Background
Potter was born February 5, 1833 in Hillsdale, New New York
Potter was born February 5, 1833 in Hillsdale, New New York
At the age of nine his family moved to Egremont, Massachusetts, where he remained until about 20 years old, when he left to attend Union Law School in Easton, Pennsylvania, receiving his degree in 1857. In that same year he moved to Wautoma. In 1860 he served as District Attorney for Waushara County, Wisconsin.
On July 1, 1863 he enlisted to fight in the American Civil War.
He became a publisher of the Waushara Argus in 1867. In 1872 he was elected to the Wisconsin Senate, District 25 (at that time consisting of the counties of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara), and served there until 1876.
He then was appointed Special Assistant Attorney General of United States until May 1878. He is best known as the author of the "Potter Law", which created the first Wisconsin Railroad Commission.
