W.H. Potter
William Henry “W.H.” Potter (1841-1935) was a Scott County businessman and politician who served as county judge on two different occasions.
See Also: Mayors of Scott County
Preceded By: Bransford L. Riseden • Succeeded By: Beaty Cecil
Preceded By: Beaty Cecil • Succeeded By: Pleasant Chambers
Early Life
Born July 22, 1851, Potter was the son of John Potter (1828-1914) and Jane Buttram (1831-1916).
He married Charnatty Chambers in 1874. Following her death in 1914, he married Bettie Ross. He had five children.
The home where Potter lived in Huntsville is today Four Oaks Funeral Home.
Professional Life
Potter was a farmer, businessman, teacher, justice of the peace and a lawyer. His first elected office was County Court Clerk. Late in life he was elected to the Tennessee Senate.
Potter served as a school teacher for three years, then owned a general store in Huntsville. He served on the building committee for both the Scott County Courthouse and the Scott County Jail, the stone structures that were built in Huntsville in the early 1900s. He was also instrumental in the establishment of Huntsville High School.
Judge of Scott County
Potter was first elected Scott County Judge in 1894, replacing Bransford L. Riseden. He was re-elected in 1898, then lost the 1902 election to Beaty Cecil. The political rivalry between Potter and Cecil became well-known, and the two men delivered fiery stump speeches against each other throughout the county. Those contests attracted large audiences.
After Cecil won re-election in 1906, Potter was elected again in 1910, and won re-election in 1914. He left office in 1918 as the only judge at the time to serve on two separate occasions.
Potter’s last bid for County Judge came in 1926. He narrowly lost a three-way race to Mitt J. Robbins, 1,065 to 1,001. He contested the election in court, but the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled against him.
Death
Potter fell sick in the spring of 1935 and died at his home on May 30, 1935, at the age of 83. He was buried at Potter Cemetery in Huntsville.
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