hegnauer.family
H0301 The study's number for this person. Cite it and it will always lead here, whatever the spelling.
· A life in the study

Elmer Nelson Potter

Born at Iowa in 1906 and last recorded at Melville Township in 1950.

born about 1906 at Iowa, United States died after 1950

Also written Elmer N. Potter, Elmer Patter

Elmer Nelson Potter was born about 1905 or 1906, in Iowa according to the old family tree's reading of his 1930 census entry.1–3 On 28 April 1928, in Chippewa County, Minnesota, he married Verna Violet Curtis, eighteen, the eldest daughter of Arthur Garfield Curtis and Hazel Lucile Cook; her funeral home's notice gives Montevideo as the place.4–6 Their first child, Elmer Arthur, known as Bud, was born that November in neighbouring Yellow Medicine County.7

In April 1930 the young couple were living in the village of Maynard, next door to Verna's parents. Elmer, twenty-four, drove a truck; with them were their son and a baby daughter (living) and Elmer's sister Stella M. Potter, thirty-eight.1, 8 Twenty years later the family was on a farm in Melville Township, in Renville County, to the east: Elmer, forty-four, Verna, two younger sons and a small daughter (all living), with Stella still in the household.2, 9 Elmer and Verna had six children in all.5

The old family tree gives his death at Montevideo on 11 March 1982, without a source.3 Verna lived on at Montevideo until 2001 and was buried in Terrace Lawn Memory Gardens.5–6

What we know

Proven

  • Birth at Iowa, 1906
  • Marriage to Verna Violet Curtis at Chippewa County, 1928
  • Occupation at Maynard, 1930
  • Death, 1950
  • 2 homes, from the census and other records

What's still open

  • Death. When and where he died is not yet known.
  • Sources. The Minnesota marriage index (MOMS), his wife's lines of the 1930 and 1950 censuses and the mother's line of a daughter's birth index entry were read as indexes on 27 Sep 2026; his own census lines, cited in the old family tree, and all the images have not been read.
  • Birthplace. Iowa, from his own 1930 line as the old tree cites it (not read).
  • Parents. Not yet identified.

Sources

Sources 1–3

1 1930 U.S. Federal Census, Maynard, 1911

1930 U.S. Federal Census, Maynard, Chippewa County, Minnesota, E.D. 13, sheet 2B, dwelling 47, family 49: Elmer N Potter (head, 24; truck driver, as shown on the index panel), with Verna V Potter [alternative reading "Patter"] (wife, white, 19, born about 1911, Iowa; married, age at first marriage 18; homemaker; father born Indiana, mother born Nebraska), a son (1), a daughter (0) and Stella M Potter (38, sister [of the head]) (his wife's line, record 80149985, index read 27 September 2026; his own line, record 80150037, is cited in the old family tree and has not been read; image not read).

2 1950 U.S. Federal Census, Melville Township, 1949

1950 U.S. Federal Census, Melville Township, Renville County, Minnesota, E.D. 65-27, p. 4, "Going North on Section 34-35", dwelling 36, on a farm, same house in 1949: Elmer Patter [Potter] (head, 44), "Verna Patter" [Potter] (wife, white, 39, born about 1911, Iowa; married; highest grade 11th), two sons (16 and 5), a daughter (3) and Stella Potter (58, sister [of the head]) (his wife's line, record 92913499, index read 27 September 2026; his own line, record 92913498, is cited in the old family tree and has not been read; image not read).

3 Old Ancestry family tree "Hegnauer, 1906

Old Ancestry family tree "Hegnauer (Old)" (165462681), person "Elmer Nelson Potter": born about 1906, Iowa (cited to his own lines of the 1930 and 1950 censuses, 6224/80150037 and 62308/92913498, not read in this study); residences 1930, Maynard, and 1950, Melville, Renville County ("Occupation: Trucker"); also cites a Minnesota birth index entry (8742/159548668) and the 1928 marriage; died 11 March 1982, Montevideo, Chippewa County, Minnesota, from an Ancestry member tree (5062169) without a source.

