CLAYTON, June 21-(Special) Final rites for one of the women who helped tame eastern New Mexico and No Man's Land, Mrs. Cordelia Eddy Potter, will be held Tuesday afternoon at First Methodist Church here.
Mrs. Potter was the wife of Col. Jack Potter, famed trail driver and early-day rancher of New Mexico. She died early Sunday in Clayton Hospital.
Mrs. Potter had been ill only a few days. Last Thursday she suffered a broken leg. Physicians ascribed her death to pneumonia which followed the shock of the fall. She was 83 years old.
A small dainty woman, Mrs. Potter was a city girl who took every hardship of pioneer life with a smile. And she brought civilization to the rough, unshod frontier in the northeastern corner of New Mexico.
She was born in San Antonio in 1864. She was the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Lynch T. Eddy, who had moved to San Antonio shortly before the Civil War.
Her parents returned to their home in Louisville, Ky. while Mrs. Potter was still an infant. She was raised in that city.
In the early 1880‘s, Dr. Eddy volunteered his services as a man of medicine in the new experiments on yellow fever. He went to Florida to conduct some of his work. He contracted the disease and died.
The family then returned to San Antonio—about 1882.
Mrs. Potter met her husband at San Antonio and they were married in 1884 at Waring, near San Antonio. Colonel Potter was one of the most famous figures in the history of Eastern New Mexico-gaining fame as a trail driver and cattleman.
Colonel Potter was made manager of the New England Cattle Co., with headquarters at Fort Sumner. He lived between Fort Sumner and Waring for a few years—-then Mrs. Potter decided to join him in New Mexico.
She went to Fort Sumner in 1898, making the journey in a wagon train of Texas immigrants. Many of them were her relatives. The Potter family lived in Fort Sumner until 1894. Colonel and Mrs. Potter took their family to Union County that year, settling on the U-Bar Ranch. in the northeastern part of the county.
Famed, bad No Man's Land was just a mile from the U-Bar. And Mrs. Potter was among those early day ranch women who brought civil life and a regard for law to that lawless place. Always an active church worker, Mrs. Potter organized the first Sunday school in that area, at Lone Wolf Saloon.
And later, she and the other ladies sponsored a cowboy dance to finance purchase of an organ for church music. The old saloon eventually lost its identity and was converted into a combination meeting house, school and church.
Mrs. Potter also was one of the prime movers in establishing a "literary society" at Lone Wolf. And the community's first paper was a handwritten affair puublished by Mrs. Potter and circulated among members of the society. It was called the Cimmarron Mirror.
About 1896, the Potters held the first Christmas celebration in the area--to which cowboys rode 50 and 60 miles.
A kind, gentle Woman, Mrs. Potter's heart went out to the unfortunate in this world. She was a friend to the friendless. An example was Smoky Phillips, now an official of the Veterans Administration in Arizona. Smoky, "a sort of an orphan," drifted into the U-Bar territory when he was about 12 years old. Mrs. Potter persuaded the Colonel to find him work for the summer. But when winter came, the Colonel was forced to tell the lad there was no more work at the U-Bar. Within minutes after the news had been broken, Mrs. Potter found Smoky sobbing behind a door in the ranch house. She patted his head. "kissed him and told him to dry his tears. "We will find you work somewhere else, she soothed the boy. And she did. Within the past few months, friends of the Potters said Smoky Phillips returned to Clayton. He went to call on Mrs. Potter. And he bent over the frail pioneer woman and kissed her.
"You kissed me once and helped me out" were the effect of his words. And I want to return the kindness."
Mrs. Potter was never too tired or weary to help someone. She saddled horses, in the old days, and rode to neighboring ranches to assist in sickness and discomfort. And she continued the same practices long after moving to Clayton.
She was voted a life membership in the First Methodist Church where her rites will be Tuesday. Rev. Miller Stroup will Officiate.
Besides her husband, survivors include: two sons, Carl Potter of Cortez,NM, and Robert Potter of Las Lunas, NM; two daughters, Mrs. Jack Lenhart and Mrs. Ethyl Wade, both of Clayton; and 10 grandchildren.
