Thomas R. Potts
| Thomas Reed Potts | |
|---|---|
c. 1855
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| 1st Mayor of St. Paul | |
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In office 1850–1851 |
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| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | Robert Kennedy |
| Constituency | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 10, 1810 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Died | October 6, 1874 (aged 64) Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Spouse(s) | Anna Abby Steele |
| Children | 4 |
| Profession | physician |
Thomas Reed Potts (February 10, 1810 – October 6, 1874) was an American physician, civic leader and the first Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota. After graduating from medical school, Potts moved across the country and eventually found his way to the young settlement of St. Paul. Active in civic life and popular in his medical practice, he was elected as the first President of the Town Board. Despite a successful tenure, he tired of politics and retired after one term to continue his practice; however he did hold several key health-related positions. By the time of his death, he was the oldest doctor in the city and one of its most respected.
Potts was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Rev. George Charles Potts, D.D., of the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia. In 1831 he graduated with a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
After medical school, Potts settled in Natchez, Mississippi for ten years. He moved to Galena, Illinois in 1841, and then to Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1849. In 1847 he married Anna Abbian Steele (born 1821 in Steelville, Pennsylvania, died 1901 in St. Paul), sister of prosperous Minneapolis businessman Franklin Steele, in Fort Snelling. They had four children: daughters Mary Steele and C. W. and sons Charles and Henry.
Potts was a pioneer physician in St. Paul and one of the organizers of the Minnesota Historical Society, which formed in 1849. He practiced medicine in St. Paul for 26 years. During his years of practice he served as contract physician to Fort Snelling, physician to the Sioux, Medical Purveyor of the district, and Pension Surgeon.
On May 6, 1850, according to the provisions of the newly formed town's charter, the first election of "house-holders of the town" was held. Potts was elected as the first President of the Town Board, an office equivalent to mayor, in an election was not seriously contested. He served alongside future St. Paul mayor Edmund Rice, who served as City Recorder. The role of President of the Town Board, in addition to the duties currently held by the Mayor of St. Paul, also included the role of conservator of the peace; this included acting as the early municipal court and exercising jurisdiction over all criminal matters within the town. As the police force of the city consisted of one man, Potts would have to summon him to keep order over any cases he would hear. Since St. Paul did not yet have a jail, those sentenced would be sent to Fort Snelling. Potts served until 1851 and, tired of politics, declined reelection.
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