Sources 4–6

4 Web: Minnesota, Marriages from the Minnesota Official, 1928

"Web: Minnesota, Marriages from the Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS)," database, Ancestry.com, Elmer N. Potter and Verna V. Curtis, married 28 April 1928, Chippewa County, Minnesota; certificate Bk I - Pg 78; source moms.mn.gov (the groom's line, record 314603, and the bride's, record 90314603; index read 27 September 2026; the record has not been read).

5 U.S., Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847–Current, 1910

"U.S., Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847–Current," database, Ancestry.com, obituary index entry from the Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home, Montevideo, Minnesota: Verna Violet Potter [his wife], age 90; born 20 April 1910, Spencer, Iowa; married 28 April 1928, Montevideo; died 26 January 2001, Montevideo; buried 30 January 2001; father Arthur Curtis; six children named (not given here, except her son Elmer "Bud"); siblings Arthur Curtis, Dorothy Harbour, Madge Curtis, Adelaide "Hegnaure" [Hegnauer] and Inez Tallard (record 10475747; index read 27 September 2026).

6 Find a Grave, memorial 122557771, 1910

Find a Grave, memorial 122557771, Verna Violet Potter [his wife], maiden name Curtis, born 20 April 1910, Spencer, Clay County, Iowa; died 26 January 2001, Montevideo, Chippewa County, Minnesota; Terrace Lawn Memory Gardens, Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota; father Arthur Garfield Curtis; mother Hazel Lucille Curtis; spouse Elmer Nelson Potter (findagrave.com/memorial/122557771); as indexed in "U.S., Find a Grave Index," Ancestry.com (index read 27 September 2026; the memorial page not viewed).

Source 7

7 Web: Minnesota, U.S., Birth Index, 1928

"Web: Minnesota, U.S., Birth Index, 1900–1934," database, Ancestry.com, Elmer Arthur Potter [his son], born 14 November 1928, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota; mother's maiden name Curtis (record 119804; search-result line read 27 September 2026).

Source 8

8 1930 U.S. Federal Census, Maynard village

1930 U.S. Federal Census, Maynard village, Chippewa County, Minnesota, E.D. 13, sheet 2B, dwelling 46, family 48, household of Arthur G. Curtis (49, born Indiana) [his father-in-law], with his wife Hazel L. (38, born Nebraska) and children Madge M. (14), Arthur N. (11), Adelaide L. (9) and Inez L. (0); FHL microfilm 2340817; database with images, Ancestry.com (index read; image not read).

Source 9

9 Minnesota, U.S., Birth Index, 2026

"Minnesota, U.S., Birth Index, 1935–2000," database, Ancestry.com, the mother's line in the birth entry of a daughter (living): Verna Violet Potter, female, maiden name Curtis; spouse Elmer Nelson Potter (record 309548668; index read 27 September 2026).

Life in time

about 1906

Birth , Iowa, United States

proven Sources 1, 2, 3

How we know

Aged 24 in April 1930 and 44 in April 1950, so born about 1905–06. Iowa is the old family tree's reading of his own line of the 1930 census, which has not been read here.

His ages on his wife's lines of the 1930 and 1950 censuses (indexes read) agree on about 1905–06. The birthplace is from his own 1930 line as the old tree cites it (not read).

  1. 1906 Birth about 1906 · Iowa, United States · proven

    Aged 24 in April 1930 and 44 in April 1950, so born about 1905–06. Iowa is the old family tree's reading of his own line of the 1930 census, which has not been read here.

    His ages on his wife's lines of the 1930 and 1950 censuses (indexes read) agree on about 1905–06. The birthplace is from his own 1930 line as the old tree cites it (not read).

    Sources 1, 2, 3

  2. 1928 Marriage, with Verna Violet Curtis 28 Apr 1928 · Chippewa County, Minnesota · proven

    Minnesota Official Marriage System index: Elmer N. Potter and Verna V. Curtis, Chippewa County, certificate Book I, p. 78; his wife's funeral home's obituary index gives the place as Montevideo. The record image has not been read.

