The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 318

WILLIAM J. POTTER.

William J. Potter has attained a position in life which entitles him to be
numbered among the prosperous horticulturists of Yakima county. Not only has he
very valuable property near Tieton but he is also in charge of the large packing
house which is maintained by the Yakima County Horticultural union, of which he
is local manager. He is in every way a leading and progressive business man and
through his efforts has done much toward bringing about prosperity in his
district. Moreover, he has rare social qualities and has many friends in his
neighborhood. His farm is considered one of the most valuable on the Tieton and
in its present prosperous condition stands as a monument of his industry and
advanced thought in regard to horticultural and agricultural work.

A native of Wisconsin, Mr. Potter was born in Eau Claire, July 11, 1881, and is
a son of Herbert R. and Emma May (Hamilton) Potter. The father was born in Maine
and the mother in Prescott, Wisconsin, the latter being a daughter of Rev.
William Hamilton, a well known pioneer of that state and a Methodist minister
known throughout northern Wisconsin, whither he had traveled by wagon from
Indiana. Herbert R. Potter took up his abode in Wisconsin in 1871 and in that
state he was married. For many years he was in the shoe business but in 1908
came with his family to Yakima county, where he bought twenty acres of land on
the Tieton which was then covered with sagebrush. His was the second new family
to come into this district after the Tieton project was completed and the
Potters are therefore to be numbered among the pioneers here. This tract was all
planted to apples, pears and peaches. As the years have passed this has been
developed into a very valuable property and the income which the family receives
therefrom is most gratifying.

William J. Potter of this review owns the ranch with his father and they are
numbered among the leading horticulturists of the section. He has made a deep
study of horticulture and is not only thoroughly informed in regard to local
conditions as pertaining to climate and soil but he is equally well informed
regarding the marketing and sale of his fruit. He traveled for a number of years
for a shoe house and carefully studied business conditions in various states,
thus acquiring the business insight which now well qualifies him for his
important position as local manager for the Yakima County Horticultural Union,
being in charge of their large packing house. The Tieton branch of this union
handled eighty-five carloads of fruit in 1918 and during the busy season thirty
people are employed to pack and ship this fruit. The importance of Mr. Potter's
position is therefore easily recognized. Moreover, it stands to reason that he
has the full confidence of his neighbors, who entrust him with their valuable
shipments and have great faith in his ability. Another item which has probably
had part in his business success is the excellent education which he received in
his youth, for he is a graduate of the high school at Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
After coming to the west he assisted his father greatly in picking out the
desired land and it was partly due to his judgment that the land now under the
Tieton project was chosen.

On the 10th of June, 1903, Mr. Potter was united in marriage to Miss Susan May
Strang, who was born in McGregor, Iowa, a daughter of I. L. and Margaret
(Wheeler) Strang, who moved to Eau Claire. Wisconsin, when Mrs. Potter was a
little maiden. She received an excellent education and is a thoroughly trained
musician. She has a fine studio at Naches. Washington, and at one time served as
president of the Ladies Musical Club of Yakima. Not only is she a fine teacher,
but also an excellent performer and high encomiums have been paid to her art.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Potter are welcome guests in the best social circles of their
neighborhood and at their own fireside often dispense hospitality with a free
hand. Mrs. Potter is an active member of the Episcopal church.

In his political views Mr. Potter is a stanch republican, being thoroughly
versed in regard to the issues of the day. He is not only interested in national
and state politics as well as county affairs but gives active help to all worthy
projects in order to promote the general welfare. He is popular and is generally
conceded to be a hale fellow well met, having many friends who appreciate in him
a man of high qualities of character and sound business ability.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.