From Proud Heritage, Volume I by DCPA, currently out of print.
William Henry Potter was born July 1, 1822 in Worcester, Otsego County, New York, of immigrant Irish parents, who later came to Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1840. William married Catherine Talbot, born in Johnstown, County Kilkenny, Ireland, May 12, 1827. William left Kalamazoo with his seven living sons, arriving in Dallas in 1877. One son had died previously. He lived in a house attached to a shop at 710 Murphy Street with his four sons, Charles Henry, John, Sydney James and George Herbert. Charles was a clerk at Schneider & Davis. John was a musician. Sydney was a cigar maker, eventually becoming the owner of Weeks Betterton, Miers & Co. George was also a cigar maker. Their father, William Henry Potter, is listed as a carpenter and builder in the Dallas City Directory of 1881-82 (p. 432). William was for many years a prominent contractor. In the early days when the post office was on the court house square, he was the first to suggest that it should be moved further downtown. He proposed the corner of Main and Harwood. William’s obituary, published March 25, 1909, reported that the post office was later moved “in the direction indicated.”
William and Catherine Potter’s son, George Herbert Potter, married Eugenia May Guillot, daughter of Maxime Guillot, a native of France and manufacturer of fine carriages and wagons. May was society editor for The Dallas News.
William and Catherine Potter’s son, Charles Henry Potter, married Jennie Bland Cornwell. Charles was connected with the wholesale grocery business in Dallas for twenty-five years, leaving that business to enter the automobile business. For some years he was distributor of the old Maxwell automobile.
Charles and Jennie Potter had two sons, Richard Edward Potter and Henry Cornwell Potter, and a daughter, Marion Esther Potter, who married Joseph Madison Dawson, formerly of Louisville, Kentucky. A prominent Dallas society matron, Marion left for Chicago on August 11, 1915 to go upon the professional vaudeville stage. A few weeks later she brought her singing act to the Majestic stage in Dallas. She was Texas’ premier soprano soloist, also singing at the Palm Garden, Adolphus Hotel in Dallas. Her husband, Joe Dawson, was president of Tracy Locke & Dawson, Inc., a company he formed from Southwestern Advertising Company. Richard Edward Potter married Addie Lea Leach. He was a salesman for Johns Manville for many years.
Henry Cornwell Potter was born in Dallas at 436 North Harwood Street. He was graduated from old Holy Trinity College in 1912. He married Eva Dooley, daughter of Henry Josephus Dooley, a Dallas resident formerly of Gilmer, Texas. Henry Potter turned a boyhood fascination for lighting and metal work into a business that, over a fifty year period, earned him a nation-wide reputation for creating ornate chandeliers, church fixtures, stair rails and elaborate metal and glass doors, and iron furniture. Potter’s skilled artisans and designing staff are recognized for their talent and creative ability by eminent architects, decorators and builders. He founded Potter Art Metal Studios at 2927 North Henderson in Dallas, near North Central Expressway.
Mr. Potter is survived by a daughter, Eva Jane Potter Morgan, who is responsible for this article, gathering information from her father’s scrapbook, which is a hundred years old, and the Potter Family Bible of 1852. Eva Jane married to Minor Lathan Morgan, Sr.
Henry Cornwell Potter’s son, Richard Joseph Potter, married Sarah Allah Hawley. Richard Joseph Potter passed away February 25, 1979, at age 59. A grandson, Richard Joseph Potter, Jr., and granddaughters Sarah Gaylord Gibbs “Gigi” Potter, and Regina Potter survive.
Henry Cornwell Potter and his family attended the Sacred Heart Cathedral and Holy Trinity Churches. He designed the lighting fixtures and metal work for Christ the King Church, where he later attended, and where his burial service was held.
By Eva Potter Morgan, Dallas
