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To Potter County Pennsylvania
History and Genealogy

Potter County was named after James Potter, who was a general from Pennsylvania in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Its county seat is Coudersport.

Major Isaac Lyman, an American Revolutionary war veteran was one of the first permanent settlers in Potter County. Major Lyman is recognized the founder of Potter County. He was paid ten dollars for each settler that he convinces to move to Potter County. He built his home in 1809 in nearby Lymansville, now known as Ladonna. Major Lyman also built the first road to cross Potter County and Potter County's first sawmill and gristmill.

Lyman had a colorful personal history. He left his first wife and started a second family in Potter County. The first Mrs. Lyman was determined not to suffer on her own. She sought out the Major, travelled to Potter County, with the help of her son, Burrell who was 18 at the time, and settled. Major Lyman lived with his two families in Potter County. Historical accounts of the living situation vary. Some say that Lyman kept both wives under one roof. Others state that there were two log homes for the families on the same piece of property. The descendants of Major Isaac Lyman still live and work in Potter County.--- Wikipedia.com

THIS COUNTY IS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION

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This County currently does not have a host. This means that there is no one available to help answer your questions about this county's history or to help you with your family's genealogy within this county. WE REGRET THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO DO PERSONAL RESEARCH FOR YOU.

Potter County Data Online

BIOGRAPHIES

CENSUS

DEATHS

DISASTERS

HISTORY

MARRIAGES

MILITARY

NEWSPAPERS

 

Recent Updates
June 2013: Civil War Three Year Volunteer Enlistment Records - Transcribed by Tammy Clark
May 2013: Obituaries: L.F. Neefe, James W. Ladd, Thomas Waters, Charles Hay , Perry Lewis, Timothy Ives, John Zoerb, Contributed by Denise Hansen

December 2012: 1883 Pensioners - Transcribed by Debbie Ovechka
July 2012: Biographies Alfred Short ; News: Warrant Issued for Arrest of Edward and Whitaker (1895), Danville's Police Chief, Charles Pusey Discovers His Brother's Whereabouts (1899), Rev. Fuller Charged with Theft (1876), Albert Button asks for Medal (1908), Hon. Hollenbeck Confined by Illness (1876), Bears in Potter County (1921), George Blackman Loses Hand in Accident (1890), Mrs. Frank Hancock Confesses to Murdering Children and Husband on Deathbed (1891), No Crime in Potter County (1866), Miss Lewis Passes Bar Exam (1891), A.P. Lougee shot by Poachers (1904), Eugene Folgner Arrested for Attempted Murder (1904), Judge Arthur George Olmstead Biography Written (1919); News Disasters: Coudersport Destroyed by Fire (1880) ; Obituaries: D. C. Larrabee, Fayette Lewis, Edwin Bickford, Mrs. Lucy A. Blend, James L. Dexter, James F. Gilbert, Philander Maynard, William M. Metzger, Elizabeth Rice, Gertrude Sherwood, Vangeldee
May 2012: Deaths: Martha A. Arnold ; Disasters: The 1911 Austin Flood and Fire ; News: Paper Threatens to Publish Names of Flirting Girls (1896), New Lumber Deal for A.E. Candfied (1891), Caldwell Struck by Lightning (1873), Potter County Repeals Law Prohibiting Alcohol Sale (1904), Mrs. Slentz Visits Mrs. Ladd (1913), George Haynes Imprisoned for Life (1876), George Chrisholm to Stand Trial for Murder (1883), Frank Councilman Collides with Train (1908), Farnum Lyons Out on Bail (1896), Crippen Weighs 218 Pounds (1876) ; Wedding Announcements and Marriage Notices: Boothe - Thomas, Braden - Mikesell, Jenkins - Fell, Morrison-Reeder, Parsons - Burns, Ray-McGilvray, Weber - Shilling
March 2012: Obituaries and Death Notices: E. O. Austin, Gabriel Barnes, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Clark, Mrs. P.P. Erway, Owen Gardiner, Samuel George, Thomas Glover, Mr. Graves, Mrs. Sara Harmon, Samuel Losey, James Martin, John C. Miller, Mrs. Jacob Nevins, Ira Parmenter, Sons of Mr. Pye, Joseph Schwarzenbach; News: Old Bull's Colony Failing (1853), John Felt Convicted of Conterfeiting (1874), John Persing at 82 Still Farming (1878), Pounce Bailey leaves wife for Mother-in-law (1890), Stone is Found Containing Gold (1897), Lewis Maloney Critically Burned (1900), Search for son of Henry C. Campbell (1902), Joseph Conners Injured by Train (1902), Potter County Poor House Officials Charged with Gross Neglect of Duty (1908), Dykins Family Escape Home Fire (1909), Joseph B. Rumsey Nominated at Candidate (1912), John Nebitt Makes Death Bed Confession to Kidnapping of Henry Schall (1919); News- Disasters: 1891 Forest Fire Theatens to Destroy Towns - Men on the Fire Fighting Crew Die Trying to Fight the Fire

BIOGRAPHIES

CENSUS

DEATHS

DISASTERS

The 1911 Austin Flood - Contributed by Denise Hansen
A concrete dam, maintained by the Bayless Pulp and Paper Mill, burst , sending 4,500,000 gallons of water through the town of Austin, Pennsylvania and the smaller localities of Costello and Wharton. Officially, seventy-eight people were killed, although the initial estimate of death was almost 1,000. The collapse of the dam inspired regulation that affects not only the entire state, but the entire country. On June 25, 1913 Pennsylvania legislators completed Act No. 555 of the Laws of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This act provided for the regulation of dams and gave enforcement power to the Water Supply Commission of Pennsylvania (WSCP).

HISTORY

  • The Ole Bull Colony:  A short historical sketch on the colony started by Ole Bull in 1852.  Includes the history of the following families:  The Joerg Family, The Andresen Family, The Olson Family, and others.

MARRIAGES

 MILITARY

NEWSPAPERS

Boroughs and Census Designated Places

Abbott Andrews Settlement Austin Ayers Hill Berge Run
Bingham Center Borie Brookland Burrows Chrystal
Clara Colesburg Coneville Conrad Corbett
Costello Coudersport * Cross Fork Denton Hill Durward
East Sharon Eleven Mile Ellisburg Elmer Five Points
Fox Hill Frinks Galeton Genesee Germania
Gold Gravel Lick Hammersley Harmontown Harrison
Harrison Valley Hebron Hebron Center Hector Hickox
Honeoye Ice Mine Inez Jamison Keating Summit
Kibbeville Kinney Knowlton Lewis Corner Logue
Loucks Mills Lymansville Millport Mills Mina
Newfield Newfield Junction North Bingham North Fork Odin
Oleona Olmsted Oswayo Raymond Reynoldstown
Roulette Sharon Center Shaytown Shinglehouse Short Run
Sunderlinville Sunnyside Sweden Sweden Valley Telescope
Ulysses Walton West Bingham West Pike Wharton
Williston        

Townships

Abbott Township Allegany Township Bingham Township Clara Township East Fork
Eulalia Township Genesee Township Harrison Township Hebron Township Hector Township
Homer Township Keating Township Oswayo Township Pike Township Pleasant Valley Township
Portage Township Roulette Township Sharon Township Stewardson Township Summit Township
Sweden Township Sylvania Township Ulysses Township West Branch Township Wharton Township

Surrounding Counties

Allegany County, New York (north)

Tioga County (east)

Clinton County (south)

Steuben County, New York (northeast)

Lycoming County (southeast)

Cameron County (southwest)

McKean County (west)

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