Transcribed by: Mary Ann Kaylor

ASA POTTER. Mr. Potter, the post-master and attorney of Brighton, is a native of the state of New York, and was born at West Niles, in Cayuga county, June 8th, 1829. His ancestors were residents of Massachusetts at an early period. His grandfather, Joseph Potter, was born in Massachusetts, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, after the close of which the family moved to the state of New York. His father, Z. Potter, was also born in Massachusetts, and was a boy when he went to New York. He married Nancy Davis, who was a native of the same state as her husband. Asa Potter was the fourth of a family of eight children, five of whom are now living. When quite young his father moved to Wyoming county, where the subject of this sketch was principally raised. His education was obtained mostly at the Aurora academy and the Springville academy, both in Erie county, New York. The first business in which he engaged was that of civil engineer; he was employed for three years in assisting to lay out the Rochester and Genesee Valley railroad. In 1857, he left New York, and after visiting Michigan and Wisconsin he came to Brighton, in the fall of that year took charge of the Brighton school as principal. He had previously, while living in New York, been engaged several winters in teaching. Wit the exception of eighteen months, during which time he lived at Carrollton, he has since resided in Brighton. He was admitted to the bar in 1862, and has since been practicing his profession. His wife, whom he married in July, 1864, was formerly Miss Martha Palmer, daughter of James Palmer. Since 1872 he has been post-master at Brighton. In politics he has always been a republican, and cast his first vote for president in New York, at the time of the Fremont and Buchanan campaign of 1856.