John Fox “Bowie Knife” Potter
Born: May 11, 1817
Birthplace: Augusta, Massachusetts
Father: John Potter 1787 – 1865
(Buried: Forest Grove Cemetery, Augusta, Maine)
Mother: Caroline Fox 1789 – 1872
(Buried: Forest Grove Cemetery, Augusta, Maine)
1st Wife: Frances Elizabeth Lewis Fox 1818 – 1863
(Buried: Oak Ridge Cemetery, East Troy, Wisconsin)
2nd Wife: Sarah Lewis Fox 1819 – 1882
(Buried: Oak Ridge Cemetery, East Troy, Wisconsin)
Children:
Rebecca Lewis Potter 1841 – 1908
(Buried: Oak Ridge Cemetery, East Troy, Wisconsin)
Alfred C. Potter 1843 – 1915
(Buried: Oak Ridge Cemetery, East Troy, Wisconsin)
Caroline Fox Potter 1845 – 1850
(Buried: Oak Ridge Cemetery, East Troy, Wisconsin)
John Kendall Potter 1853 – 1864
(Buried: Oak Ridge Cemetery, East Troy, Wisconsin)
Political Party:
Before – 1856: Member of Whig Party
1856 – 1899: Member of Republican Party
Education:
Attended Phillips Exeter Academy
Occupation before War:
1837 – 1842: Attorney in East Troy, Wisconsin
1842 – 1846: Judge of Walworth County, Wisconsin
1846 – 1857: Attorney in East Troy, Wisconsin
1852: Wisconsin Delegate to Whig Party National Convention
1856: Wisconsin Delegate to Whig Party National Convention
1856: Member of Wisconsin State Assembly
1857 – 1863: United States Congressman from Wisconsin
1857 – 1859: Member of House Revolutionary Pensions Committee
1859 – 1861: Chairman of House Revolutionary Pensions Committee
1860: Wisconsin Delegate to Republican Party National Convention
1860: Received his nickname from a duel with bowie knife with Roger A. Pryor future Confederate General
Civil War Career:
1861 – 1863: Chairman of House Public Lands Committee
1861 – 1863: Member of House Revolutionary Pensions Committee
1862: Unsuccessful Candidate for reelection to U.S. Congress.
1863 – 1866: United States Counsel General to British Provinces
1864: Wisconsin Delegate to Republican Party National Convention
Occupation after War:
1866 – 1899: Attorney in East Troy Wisconsin
Died: May 18, 1899
Place of Death: East Troy, Wisconsin
Age at time of Death: 82 years old
Burial Place: Oak Ridge Cemetery, East Troy, Wisconsin
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