Potts, William Stephens, Dd

Potts, William Stephens, DD.

a Presbyterian minister, was born in Northumberland County, Pa., Oct. 13,1802. His early education was limited. After learning the printer's trade in Philadelphia, he finally, in 1825, entered the Princeton Theological Seminary, which ill-health, the result of too close application to his studies, compelled him to leave in November, 1827. He was, however, licensed by the Presbytery of Philadelphia, and went to St. Louis, laboring on the way as opportunity offered, and was finally ordained and installed pastor of the only Presbyterian Church then in St. Louis, Oct. 26, 1828. Here he labored faithfully and successfully for the extension of the Church until, Marion College having been organized, he was elected president of that institution by the trustees in 1835, and entered at once upon this new field of labor. After four years of intense labor, the success of the enterprise not being equal to his expectations, he accepted another call to St. Louis. In 1841 his health obliged him to travel, and he went to Europe, whence he returned in October of the same year, greatly invigorated. Early in 1852 sickness compelled him to discontinue his labors, and he died March 28,1852. He published a large number of occasional Sermons, Addresses, and controversial pamphlets. See Sprague, Annals of the Amer. Pulpit, 4, 723.