Mrs. Potter was the wife of Col. Jack Potter, famed trail driver and early-day rancher of New Mexico. She died early Sunday in Clayton Hospital.
Mrs. Potter had been ill only a few days. Last Thursday she suffered a broken leg. Physicians ascribed her death to pneumonia which followed the shock of the fall. She was 83 years old.
A small dainty woman, Mrs. Potter was a city girl who took every hardship of pioneer life with a smile. And she brought civilization to the rough, unshod frontier in the northeastern corner of New Mexico.
She was born in San Antonio in 1864. She was the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Lynch T. Eddy, who had moved to San Antonio shortly before the Civil War.
Her parents returned to their home in Louisville, Ky. while Mrs. Potter was still an infant. She was raised in that city.
In the early 1880‘s, Dr. Eddy volunteered his services as a man of medicine in the new experiments on yellow fever. He went to Florida to conduct some of his work. He contracted the disease and died.
The family then returned to San Antonio—about 1882.
Mrs. Potter met her husband at San Antonio and they were married in 1884 at Waring, near San Antonio. Colonel Potter was one of the most famous figures in the history of Eastern New Mexico-gaining fame as a trail driver and cattleman.
Colonel Potter was made manager of the New England Cattle Co., with headquarters at Fort Sumner. He lived between Fort Sumner and Waring for a few years—-then Mrs. Potter decided to join him in New Mexico.
She went to Fort Sumner in 1898, making the journey in a wagon train of Texas immigrants. Many of them were her relatives. The Potter family lived in Fort Sumner until 1894. Colonel and Mrs. Potter took their family to Union County that year, settling on the U-Bar Ranch. in the northeastern part of the county.
Famed, bad No Man's Land was just a mile from the U-Bar. And Mrs. Potter was among those early day ranch women who brought civil life and a regard for law to that lawless place. Always an active church worker, Mrs. Potter organized the first Sunday school in that area, at Lone Wolf Saloon.
And later, she and the other ladies sponsored a cowboy dance to finance purchase of an organ for church music. The old saloon eventually lost its identity and was converted into a combination meeting house, school and church.
Mrs. Potter also was one of the prime movers in establishing a "literary society" at Lone Wolf. And the community's first paper was a handwritten affair puublished by Mrs. Potter and circulated among members of the society. It was called the Cimmarron Mirror.
About 1896, the Potters held the first Christmas celebration in the area--to which cowboys rode 50 and 60 miles.
A kind, gentle Woman, Mrs. Potter's heart went out to the unfortunate in this world. She was a friend to the friendless. An example was Smoky Phillips, now an official of the Veterans Administration in Arizona. Smoky, "a sort of an orphan," drifted into the U-Bar territory when he was about 12 years old. Mrs. Potter persuaded the Colonel to find him work for the summer. But when winter came, the Colonel was forced to tell the lad there was no more work at the U-Bar. Within minutes after the news had been broken, Mrs. Potter found Smoky sobbing behind a door in the ranch house. She patted his head. "kissed him and told him to dry his tears. "We will find you work somewhere else, she soothed the boy. And she did. Within the past few months, friends of the Potters said Smoky Phillips returned to Clayton. He went to call on Mrs. Potter. And he bent over the frail pioneer woman and kissed her.
"You kissed me once and helped me out" were the effect of his words. And I want to return the kindness."
Mrs. Potter was never too tired or weary to help someone. She saddled horses, in the old days, and rode to neighboring ranches to assist in sickness and discomfort. And she continued the same practices long after moving to Clayton.
She was voted a life membership in the First Methodist Church where her rites will be Tuesday. Rev. Miller Stroup will Officiate.
Besides her husband, survivors include: two sons, Carl Potter of Cortez,NM, and Robert Potter of Las Lunas, NM; two daughters, Mrs. Jack Lenhart and Mrs. Ethyl Wade, both of Clayton; and 10 grandchildren.
