivar Herald in his father's absence. He became a general job and all-around printer, learning the business in a thorough manner. In the office of the Freeport Bulletin he made himself generally useful, and in 1S80 established a department of the paper at Lena, in which he did the reportorial work.
In August, 1882, on attaining his majority, he came to Rock Island and took the editorial and business management of the Rock Island Argus, daily and weekly, and on the death of his father became sole proprietor, continuing its publication to the present time. The Argus, under his management, has become a most popular paper,
and a recognized authority in Democratic circles. A ready and fluent writer, and with a life-long experience in the trade, he endeavors to keep abreast with the times, making his influence felt in all honorable ways.
On the 5th of March, 18S9, Mr. Potter was united in marriage with Miss Minnie E. Abbott, daughter of Fisher and Sarah (Whitman) Abbott, and by that union three children have been born—Marguerite F.
, John W. and the baby. Mrs. Potter is a member of the Episcopal church, of which he is an attendant.
Like his father, Mr. Potter is a firm believer in Democratic principles. Through President Cleveland he received the appointment
as postmaster of Rock Island, a a position he has satisfactorily filled for more than four years. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America; and beginning with
1888 he served for eight consecutive years as a member of the Democratic State Central Committee, representing the 11th Congressional District of Illinois, and has been a delegate to nearly all the State Conventions for the past ten years.
(Source: 1897 RI County Biographical Record)
county Cork, August 17, 1861, and is the son of John W. and Josephine (Ryan) Potter, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Buffalo, New York, where their marriage occurred. They were the parents of three children: Osier F., John W. and
Marion E.
John W. Potter, Sr., was reared in his native country, and there learned the printer's trade. He first came to America in 1853, and while working in Buffalo formed the acquaintance of Josephine Ryan, with whom he was united in marriage in 1856. Shortly after that event he returned with his young bride to his native country, where
they remained until 1865.
Believing the opportunities for material advancement greater in the new than in the old world, with his family he again came to
the United States, and in Buffalo, New York, worked as a journeyman printer for a time and then came west, locating at Freeport,
Illinois. In 1867 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he remained four years, and then went to Bolivar, Missouri, and established the Bolivar Herald which he continued two years, with fair success.
Disposing of the Herald, Mr. Potter returned to Freeport and purchased an interest in the Freeport Bulletin, with which he was connected until his death, in 1885, at the age of fifty-one years. His wife passed away five years previously, dying in 1880.
Both were consistent members of the Episcopal church. John W. Potter, Sr. , was a thorough newspaper man, and was truly wedded to
his profession. His boys he brought up in the same profession, his oldest son, Osier F., being connected with the Freeport Bulletin
until 1S95. In 1882 he came to Rock Island and purchased the Argus of Richardson & Powers, placing our subject in the office as general manager. In 1 877 he established the first daily paper in Freeport.
Politically he was a thorough Democrat, and through his newspapers wielded a large influence in his party throughout the State.
In 1880 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Cincinnati, which placed in nomination General Hancock for the Presidency.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, also named John Potter, was a native of England. He engaged in the publishing business in Ireland, being the founder of the West Cork Eagle, of Skibbereen, which he edited and published for many years and which is now continued by one of his sons.
His death occurred in Skibbereen in 1871 at an advanced age. The maternal grandfather Ryan, who was engaged in the shipping business, died in New York State in middle life.
John W. Potter, our subject, came with his parents to the United States when but four years of age. He remained with them until he attained his majority, his literary education being confined to the public schools. When but nine or ten years of age he commenced to learn the printer's trade in his father's office, and when but eleven
years old had charge for a time of the mechanical department of the Bolivar Herald in his father's absence. He became a general job and all-around printer, learning the business in a thorough manner. In the office of the Freeport Bulletin he made himself generally useful, and in 1S80 established a department of the paper at Lena, in which he did the reportorial work.
In August, 1882, on attaining his majority, he came to Rock Island and took the editorial and business management of the Rock Island Argus, daily and weekly, and on the death of his father became sole proprietor, continuing its publication to the present time. The Argus, under his management, has become a most popular paper,
and a recognized authority in Democratic circles. A ready and fluent writer, and with a life-long experience in the trade, he endeavors to keep abreast with the times, making his influence felt in all honorable ways.
