Thomas Pottenger Preble County Directory, 1875 This pioneer resident of Somers Township was born in Cumberland County, Tennessee, Jan 16 1801. His father, John Pottenger, came to this county in August 1805, and settled one mile north of east of the present site of Camden. Consequently the subject of this sketch has been a resident of this county for seventy years. It is probable that he has lived in Preble County longer than any other pioneer. Hiram McNutt has been a citizen nearly as long. John Pottenger, besides being a farmer, was a manufacturer of powder, his knowledge in this direction did not come amiss, for powder was in great demand in that early day. Again, we may remember that the use of powder, &c, men obtained their daily meat, which sometimes constituted more than half of the living for themselves and their families. At the time Mr. Pottenger moved into that part of the county, wolves, deer, opossums, foxes and otter abounded in great numbers, as many as eleven otter were killed in one night. Deer were so tame that after cutting down a hackberry tree, while the men were working on the body, the deer would be brousing at the top. Mr. Pottenger remarked *That they were as plenty as cattle are now*. A vegetable product called *ramp* grew upon bottom lands. Deer would collect in numbers and feed upon it. Thomas remained with his father, or had his house for a home, until 1831. In 1830 he bought a farm and worked upon it, boarding at the old homestead. In 1833 he married Eliza Robbins, and moved into his own house, which was far in advance of the houses of other pioneers- it being a brick, although not finished. He completed the building and established one of the most comfortable homes in the county at the time. About ten years later he built another residence and remained on the same farm until 1874, a period of about 41 years. Besides being engaged in farming, he would sometimes deal in stock but he remarked that he fed his own corn to feed with. He was economical as well as industrious. His worthy companion, Mrs Pottenger, passed from this state of existence in March 1860. They were the parents of eleven children- three are not living- four are married and four single. He is now living in Camden, with his unmarried children- two sons and two daughters. His appearance indicates that he is in the enjoyment of moderately good health, with a fair prospect of reaching the terminus of four score years. The desire of the publisher is that when the time arrives he may be found ready to enter the *Golden City* there to mingle with a noble host of pioneers who have long since received rewards for well doing. |