Mrs. Phillip Potter Dies

Mrs. Phillip Potter, who came to Ft. Calhoun from Indiana with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. H. (Hicks) Clark, in 1856, died in Omaha on Feb. 7, at the age of 85 years. Her girlhood was spent here, and during her long residence in Omaha became prominent in church, social and charitable work. She was one of the first graduates of Brownell Hall, was active in the church work of the Episcopal diocese of Nebraska, served as president of the Omaha Woman’s Club, regent of the D.A.R. during the World War, and of the Colonial Dames. She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Hugh Weed of St. Louis, and a son, Cuthbert, of Omaha, three sisters, Misses Cara and Cora Clark of Omaha, and Mrs. Jessie M. Foster of Seattle, Wash., and a brother, Andrew Clark of Omaha. Her parents were among the earliest settlers of theft. Calhoun vicinity, and Mrs. Potter always maintained a keen interest in the early history of this section. Her mother and sister, Miss Cara, retained their residence in Ft. Calhoun for many years, Miss Cara residing here for several years after the death of her mother. She built and occupied the residence now owned by G. V. Beadle and family.

#2-20 Feb., 1941 - The Enterprise

MRS. PHILLIP POTTER DEAR AT 85

Mrs. Phillip Potter, formerly of Fort Calhoun, died February 7 in Omaha, aged eighty five. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Clark, early residents of the Fort Calhoun vicinity.

One of the first graduates of Brownell Hall, Mrs. Potter was active in the church work of the Episcopal diocese of Nebraska; she also served as president of the Omaha Woman’s Club, and was a regent of the D.A.R. and Colonial Dames. She is survived by several relatives, including a sister, Miss Cara Clark of Omaha, who built the residence now owned by G. V. Beadle of Fort Calhoun. Her father, Elim Clark, was prominent in the early history of the county. Miss Cara Clark, the sister, has the distinction of being the only postmistress that Blair has ever had. She served as deputy postmistress under the late L. F. Hilton and later succeeded him in office.

#3-From Find a Grave

Fannie May Clark Potter of Omaha was born in La Porte, Ind., April 11, 1855, the daughter of Elias Hicks Clark and Phebe Ann Andrew Clark. The family came to Nebraska from Indiana in April, 1856. Mrs. Potter's father was a lawyer, and having some knowledge of civil engineering, surveyed and plotted the town, Ft. Calhoun, and induced many relatives and other families to settle there. Among the latter were such names as Polk, Mather, Franklin and Pierce. Mrs. Potter is descended through her father from Philadelphia Quakers and through her mother from Dr. John Andrew, who served as surgeon through the full seven years of the Revolutionary War. She has a just pride in her grandfather, Dr. J. P. Andrew, a man of spotless character, whose life and labors in Washington County, Nebraska, in pioneers days, stand pre-eminent among his contemporaries. Mrs. Potter was graduated from Brownell Hall in 1873, at that time the only institution of learning in Nebraska giving diplomas. She received in that school the gold medal for scholarship. On Sept. 29, 1874, at Ft. Calhoun, she was married to Philip Potter, a descendant of Roger Williams. Five children were born to them, Meta Temple (deceased), Aubrey, Faith,Cedrick, and Arthur Cuthbert. Mrs. Potter is an Episcopalian and one of the most prominent church women in the state.. She is president of the Woman's Auxiliary of the diocese of Nebraska and is president of the Omaha Social Settlement. She has been one of the most active supporters of the settlement since its organization. She is the author of a "History of Brownell Hall," which covers the history of the first fifty years of the institution.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~