US Con Potter, John Fox - U.S. Congressman, WI

John Fox “Bowie Knife” Potter

:us34stars:
Potter.jpg


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
Death.jpg
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
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The Wisconsin Historical Society has a way-oversized folding knife that was presented to Potter to commemorate the incident. Roger Pryor, the southern slavery advocate who challenged Potter to a duel, decided to back out of the duel because Potter chose knives as the weapon. "Vulgar, barbarous, and inhuman," is how Pryor's second described the choice.

Here's the presentation knife:

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https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS2802
 
Correct , it was the second who objected and it was Pryor who challenged Potter.I really don't have the whole details of the duel but it had something to do Illinois Congressman Owen Lovejoy's remark about the 1837 murder of his brother Elijah. Potter made some follow up remarks concerning the Republican Party which were edited out by Pryor. Edited out of what? The Congressional record, a newspaper,maybe? Potter objected. Which led to an argument. Then a challenge by Pryor. Clear as mud.What was edited?
 
Correct , it was the second who objected and it was Pryor who challenged Potter.I really don't have the whole details of the duel but it had something to do Illinois Congressman Owen Lovejoy's remark about the 1837 murder of his brother Elijah. Potter made some follow up remarks concerning the Republican Party which were edited out by Pryor. Edited out of what? The Congressional record, a newspaper,maybe? Potter objected. Which led to an argument. Then a challenge by Pryor. Clear as mud.What was edited?
Lovejoy gave an anti-slavery speech on the floor of the House of Representatives on April 5, 1860.It was not so much a Pro Republican speech but rather an Anti Democrat speech. The Democrats (Including Pryor) in the audience were infuriated and threatened Lovejoy with physical harm. The Republicans agreed they'd defend Lovejoy. The speech was reprinted the next day in 55 newspapers. This appears to be the beginning of the duel but it would seem Pryor would have challenged Lovejoy instead of Potter. Still not a clear picture of the incident.
 
This is the April 5, 1960 speech by Owen Lovejoy which castigated the Democrats. "The principle of enslaving human beings because they are inferior, is this. If a man is a cripple, trip him up;if he is old and weak , and bowed with the weight of years, strike him, for he cannot strike back;if idiotic, take advantage of him;and if a child, deceive him. This, sir, is the doctrine of Democrats and the doctrine of devils as well, and there is no place outside the five points of hell and the Democratic Party where the practice and prevalence of such doctrines would be a disgrace."
 
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