Re: The Gadsden Times, Etowah County, Alabama
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In reply to:
The Gadsden Times, Etowah County, Alabama
Johnny L.T.N. Potter 9/18/01
This is regarding Rev. John Potter:
John Potter
1817 – June 17, 1883
Husband of Martha Eunice Brown
Brother of Daniel D. Potter (my second great grandfather)
Second of 11 children of James Potter and Margaret Parker
Rev. John L. (sic – should be W.) POTTER was born in 1817, married in 1844, and was licensed to preach in 1845. A teacher by profession, he engaged in this pursuit with only occasional interruptions, in this place and in various neighborhoods in the surrounding country. His pupils, many of whom are now in middle life, and perhaps without exception revere his memory, are scattered here and there throughout the counties of North Alabama. He was honored by the people with a seat in the Constitutional Convention of 1861, and subsequently was a representative in the State legislature. These high and important trusts were discharged with credit to himself and benefit to the people. Blameless in private life and a preacher who preached, having regular appointments, and always ready to dispense the word of life as opportunity offered, his influence in building up and sustaining the cause of Christianity over a large breadth of country was almost incalculable. Associated with him as the writer has been for the last thirty years, I speak advisedly when I say that he was never reprimanded by a Presiding Elder, nor called on by a Quarterly Conference to primise (sic) amendment in the future. Possessing a well-balanced, calm mind, and having made the Bible and his mother-tongue a life study, his perception and statement of religious truth were remarkably clear, and in language, faultless as to grammatical instruction. Making no pretensions to brilliancy or to oratorical display, his preaching, nevertheless, was solid, instructive and well calculated to minister grace to the hearers. The circumstances attending his last days on earth were very distressing. In the spring, his wife discovered indications of mental derangement that soon increased to such a degree as to attract the notice of the most casual observer. This derangement assumed the form of extreme melancholy. It was indeed sad to look upon that face uniformly lighted up with cheerfulness or sparkling under sallies of with, now the very picture of anguish, as the distempered mind gave birth to dread images of starvation, desertion of friends, and the ruin of the good name he held so dear. He was sent to the asylum at Tuscaloosa, in the hope that he might be restored--a hope, alas that was doomed to disappointment. Gradually growing more and more feeble and emaciated, with the mental gloom unrelieved, the busy wheels of life stood still, with neither old friend nor relative near to close his eyes or shed a tear upon his grave. Relatives and friends may feel that it would have assuaged their grief if they could have had his dying declaration of faith in the Son of God, or have received his dying blessing, but better and more comforting than these is the priceless legacy of his life testimony. A life of uniform, consistent piety, patient to suffer, and strong to do the will of God. The sun-illumined plains of heavenly Canaan will be the ore glorious because of the shadows and gloom through which he was called to pass. The relatives, and especially the bereaved wife, have the heartfelt sympathy of a large circle of Christian friends. "Soldier of Christ, well done, Rest from thy loved employ. The battle fought, the victory won, enter they Master's joy." John P. RALLS, Gadsden, Ala.
(Rev. John W. POTTER by Dr. John .P. RALLS, 12 Sep 1883,
Vol. 3, Number 15, pg. 4, Col. 3, Alabama Christian Advocate)
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Re: The Gadsden Times, Etowah County, Alabama