Description
This collection contains the business and legal papers of
legal and financial counselors Charles F. Potter (1861-1949) and his brother Isaac
B. Potter (1856-1940), concentrating on several water and power companies in
California, Arizona, and Nevada, with the bulk dating from 1905-1925.
Background
Isaac B. Potter (1856-1940) was born in 1856 in Watervliet, New York, son of Oscar
Fitzallen and Antoinette Bucklin Potter. Having graduated from Cornell University,
he was admitted to the New York bar in 1880. He practiced law in New York, being
member of firm of Potter & Alexander (1880-1883), Potter & Potter
(1884-1886), Potter, Caldwin & Miner (1889-1893), and Potter & Miner
(1903-1908). In 1888-1896, he served as chairman of Road Improvement Committee,
League of American Municipalities, and wrote first pamphlet advocating road
improvements (Gospel of Good Roads, 1890-1891). He was the founder of the Good Roads
Magazine. In 1907, he was president of the League of American Wheelmen. In
1907-1910, he served as legal counsel for American Union Life Insurance Co. and
other corporations.Charles Franklin Potter (born 1861-1949) was born on September 25, 1861, in
Watervliet, New York. He studied civil engineering and law under private tutors, as
apprentice in law office, and through aid of Columbia University law lectures. For
two years he was employed by the New York State Department of Public Works as civil
engineer in design and construction of bridges, water works, sewers, and highways.
In 1883, Charles F. Potter was admitted to New York State bar and practiced law in
New York. Later he was associated with large interests in Texas and was legal
counsel for many mining corporations in Colorado and Nevada, including Nevada Power
Mining & Milling Co. (1904), the Nevada-California Power Co. (1907), the
Southern Sierras Power Company and the Interstate Telegraph Co. (1911), the Nevada
California Electrical Corporation, the Cain Irrigation Co., Pacific Power
Corporation, and other companies in the Southwest. Charles F. Potter was director of
the Mono Power Company in 1920. He formed a partnership with his brother Isaac B. Potter in 1911.
Restrictions
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to
quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such
activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is
one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.