"He came from Tennessee, and settled in section 7, of the same township, in 1831. No settlements of any importance were then made for two or three years. The settle- ment in this quarter was called the Huff's prairie settlement. In town- ship 31, range 20, among the first settlers were Thomas Potter, William Potter, John Adams, Robert Small, James Donnell, and Capt. John Ramey; and in township 30, range 20, William Price, George Kepley, Nathan Webb and Bennett Thrower. ....
The first church organized in Jackson township was the Bethsaida Methodist church, built of logs, which stood on section 7 of township 30, range 20. Within a mile and a half was afterward built the Elm Spring Methodist church, erected after old Bethsaida had ceased to exist. One of the first preachers in the township was the Rev. Mr. Joplin, a traveling Methodist preacher, who preached from house to house throughout that part of the county. The first Methodist society was organized at the widow Price's, in section 4, of township 30, range 20. Rev. Thomas Potter, a Christian elder, preached at Thos. Baylis' house at a very early day. Rev. Potter also taught a pioneer school at Green Warren's and this was one of the first schools in the township."
["History of Greene County, Missouri," St. Louis: Western Historical Company, 1883.]

1848, 18 Sep - Elizabeth Popejoy (the remarried widow of John Marshall) was named as principal with Thomas Potter as security in the amount of $1000 bail for her brothers, Elias and William J. Potter.

This undoubtedly was a very serious matter to need this unbelievably large sum of money in those days. Although many documents exist that tell of the accusation and indictment filed 4th day of November 1849, there is no complete understanding of the reasoning behind the accusations or judgements. Elias and William are accused of exposing in a snow drift with the result of death of an infant. We do not know whose child it may have been and although a female no exact age is certain ("5 month old," was written in and struck through). Facts seem to have been agreed to but not enough evidence was gathered to convict. We wonder whether the child was previously still-born or malformed or even if it were some other acquintance. With Elias and William Potter's brother being a sheriff and other members of the family being ministers they seem like a very upstanding and law abiding family. This is a very mysterious episode in this family. There may be more information on the Federal Court Records in Missouri that have not been analyzed. [Court Records of Greene Co., Missouri]

1850 - US Census, Jackson, Greene Co., Missouri.
Thomas Potter (44) is here with his wife, Rachael (44) and several children, the birth dates here along with the place of birth indicate that the Potters came to Missouri about 1832. They apparently had previously been in Illinois at least in 1829. The Marshall family arrived about 1835 and seems to have been also in Illinois until about 1831. I have not been able to confirm that this Thomas Potter ever was a sheriff or a colonel. Page 766.

Thomas Potter 		(44)   Farmer        2500   	KY
Rachael POTTER 		(44)				NC
John M Potter 		(21)				IL
Marshal B Potter 	(18)				MO
Asbury S Potter		(15)				MO
Eliza A  Potter 	(12)				MO
Andrew J  Potter 	(10)				MO
Thomas M  Potter 	(7)				MO
Mary E  Potter 		(6)				MO
Lewis C  Potter 	(2)				MO (incorrectly listed as a female)

  next door 

Elizabeth    Popejoy   	30 F W		800 		TN  
Elias        Marshall  	19 F W   	Farmer        IL (incorrectly  listed as a female)
William J    Marshall 	15 M W   	Farmer        MO         
James N      Marshall  	13 M W				MO 
Ruthy J      Marshall   12 F W 				MO
Martha E     Marshall   10 F W				MO 
John W       Marshall    7 M W				MO
Lucretia     Popejoy     4 F W 				MO
Washington   Popejoy  	 2 M W				MO    

James  	Potter  	(41)   		Farmer   	TN
Polly   Potter 		(30)				TN
Cyntha A  Potter  	(12)  				MO
George Potter 		(10)   				MO
William  Potter  	(9)				MO
Zack  Potter   		(6)				MO
Ruthy F Potter  	(6/12)  			MO

William J  Potter  	(30)		Farmer		TN
Francis  Potter		(29)				NC
Lucy  Potter 		(12)				MO
Richard B  Potter	(5)				MO
Sarah E  Potter		(4)				MO
James Y Potter		(1)				MO

Elizabeth Popejoy (remarried widow of John Marshall) as the oldest surviving child becomes the administrator of the estate of William S. Potter. Through the series of documents over a five year period related to the settling of the estate and selling his property we have confirmed the connections of the Marshall, Popejoy, Potter and Bailes families. [Probate records of Greene County, Missouri]

1860- Ozark Twp., Webster Co., Missouri. p.98

Bales          KEITHLY        30   M         Farm           350       250       IND                           X
Bales          Sarah A        26   F                                            MO                            X
Bales          Mary A         11   F                                            MO                      X
Bales          Elizabeth J    8    F                                            MO                      X
Bales          ****ed         3    F                                            MO
Bales          Andrew J       6/12 M                                            MO

"History of Greene County, Missouri," St. Louis: Western Historical Company, 1883. contributed to USGenWeb Archives by Joe Miller /Penny Harrell
Seigler, David records by email of 22 Nov 1997, seigler@soltec.net
Land records of Knox County, KY LDS Records for dates.
Greene Co., Mo. marriage records.
Dallas Co, Mo. Historical Society records for William and Ruth Potter
U. S. Census
Montgomery Co, IL, Historical Quarterly, Vol 6

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