William A. Potter, probate judge of Marshall county, was born near Olney, Richland county, Illinois, March 4, 1871, the son of Benjamin F. and Rebecca (Neal) Potter, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Indiana. The family came to Kansas in 1885 and settled on a farm near Beattie, Marshall county, where the father followed farming and stock raising until his death, which occurred on February 27, 1907. He is survived by his widow and the following children: John F. Potter, a farmer residing near Frankfort, Marshall county; Nancy J., the wife of David H. Beaver, retired farmer, of Home City, Kan.; Kate, the wife of J. G. Braxton, a farmer, of Frankfort; Thomas A. Potter, a farmer, of Blue Mound, Kan.; Mary M., of Beattie, Kan.; Emma, the wife of Oscar Halsel, of Frankfort, Kan.; William A., subject of this sketch; Lucy, the wife of Daniel S. Thomas, a hardware merchant, of Beattie, Kan; and Harry E. Potter, a successful physician, of Fairbury, Neb.

Judge Potter obtained his education in the public schools of his native county and Marshall county, Kansas, completing his studies in the high school at Marysville. From 1890 until 1892 he was employed in the drug store of E. L. Miller, of that city, and next in the general store of Arand & Son. In the spring of 1893 he secured a position as traveling salesman with a photographic supply house and remained in this line of endeavor about ten years. From 1903 until 1908 he took over the management of the home farm, owing to the poor health of his father, and in January, of the latter year, entered the Bank of Beattie in the capacity of bookkeeper, where he remained until he entered the office of probate judge in January, 1911, to which he was elected in 1910. He was elected to succeed himself in 1912. He is a Republican. His fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic order.

Judge Potter was married, on January 9, 1908, to Miss Blanche Burnside, a daughter of Thomas and Jane (Ruddy) Burnside. The father was a native of Ireland and the mother of Canada. The Burnside family settled in Marshall county at an early date, where the father followed farming and stock raising throughout his life. Mrs. Potter is a native of Marshall county and a graduate of the Beattie High School. She is a member of the Eastern Star.