    The Minnesota marriage index (both lines) gives Elmer N. Potter and Verna V. Curtis, married 28 Apr 1928 in Chippewa County; her funeral home's obituary index gives 28 Apr 1928 at Montevideo; in April 1930 Verna was his wife, married at 18; Find a Grave names her husband Elmer Nelson Potter.

    Sources 1, 4, 5, 6

  3. 1928 Son born: Elmer Arthur Potter family event

    Their page →

  4. 1930 Residence Maynard, Chippewa · proven

    Head, 24, with his wife Verna V., 19, a son (1), a daughter (0) and his sister Stella M. Potter, 38 (dwelling 47, family 49), next door to his wife's parents, Arthur G. and Hazel L. Curtis (dwelling 46).

    His wife Verna and her parents next door identify the household (index of his wife's line read 27 Sep 2026; his own line and the image not read).

    Sources 1, 8

  5. 1930 Occupation Maynard, Chippewa · proven

    Truck driver (1930 census, as shown on the index panel of his wife's line).

    The occupation shown with his line on the index panel read on 27 Sep 2026; the image has not been read.

    Source 1

  6. 1950 Residence Melville Township, Renville · proven

    On a farm ("Going North on Section 34-35", dwelling 36), the same house as in 1949. "Elmer Patter" [Potter], head, 44, with his wife Verna, 39, two sons, 16 and 5, a daughter, 3, and his sister Stella, 58. The old tree's citation of his own line gives his occupation as trucker.

    His wife Verna and his sister Stella (as in 1930) identify the household (index of his wife's line read 27 Sep 2026; his own line and the image not read).

    Sources 2, 3

  7. 1950 Death after 1950 · proven

    The 1950 census is the last record of him read. The old family tree gives his death on 11 Mar 1982 at Montevideo, Chippewa County, without a source (a lead).

    No record of his death has been read.

    Sources 2, 3

  • proven
  • family event

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Places in this life

4 places, in order
1 2 3 4
  1. 1 Iowa, United States Birth about 1906
  2. 2 Chippewa County, Minnesota Marriage 28 Apr 1928
  3. 3 Maynard, Chippewa County Residence 1930 · Occupation 1930
  4. 4 Melville Township, Renville County Residence 1950

Hollow markers are placed approximately, at the town, county or region.

Family

This page Elmer Nelson Potter c. 1906–aft. 1950
Wife · m. 28 Apr 1928 Verna Violet Curtis 1910–2001
Son Elmer Arthur Potter 1928–2023 Child Living Potter living Child Living Potter living
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The evidence 6 facts with their grades, 9 sources, and the research notes

Facts

Fact Date Place Grade Sources
Birth about 1906 Iowa, United States proven 1 , 2 , 3
Marriage with Verna Violet Curtis 28 Apr 1928 Chippewa County, Minnesota, United States proven 1 , 4 , 5 , 6
Residence 1930 Maynard, Chippewa, Minnesota, United States proven 1 , 8
Occupation 1930 Maynard, Chippewa, Minnesota, United States proven 1
Residence 1950 Melville Township, Renville, Minnesota, United States proven 2 , 3
Death after 1950 proven 2 , 3