On the 5th of March, 18S9, Mr. Potter was united in marriage with Miss Minnie E. Abbott, daughter of Fisher and Sarah (Whitman) Abbott, and by that union three children have been born—Marguerite F.
, John W. and the baby. Mrs. Potter is a member of the Episcopal church, of which he is an attendant.
Like his father, Mr. Potter is a firm believer in Democratic principles. Through President Cleveland he received the appointment
as postmaster of Rock Island, a a position he has satisfactorily filled for more than four years. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America; and beginning with
1888 he served for eight consecutive years as a member of the Democratic State Central Committee, representing the 11th Congressional District of Illinois, and has been a delegate to nearly all the State Conventions for the past ten years.
(Source: 1897 RI County Biographical Record)
JOHN W. POTTER, postmaster at Rock Island, and editor and publisher of the Rock Island Argus, it may well be said is a newspaper man by birth and adoption. A native of Ireland, he was born in Skibbereen,
county Cork, August 17, 1861, and is the son of John W. and Josephine (Ryan) Potter, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Buffalo, New York, where their marriage occurred. They were the parents of three children: Osier F., John W. and
Marion E.
John W. Potter, Sr., was reared in his native country, and there learned the printer's trade. He first came to America in 1853, and while working in Buffalo formed the acquaintance of Josephine Ryan, with whom he was united in marriage in 1856. Shortly after that event he returned with his young bride to his native country, where
they remained until 1865.
Believing the opportunities for material advancement greater in the new than in the old world, with his family he again came to
the United States, and in Buffalo, New York, worked as a journeyman printer for a time and then came west, locating at Freeport,
Illinois. In 1867 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he remained four years, and then went to Bolivar, Missouri, and established the Bolivar Herald which he continued two years, with fair success.
Disposing of the Herald, Mr. Potter returned to Freeport and purchased an interest in the Freeport Bulletin, with which he was connected until his death, in 1885, at the age of fifty-one years. His wife passed away five years previously, dying in 1880.
Both were consistent members of the Episcopal church. John W. Potter, Sr. , was a thorough newspaper man, and was truly wedded to
his profession. His boys he brought up in the same profession, his oldest son, Osier F., being connected with the Freeport Bulletin
until 1S95. In 1882 he came to Rock Island and purchased the Argus of Richardson & Powers, placing our subject in the office as general manager. In 1 877 he established the first daily paper in Freeport.
Politically he was a thorough Democrat, and through his newspapers wielded a large influence in his party throughout the State.
In 1880 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Cincinnati, which placed in nomination General Hancock for the Presidency.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, also named John Potter, was a native of England. He engaged in the publishing business in Ireland, being the founder of the West Cork Eagle, of Skibbereen, which he edited and published for many years and which is now continued by one of his sons.
His death occurred in Skibbereen in 1871 at an advanced age. The maternal grandfather Ryan, who was engaged in the shipping business, died in New York State in middle life.
John W. Potter, our subject, came with his parents to the United States when but four years of age. He remained with them until he attained his majority, his literary education being confined to the public schools. When but nine or ten years of age he commenced to learn the printer's trade in his father's office, and when but eleven
years old had charge for a time of the mechanical department of the Bolivar Herald in his father's absence. He became a general job and all-around printer, learning the business in a thorough manner. In the office of the Freeport Bulletin he made himself generally useful, and in 1S80 established a department of the paper at Lena, in which he did the reportorial work.
In August, 1882, on attaining his majority, he came to Rock Island and took the editorial and business management of the Rock Island Argus, daily and weekly, and on the death of his father became sole proprietor, continuing its publication to the present time. The Argus, under his management, has become a most popular paper,
and a recognized authority in Democratic circles. A ready and fluent writer, and with a life-long experience in the trade, he endeavors to keep abreast with the times, making his influence felt in all honorable ways.
On the 5th of March, 18S9, Mr. Potter was united in marriage with Miss Minnie E. Abbott, daughter of Fisher and Sarah (Whitman) Abbott, and by that union three children have been born—Marguerite F.
