The parents of William are unknown.
This is one of the great family mysteries.
We believe that Willie Houghtailing was adopted by the Potters sometime around 1875.
*********
US Census - 1 June 1875 • Hector, Schuyler, New York, USA
Age: 4; Relation to Head of House: Boarder ; Name listed as Wm Houghtailing. Also boarding was a 70-year-old Permelia Story, widow of Rev. Asa Story.
William and Permelia were boarding with Charles Tripp Potter and wife Eunice A Stilwell Potter.
By the 1880 census, he was listed as Willie Potter.
In 1897, William enlisted in the Army (Albany, New York), during the Spanish American War (perhaps stirred up by Hearst's and Pulitzer's Yellow Journalism), until Oct 1900.
William immediately re-enlisted in Nov 1900 (war with the Philippines) for a few years after that (Fort Wayne, Michigan), until 1907.
William would remain a resident of Detroit, Michigan for the remainder of his life.
William H Potter first married Anna Emeline Bullis (1876-1918) in 1914. She had been first married to a Eugene L. Hoag, who was born in Pennsylvania. The story and circumstance surrounding Annie is a mystery, too!
In 1920, William married Ella Shannon (1875-1943).
His occupations have been listed as Fireman and Electrician for the Edison Company.
It appears that William died childless. His sister, Jennie Sue, our grand/greatgrand mother, never mentioned a brother, adopted or otherwise, and these folk go back to 1933.
Jennie's daughter, Eunice (1907-1989), never mentioned an Uncle Willie, and she was constantly telling us "This cousin this, and that uncle that," etc.... constantly! "You know we have a cousin who married a US President!" And, Eunice lived her entire life with Jennie Sue.
Everyone was stumped by the recent discovery of the mysterious Uncle Willie...
This is one of the great family mysteries.
We believe that Willie Houghtailing was adopted by the Potters sometime around 1875.
*********
US Census - 1 June 1875 • Hector, Schuyler, New York, USA
Age: 4; Relation to Head of House: Boarder ; Name listed as Wm Houghtailing. Also boarding was a 70-year-old Permelia Story, widow of Rev. Asa Story.
William and Permelia were boarding with Charles Tripp Potter and wife Eunice A Stilwell Potter.
By the 1880 census, he was listed as Willie Potter.
In 1897, William enlisted in the Army (Albany, New York), during the Spanish American War (perhaps stirred up by Hearst's and Pulitzer's Yellow Journalism), until Oct 1900.
William immediately re-enlisted in Nov 1900 (war with the Philippines) for a few years after that (Fort Wayne, Michigan), until 1907.
William would remain a resident of Detroit, Michigan for the remainder of his life.
William H Potter first married Anna Emeline Bullis (1876-1918) in 1914. She had been first married to a Eugene L. Hoag, who was born in Pennsylvania. The story and circumstance surrounding Annie is a mystery, too!
In 1920, William married Ella Shannon (1875-1943).
His occupations have been listed as Fireman and Electrician for the Edison Company.
It appears that William died childless. His sister, Jennie Sue, our grand/greatgrand mother, never mentioned a brother, adopted or otherwise, and these folk go back to 1933.
Jennie's daughter, Eunice (1907-1989), never mentioned an Uncle Willie, and she was constantly telling us "This cousin this, and that uncle that," etc.... constantly! "You know we have a cousin who married a US President!" And, Eunice lived her entire life with Jennie Sue.
Everyone was stumped by the recent discovery of the mysterious Uncle Willie...
The parents of William are unknown.
This is one of the great family mysteries.
We believe that Willie Houghtailing was adopted by the Potters sometime around 1875.
*********
US Census - 1 June 1875 • Hector, Schuyler, New York, USA
Age: 4; Relation to Head of House: Boarder ; Name listed as Wm Houghtailing. Also boarding was a 70-year-old Permelia Story, widow of Rev. Asa Story.
William and Permelia were boarding with Charles Tripp Potter and wife Eunice A Stilwell Potter.
By the 1880 census, he was listed as Willie Potter.
In 1897, William enlisted in the Army (Albany, New York), during the Spanish American War (perhaps stirred up by Hearst's and Pulitzer's Yellow Journalism), until Oct 1900.
William immediately re-enlisted in Nov 1900 (war with the Philippines) for a few years after that (Fort Wayne, Michigan), until 1907.
William would remain a resident of Detroit, Michigan for the remainder of his life.
William H Potter first married Anna Emeline Bullis (1876-1918) in 1914. She had been first married to a Eugene L. Hoag, who was born in Pennsylvania. The story and circumstance surrounding Annie is a mystery, too!
In 1920, William married Ella Shannon (1875-1943).
His occupations have been listed as Fireman and Electrician for the Edison Company.
It appears that William died childless. His sister, Jennie Sue, our grand/greatgrand mother, never mentioned a brother, adopted or otherwise, and these folk go back to 1933.
Jennie's daughter, Eunice (1907-1989), never mentioned an Uncle Willie, and she was constantly telling us "This cousin this, and that uncle that," etc.... constantly! "You know we have a cousin who married a US President!" And, Eunice lived her entire life with Jennie Sue.
Everyone was stumped by the recent discovery of the mysterious Uncle Willie...
This is one of the great family mysteries.
We believe that Willie Houghtailing was adopted by the Potters sometime around 1875.
*********
US Census - 1 June 1875 • Hector, Schuyler, New York, USA
Age: 4; Relation to Head of House: Boarder ; Name listed as Wm Houghtailing. Also boarding was a 70-year-old Permelia Story, widow of Rev. Asa Story.
William and Permelia were boarding with Charles Tripp Potter and wife Eunice A Stilwell Potter.
By the 1880 census, he was listed as Willie Potter.
In 1897, William enlisted in the Army (Albany, New York), during the Spanish American War (perhaps stirred up by Hearst's and Pulitzer's Yellow Journalism), until Oct 1900.
William immediately re-enlisted in Nov 1900 (war with the Philippines) for a few years after that (Fort Wayne, Michigan), until 1907.
William would remain a resident of Detroit, Michigan for the remainder of his life.
William H Potter first married Anna Emeline Bullis (1876-1918) in 1914. She had been first married to a Eugene L. Hoag, who was born in Pennsylvania. The story and circumstance surrounding Annie is a mystery, too!
In 1920, William married Ella Shannon (1875-1943).
His occupations have been listed as Fireman and Electrician for the Edison Company.
It appears that William died childless. His sister, Jennie Sue, our grand/greatgrand mother, never mentioned a brother, adopted or otherwise, and these folk go back to 1933.
Jennie's daughter, Eunice (1907-1989), never mentioned an Uncle Willie, and she was constantly telling us "This cousin this, and that uncle that," etc.... constantly! "You know we have a cousin who married a US President!" And, Eunice lived her entire life with Jennie Sue.
Everyone was stumped by the recent discovery of the mysterious Uncle Willie...
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