History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois
O.L. Baskin & Co., 1882

Felix G. Potts, farmer, PO Greenville. Of the early settlers of Bond County, Stranger or "Stringer" Potts was among those who came in during the winter of 1830. He was born about the year 1797, in Rutherford County, Tenn., son of Daniel Potts [and wife Elizabeth Stevens].

Stranger Potts emigrated to Bond County, locating in Pocahontas Township, in the winter of 1830, but soon after came to this township, and remained here until his death, which occurred in February, 1838, his wife dying the year previous.

"Stringer" ran away from his father when a lad, and joined Gen. Jackson's command, and partcipated in the battle of New Orleans. He married Anna, daughter of (*) Amos Winsett, and by this union 12 children were born, viz: Daniel, Zephaniah, Henry, Elizabeth, Amos, John W., Millie, Robert, Lucinda, Felix G., William and Stranger.

Of this number, nine of the eldest were born in Tennessee; of this number are living - Daniel and Wesley, reside in California; Henry, in Highland, Madison County; Amos resides in Clinton County; Millie in Moultrie County, wife of M. Miller.

Felix G. was born April 18, 1829, and was left fatherless at an early age. He went to live with Andrew Mills, of this township, and remained with him until grown; he then hired out, and then laid the foundation of his present possessions. He had a very limited education, yet he worked hard and patiently.

In August 1852, Felix married Margaret A. Brown, daughter of James Brown, from Tennessee. Mr. Potts has nine children - Louisa Jane, Mary, James, Henry, Martha Ellen, Nancy, Henrietta, Millie and Marion. He has 540 acres, all accumulated by his own industry.

(*) Amos Winsett was Surety for the marriage of Stringer and Anne Winsett Potts. The will of Robert Winsett written 13 May 1812, recorded at October Session 1813, Williamson Co, TN, list a daughter named Ann Winsett.

Early Winsett Family, Dobbs County, NC

Winsett Family, NC to TN

Contrinbuted by Nancy Seefeldt. Stringer & Anne's children were:

Daniel b. 13 Feb 1817 d. 18 June 1885 in Colusa Co., Calif., married Matilda Green
Zephaniah b. 1818 d. before 1880 in Bond or Clinton Co., Ill., married 1. Candace Swofford 2. Polly Ann Cawvey Gillespie
Amos b. abt 1819 d. between 1894 & 1900, married 1. Sarah Margaret Noe 2. Mary Jane Cooper
Henry b. 26 Jan 1820 d. 4 in Madison Co., Ill., married Magdalena Ulmer
Elizabeth b. 22 Nov 1821 d. 28 Jan 1855 in Bond Co., Ill., married Loamia Potts, son of Robert Potts & Elizabeth Jones
Mildred Amelia "Milley" b. 1 Sept. 1823 d. 23 May 1891 in Moultrie Co., Ill., married Matthew Miller
John Wesley b. 1825 d. 16 Mar 1900 in Colusa Co., Ca., married 1. Matilda Hix 2. Elizabeth Reed Potts, widow of Thomas Potts
Robert b. 1826 d. 2 Oct 1879 in Bond Co., Ill. married Rebecca Ellen Gillespie
Lucinda b. 1827-28 d. 1850-54 in Marion Co., Ill., married James W Hutton
Felix Grundy b. 18 Apr 1829 d. 30 July 1905 in Bond Co., Ill. married Margaret Ann Brown Stout
William b. abt 1833 d. 30 Oct 1861 at Bird's Point, Mo. while serving in Civil War married Nancy Jane Gillespie
Stringer b. abt 1834-36, died before 1882 in Bond Co., Ill.

Felix & subsequent children were born in Bond County, Ill. The others were all born in Tennessee.

War of 1812 Service Record General Index Cards

Tennesseans in the War of 1812

Stringer Potts married 27 Apr 1816, Anne Winsett, Williamson County, TN Marriages, Bk 1800-1837, p 126. Surety Amos Winsett. Anne (daughter of Robert Winsett, d. 1812 - Williamson County, TN Will Bk 3, p 649, Bk 4, p 89). Carl Greenway

Contributed by Tina Winsett Seitz

1816 - Stringer was Surety for the marriage of sister Lucy S. on 26 June to John Duke McClaran. Williamson County, TN Marriages, Bk 1800-1837, p 128. Carl Greenway

October 1818 - Stringer was a buyer at a sale of John D. Hill dec'd estate - Williamson County, TN Will Bk 2, p 435. Carl Greenway

1820 - Rutherford County, TN census, p 87, Stringer was between Daniel Potts and John Potts, who adj John Duke McClaran (1st wife Lucy S. Potts daughter of Daniel). Carl Greenway

19 Nov 1821 (Williamson Co Deed Bk H, p 334) deed from George Jordan to John Duke McClaran 1st mentions adjoining property on Nelson's Creek sold by Peter Young to Daniel Potts, Robert Winsett and David Jones. That property was occupied by Daniel's son Robert Potts in the 1820 Williamson Co Census, p 54, when he was listed between George Jordan, Milly Winsett and Jesse E. Williams on the one side, and on the other by Thomas McClaran occupying the homeplace of Alexander McClaran d 1816 (father of John Duke McClaran 1st) with widowed mother Jane and unmarried brothers and sisters. Carl Greenway

Stringer Potts Probate Records, 1838-1853

Stringer and Anna Winsett Potts Tombstones

1830 Census Bond County, IL
Stringer Potts
3 males under 5
3 males 5-9
1 male 10-14
1 male 30-39
2 females under 5
1 female 5-9
1 female 30-39

1850 Census Bond County, IL
Daniel Potts, 33, M, Farmer, TN
Matilda, 28, F, IL
William, 17, M
Stringer, 14, M
Ryal, 13, M
Nathan, 7, M
Nancy, 2, F

Henry Potts, 30, M, Farmer, TN
Magdaline, 27, F, Germany

John W. Potts, 25, M, Farmer, IL
Matilda, 21, F, IL

1860 Census Bond County, IL
Amos Potts, 40, M, Farmer, IL
Margaret, 30, F, IL
William, 12, M
John, 10, M
Frank, 8, M
Daniel, 6, M
Sarah, 3, F
Douglas, 6/12, M

Felix G. Potts, 31, M, Farmer, TN
Margaret, 32, F, TN
Mary, 6, F
James, 4, M
Henry, 2, M