, John W. and the baby. Mrs. Potter is a member of the Episcopal church, of which he is an attendant.
Like his father, Mr. Potter is a firm believer in Democratic principles. Through President Cleveland he received the appointment
as postmaster of Rock Island, a a position he has satisfactorily filled for more than four years. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America; and beginning with
1888 he served for eight consecutive years as a member of the Democratic State Central Committee, representing the 11th Congressional District of Illinois, and has been a delegate to nearly all the State Conventions for the past ten years.
(Source: 1897 RI County Biographical Record)
county Cork, August 17, 1861, and is the son of John W. and Josephine (Ryan) Potter, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Buffalo, New York, where their marriage occurred. They were the parents of three children: Osier F., John W. and
Marion E.
John W. Potter, Sr., was reared in his native country, and there learned the printer's trade. He first came to America in 1853, and while working in Buffalo formed the acquaintance of Josephine Ryan, with whom he was united in marriage in 1856. Shortly after that event he returned with his young bride to his native country, where
they remained until 1865.
Believing the opportunities for material advancement greater in the new than in the old world, with his family he again came to
the United States, and in Buffalo, New York, worked as a journeyman printer for a time and then came west, locating at Freeport,
Illinois. In 1867 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he remained four years, and then went to Bolivar, Missouri, and established the Bolivar Herald which he continued two years, with fair success.
Disposing of the Herald, Mr. Potter returned to Freeport and purchased an interest in the Freeport Bulletin, with which he was connected until his death, in 1885, at the age of fifty-one years. His wife passed away five years previously, dying in 1880.
Both were consistent members of the Episcopal church. John W. Potter, Sr. , was a thorough newspaper man, and was truly wedded to
his profession. His boys he brought up in the same profession, his oldest son, Osier F., being connected with the Freeport Bulletin
until 1S95. In 1882 he came to Rock Island and purchased the Argus of Richardson & Powers, placing our subject in the office as general manager. In 1 877 he established the first daily paper in Freeport.
Politically he was a thorough Democrat, and through his newspapers wielded a large influence in his party throughout the State.
In 1880 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Cincinnati, which placed in nomination General Hancock for the Presidency.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, also named John Potter, was a native of England. He engaged in the publishing business in Ireland, being the founder of the West Cork Eagle, of Skibbereen, which he edited and published for many years and which is now continued by one of his sons.
His death occurred in Skibbereen in 1871 at an advanced age. The maternal grandfather Ryan, who was engaged in the shipping business, died in New York State in middle life.
John W. Potter, our subject, came with his parents to the United States when but four years of age. He remained with them until he attained his majority, his literary education being confined to the public schools. When but nine or ten years of age he commenced to learn the printer's trade in his father's office, and when but eleven
years old had charge for a time of the mechanical department of the Bolivar Herald in his father's absence. He became a general job and all-around printer, learning the business in a thorough manner. In the office of the Freeport Bulletin he made himself generally useful, and in 1S80 established a department of the paper at Lena, in which he did the reportorial work.
In August, 1882, on attaining his majority, he came to Rock Island and took the editorial and business management of the Rock Island Argus, daily and weekly, and on the death of his father became sole proprietor, continuing its publication to the present time. The Argus, under his management, has become a most popular paper,
and a recognized authority in Democratic circles. A ready and fluent writer, and with a life-long experience in the trade, he endeavors to keep abreast with the times, making his influence felt in all honorable ways.
On the 5th of March, 18S9, Mr. Potter was united in marriage with Miss Minnie E. Abbott, daughter of Fisher and Sarah (Whitman) Abbott, and by that union three children have been born—Marguerite F.
, John W. and the baby. Mrs. Potter is a member of the Episcopal church, of which he is an attendant.
Like his father, Mr. Potter is a firm believer in Democratic principles. Through President Cleveland he received the appointment
as postmaster of Rock Island, a a position he has satisfactorily filled for more than four years. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America; and beginning with
1888 he served for eight consecutive years as a member of the Democratic State Central Committee, representing the 11th Congressional District of Illinois, and has been a delegate to nearly all the State Conventions for the past ten years.
(Source: 1897 RI County Biographical Record)
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