CLAYTON, June 21-(Special) Final rites for one of the women who helped tame eastern New Mexico and No Man's Land, Mrs. Cordelia Eddy Potter, will be held Tuesday afternoon at First Methodist Church here.
Mrs. Potter was the wife of Col. Jack Potter, famed trail driver and early-day rancher of New Mexico. She died early Sunday in Clayton Hospital.
Mrs. Potter had been ill only a few days. Last Thursday she suffered a broken leg. Physicians ascribed her death to pneumonia which followed the shock of the fall. She was 83 years old.
A small dainty woman, Mrs. Potter was a city girl who took every hardship of pioneer life with a smile. And she brought civilization to the rough, unshod frontier in the northeastern corner of New Mexico.
She was born in San Antonio in 1864. She was the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Lynch T. Eddy, who had moved to San Antonio shortly before the Civil War.
Her parents returned to their home in Louisville, Ky. while Mrs. Potter was still an infant. She was raised in that city.
In the early 1880‘s, Dr. Eddy volunteered his services as a man of medicine in the new experiments on yellow fever. He went to Florida to conduct some of his work. He contracted the disease and died.
The family then returned to San Antonio—about 1882.
Mrs. Potter met her husband at San Antonio and they were married in 1884 at Waring, near San Antonio. Colonel Potter was one of the most famous figures in the history of Eastern New Mexico-gaining fame as a trail driver and cattleman.
Colonel Potter was made manager of the New England Cattle Co., with headquarters at Fort Sumner. He lived between Fort Sumner and Waring for a few years—-then Mrs. Potter decided to join him in New Mexico.
She went to Fort Sumner in 1898, making the journey in a wagon train of Texas immigrants. Many of them were her relatives. The Potter family lived in Fort Sumner until 1894. Colonel and Mrs. Potter took their family to Union County that year, settling on the U-Bar Ranch. in the northeastern part of the county.
Famed, bad No Man's Land was just a mile from the U-Bar. And Mrs. Potter was among those early day ranch women who brought civil life and a regard for law to that lawless place. Always an active church worker, Mrs. Potter organized the first Sunday school in that area, at Lone Wolf Saloon.
And later, she and the other ladies sponsored a cowboy dance to finance purchase of an organ for church music. The old saloon eventually lost its identity and was converted into a combination meeting house, school and church.
Mrs. Potter also was one of the prime movers in establishing a "literary society" at Lone Wolf. And the community's first paper was a handwritten affair puublished by Mrs. Potter and circulated among members of the society. It was called the Cimmarron Mirror.
About 1896, the Potters held the first Christmas celebration in the area--to which cowboys rode 50 and 60 miles.
A kind, gentle Woman, Mrs. Potter's heart went out to the unfortunate in this world. She was a friend to the friendless. An example was Smoky Phillips, now an official of the Veterans Administration in Arizona. Smoky, "a sort of an orphan," drifted into the U-Bar territory when he was about 12 years old. Mrs. Potter persuaded the Colonel to find him work for the summer. But when winter came, the Colonel was forced to tell the lad there was no more work at the U-Bar. Within minutes after the news had been broken, Mrs. Potter found Smoky sobbing behind a door in the ranch house. She patted his head. "kissed him and told him to dry his tears. "We will find you work somewhere else, she soothed the boy. And she did. Within the past few months, friends of the Potters said Smoky Phillips returned to Clayton. He went to call on Mrs. Potter. And he bent over the frail pioneer woman and kissed her.
"You kissed me once and helped me out" were the effect of his words. And I want to return the kindness."
Mrs. Potter was never too tired or weary to help someone. She saddled horses, in the old days, and rode to neighboring ranches to assist in sickness and discomfort. And she continued the same practices long after moving to Clayton.
She was voted a life membership in the First Methodist Church where her rites will be Tuesday. Rev. Miller Stroup will Officiate.
Besides her husband, survivors include: two sons, Carl Potter of Cortez,NM, and Robert Potter of Las Lunas, NM; two daughters, Mrs. Jack Lenhart and Mrs. Ethyl Wade, both of Clayton; and 10 grandchildren.
