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Below is a family biography included in The History of White County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Andrew L. Potts, a well known and enterprising planter of White County, is a native of this county, born in the Eleventh Civil District, September 13, 1819. He is the son of Patrick and Catharine (Price) Potts. His father was of Scotch-Irish descent, and was born in South Carolina about the year 1797, and died in White County in 1881. He was a farmer, and made life a success. Before the war he was an old line Whig, and after the war a Democrat. He was a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Potts’ mother was of English descent, and was born in North Carolina in 1804, and died in Arkansas in 1878, and was a member of the Christian Church. Our subject secured a good education in his native county, and early began the cultivation of the soil. At different times he has traded in livestock. In 1860 he was elected high sheriff of White County, and nominally held this office until the close of the war, at which time he was forced to relinquish it to W. F. Carter, who was appointed to this office by Gov. Brownlow; but in 1867 or 1868 Mr. Potts was re-elected high sheriff of White County, and served one term. In March, 1840, he married Miss E. M. England, native of White County, and born February 15, 1821. To this union were born nine children—four sons and five daughters. They have lost by death one son and two daughters. He has been a live, enterprising successful man all of his life. Though he began life rather poor he now owns a handsome farm of 680 acres in White County. He is a Democrat, is not a member of any church, but is a firm believer in the Christian religion, and is in sympathy with the Missionary Baptist Church. His wife is a member of this church, and is a woman of great piety.

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This family biography is one of 38 biographies included in The History of White County, Tennessee published in 1887.  The History of White County was included within The History of Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Warren & White Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Warren, White Counties of Tennessee

View additional White County, Tennessee family biographies here: White County, Tennessee

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