DROWNING OF JOHN POTTS - June 18 1897 Vol VI #25, Fairfield News-Herald, pg 4 and 7

  On Sunday evening about 5 o'clock word was brought from Deweese that John Potts had been drowned in the Blue just below the mill dam where he had gone in the afternoon with a number of other boys to bathe. His body was recovered after being in the water about forty-five minutes and brought to Fairfield by his friends.

  Mr. Potts was a young man, a nephew of I. Clark and had only come to Fairfield about six months ago. Although not known to many people yet the sad affair cast a gloom over the entire community. Word was received Monday morning from his brother at Bartley that he would leave home Monday morning for Fairfield for the purpose of taking the body back with him for burial, but an investigation proved that it would be impossible to move him, and a speedy interment was necessary, and he was laid to rest in the Fairfield Cemetery Monday afternoon.

  A young man from Fairfield named Pott was drowned in the river just below the mill dam at this place Sunday afternoon. He waded into water that was too deep for him and as he could not swim he was drowned before the young men who were with him could save him. One more is added to the list of the river's victims.