Mrs. Potter was the wife of Col. Jack Potter, famed trail driver and early-day rancher of New Mexico. She died early Sunday in Clayton Hospital.
Mrs. Potter had been ill only a few days. Last Thursday she suffered a broken leg. Physicians ascribed her death to pneumonia which followed the shock of the fall. She was 83 years old.
A small dainty woman, Mrs. Potter was a city girl who took every hardship of pioneer life with a smile. And she brought civilization to the rough, unshod frontier in the northeastern corner of New Mexico.
She was born in San Antonio in 1864. She was the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Lynch T. Eddy, who had moved to San Antonio shortly before the Civil War.
Her parents returned to their home in Louisville, Ky. while Mrs. Potter was still an infant. She was raised in that city.
In the early 1880‘s, Dr. Eddy volunteered his services as a man of medicine in the new experiments on yellow fever. He went to Florida to conduct some of his work. He contracted the disease and died.
The family then returned to San Antonio—about 1882.
Mrs. Potter met her husband at San Antonio and they were married in 1884 at Waring, near San Antonio. Colonel Potter was one of the most famous figures in the history of Eastern New Mexico-gaining fame as a trail driver and cattleman.
Colonel Potter was made manager of the New England Cattle Co., with headquarters at Fort Sumner. He lived between Fort Sumner and Waring for a few years—-then Mrs. Potter decided to join him in New Mexico.
She went to Fort Sumner in 1898, making the journey in a wagon train of Texas immigrants. Many of them were her relatives. The Potter family lived in Fort Sumner until 1894. Colonel and Mrs. Potter took their family to Union County that year, settling on the U-Bar Ranch. in the northeastern part of the county.
Famed, bad No Man's Land was just a mile from the U-Bar. And Mrs. Potter was among those early day ranch women who brought civil life and a regard for law to that lawless place. Always an active church worker, Mrs. Potter organized the first Sunday school in that area, at Lone Wolf Saloon.
And later, she and the other ladies sponsored a cowboy dance to finance purchase of an organ for church music. The old saloon eventually lost its identity and was converted into a combination meeting house, school and church.
Mrs. Potter also was one of the prime movers in establishing a "literary society" at Lone Wolf. And the community's first paper was a handwritten affair puublished by Mrs. Potter and circulated among members of the society. It was called the Cimmarron Mirror.
About 1896, the Potters held the first Christmas celebration in the area--to which cowboys rode 50 and 60 miles.
A kind, gentle Woman, Mrs. Potter's heart went out to the unfortunate in this world. She was a friend to the friendless. An example was Smoky Phillips, now an official of the Veterans Administration in Arizona. Smoky, "a sort of an orphan," drifted into the U-Bar territory when he was about 12 years old. Mrs. Potter persuaded the Colonel to find him work for the summer. But when winter came, the Colonel was forced to tell the lad there was no more work at the U-Bar. Within minutes after the news had been broken, Mrs. Potter found Smoky sobbing behind a door in the ranch house. She patted his head. "kissed him and told him to dry his tears. "We will find you work somewhere else, she soothed the boy. And she did. Within the past few months, friends of the Potters said Smoky Phillips returned to Clayton. He went to call on Mrs. Potter. And he bent over the frail pioneer woman and kissed her.
"You kissed me once and helped me out" were the effect of his words. And I want to return the kindness."
Mrs. Potter was never too tired or weary to help someone. She saddled horses, in the old days, and rode to neighboring ranches to assist in sickness and discomfort. And she continued the same practices long after moving to Clayton.
She was voted a life membership in the First Methodist Church where her rites will be Tuesday. Rev. Miller Stroup will Officiate.
Besides her husband, survivors include: two sons, Carl Potter of Cortez,NM, and Robert Potter of Las Lunas, NM; two daughters, Mrs. Jack Lenhart and Mrs. Ethyl Wade, both of Clayton; and 10 grandchildren.
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