This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Potts Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/HKB.2ACI/2062.2 Message Board Post: The Potts Family Of Benton & Marshall Co., MS Researched and compiled by Gary Telford, Family Roots wgt@centurytel.net Col. Erasmus Ferdinand Potts was born August 21, 1801 in South Carolina and married Elizabeth Brownlee, born September 22, 1811 in South Carolina. Col. Erasmus Ferdinand Potts was the son of Jonathan Potts (1853-1839) and Elizabeth (Stevenson) Potts, born about 1755 in South Carolina, both died in Greenville District, SC. Jonathan and Elizabeth Potts were the parents of eleven known children; (1) Erasmus Ferdinand Potts, (2) Hugh Potts who married Mary Griffin, (3) James Potts married Margaret Hightower, (4) John Potts married Martha Griffin, (5) Levi Potts, (6) Felix Potts, (7) Young Potts married Nancy Griffin, (8) Barksdale Potts married Alice Griffin, (9) Elizabeth Potts married Allen Griffin, (10) Jane Potts married Murrell Masey, (11) Cynthia Potts married John D. Barker. (1) Col. Erasmus Ferdinand Potts and Elizabeth (Brownlee) Potts were the parents of four known children; (1-1) Ferdinand B. Potts, born January 23, 1833 in Marshall Co., MS and married, November 06, 1856, Martha A. Bready, born March 08, 1835. Ferdinand B. Potts died October 01, 1897 and Martha A. (Bready) Potts died February 13, 1899. Both died in Marshall Co., MS and are buried in Macedonia Methodist Cemetery, Marshall Co., MS. They were the parents of eight known children. (1-2) Erasmus J. Potts, born December 05, 1835 in Marshall Co., MS and died June 18, 1838. (1-3) James Benton Potts, born May 08, 1838 in Marshall Co., MS and married, December 08, 1863 in Holly Springs, Marshall Co., MS, Eliza Jane Lucy Caroline Stephenson, born November 28, 1843. James Benton Potts died January 30, 1875 in Holly Springs, Marshall Co., MS and is buried in Hillcrest Cemetery, Marshall Co., MS. James Benton Potts and Eliza Jane Lucy Caroline (Stephenson) Potts were the parents of four known children. After the death of James B. Potts, Eliza married J. M. Taylor, born December 10, 1824 Holly Springs, Marshall Co., MS. J. M. Taylor died November 03, 1885 in Holly Springs, MS and is buried in Hillcrest Cemetery, Marshall Co., MS. Eliza Jane Lucy Caroline (Stephenson) Potts Taylor died May 3, 1933 in Knoxville, TN and is buried in Highland Memorial Cemetery. (1-4) Mary A. Potts, born June 28, 1840 in Marshall Co., MS and married, December 20, 1859. Charles W. Fant. They were the parents of two known children. Mary A. (Potts) Fant married the second time, Charles H. Reid, born October 10, 1846. They had one known son. Mary died October 06, 1908 in Marshall Co., MS and is buried in Potts Camp Cemetery, Potts Camp, MS. Charles H. Reid died April 17, 1921. In 1836, the year Holly Springs became a town, a young man from South Carolina, Colonel Erasmus Ferdinand Potts, traveled the Pontotoc Trail to the Federal Land Office in Pontotoc and purchased several sections of land in Marshall and Benton Counties. He also owned land in the Delta. His first home, and a large trading post, was built (near the site of the T.M. Stone home) on the Pontotoc Trail, a short distance from the Tippah River. Later the first Potts Camp Post Office was built of logs near his home, with Colonel Potts' daughter, Mary, as the first postmistress. It stayed open until the war started in 1861. At this time in history before erosion of the hills, Tippah River ran wide and deep with steep banks, so there were only a few places it could be forded. Where the Pontotoc Trail passed, east of the river was a natural ford, with a broad field and a high bluff on the south. From the bluff poured cool springs of water and the trees near by for firewood made this an ideal place for weary travelers to stop overnight. They used wagons, buggies, and horseback for transportation and as a long journey usually took several days, Colonel Potts encouraged people to stop at the camping site and furnished them with supplies. His hospitality became so widely known, people began to call the place Potts Camp. This was the same area used by the Indians many years before. Sometime later Colonel Potts built a 22 room mansion and a girl's school named "Woods Academy", located a short distance from the site where Winborn stands today. Mr. Wright Greer's grandmother, Emily Morgan, was a student at the school. Mary Potts, daughter of Colonel Potts and her mother, Elizabeth, were instructors there. The school burned in 1855 and the students were transferred to Pontotoc. Records show that Colonel Potts owned many slaves, cultivated a vast acreage of crops and raised hundreds of head of cattle, driving them overland to Memphis to be sold, or shipped to New Orleans on cattleboats. He also shipped quantities of grain. In 1856 Potts invested in the Mississippi Central Railroad and furnished most of the material and labor for the section between Holly Springs and Oxford. He became master mechanic and one of the directors of the railroad company. The entire railroad was completely destroyed during the War Between the States. Because of the muddy and dusty roads, Potts and his workers layed boards a long distance on the Pontotoc Road in this area. They built the first levee in the Mississippi bottom, also Tippah River bottom. When the war broke out, Colonel Potts, who was too old to fight, spent his time and money to help the Confederacy. The Federal Troops stationed in Memphis and Holly Springs rode through the country raiding homes, burning barns and houses and stealing horses, food, and valuables. My grandparents told us about this terrible time in our history many times. They tried to hide special items when they heard the sounds of horses in the distance, but many times their efforts were worthless.When the Federals began to take over this area Colonel Potts counted his gold and silver one night, blindfolded two slaves to go with him and rode away in a wagon. (I've heard that after the men dug the holes to bury the treasure, they were blindfolded again. Many tales have been told about this.) Colonel Potts was arrested, tried on three counts, and convicted for helping the Confederacy. He was sent to Memphis then to Alton Federal Prison (near St. Louis, MO, on the river banks). He was too old to stand the brutal treatment, so the first settler of Potts Camp died December 16, 1863. Sarah told about the Federal Troops bringing Uncle Raz's body home in a metal box filled with shavings. Aunt Liz wouldn't let them bury him until she examined the body to be sure it was her husband. After finding a scar on his ear she was satisfied, so they buried him in "Potts Cemetery", near Winborn. Later in 1870 Elizabeth was buried near him. After the Feds helped bury Colonel Potts they ripped the carpets from the floors of his home, loaded them in the best carriages the family owned and drove away.