Research notes

  • Sources: The Minnesota marriage index (MOMS), his wife's lines of the 1930 and 1950 censuses and the mother's line of a daughter's birth index entry were read as indexes on 27 Sep 2026; his own census lines, cited in the old family tree, and all the images have not been read.4, 1, 2, 9, 3
  • Identity: Elmer N. Potter married Verna V. Curtis in 1928; he is her husband, 24, in 1930 and "Elmer Patter", 44, in 1950, both times with his sister Stella; the birth index names Verna's spouse Elmer Nelson Potter, and her Find a Grave memorial names her husband the same.4, 1, 2, 9, 6
  • Birthplace: Iowa, from his own 1930 line as the old tree cites it (not read).3
  • Sister: Stella M. Potter, 38 in 1930 and 58 in 1950, lived with the family; she is not otherwise in the study.1, 2
  • Children: Six, per his wife's funeral-home index; the eldest, Elmer Arthur (1928–2023), is deceased; the others are living or presumed living and are not named.5, 7
  • Death (lead): 11 Mar 1982, Montevideo (old tree, unsourced).3 The Minnesota death index (1908–2017) and the SSDI should confirm it.
  • This profile is part of the Hegnauer one-name study, as the husband of Verna Violet Curtis, sister of Adelaide Louise (Curtis) Hegnauer.

Working notes

  • Husband of Verna Curtis (H0174); m. 28 Apr 1928 Chippewa Co., Minn. (MN Official Marriage System 70873/314603); 1930 Maynard (6224/80150037), 1950 Melville, Renville Co. (62308/92913498); tree d. 11 Mar 1982 Montevideo (unsourced); old tree 165462681 @I252151305253@

Sources

  1. 1

    1930 U.S. Federal Census, Maynard, Chippewa County, Minnesota, E.D. 13, sheet 2B, dwelling 47, family 49: Elmer N Potter (head, 24; truck driver, as shown on the index panel), with Verna V Potter [alternative reading "Patter"] (wife, white, 19, born about 1911, Iowa; married, age at first marriage 18; homemaker; father born Indiana, mother born Nebraska), a son (1), a daughter (0) and Stella M Potter (38, sister [of the head]) (his wife's line, record 80149985, index read 27 September 2026; his own line, record 80150037, is cited in the old family tree and has not been read; image not read).

    Ancestry

  2. 2

    1950 U.S. Federal Census, Melville Township, Renville County, Minnesota, E.D. 65-27, p. 4, "Going North on Section 34-35", dwelling 36, on a farm, same house in 1949: Elmer Patter [Potter] (head, 44), "Verna Patter" [Potter] (wife, white, 39, born about 1911, Iowa; married; highest grade 11th), two sons (16 and 5), a daughter (3) and Stella Potter (58, sister [of the head]) (his wife's line, record 92913499, index read 27 September 2026; his own line, record 92913498, is cited in the old family tree and has not been read; image not read).

    Ancestry

  3. 3

    Old Ancestry family tree "Hegnauer (Old)" (165462681), person "Elmer Nelson Potter": born about 1906, Iowa (cited to his own lines of the 1930 and 1950 censuses, 6224/80150037 and 62308/92913498, not read in this study); residences 1930, Maynard, and 1950, Melville, Renville County ("Occupation: Trucker"); also cites a Minnesota birth index entry (8742/159548668) and the 1928 marriage; died 11 March 1982, Montevideo, Chippewa County, Minnesota, from an Ancestry member tree (5062169) without a source.

  4. 4

    "Web: Minnesota, Marriages from the Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS)," database, Ancestry.com, Elmer N. Potter and Verna V. Curtis, married 28 April 1928, Chippewa County, Minnesota; certificate Bk I - Pg 78; source moms.mn.gov (the groom's line, record 314603, and the bride's, record 90314603; index read 27 September 2026; the record has not been read).

    Ancestry

  5. 5

    "U.S., Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847–Current," database, Ancestry.com, obituary index entry from the Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home, Montevideo, Minnesota: Verna Violet Potter [his wife], age 90; born 20 April 1910, Spencer, Iowa; married 28 April 1928, Montevideo; died 26 January 2001, Montevideo; buried 30 January 2001; father Arthur Curtis; six children named (not given here, except her son Elmer "Bud"); siblings Arthur Curtis, Dorothy Harbour, Madge Curtis, Adelaide "Hegnaure" [Hegnauer] and Inez Tallard (record 10475747; index read 27 September 2026).

    Ancestry

  6. 6

    Find a Grave, memorial 122557771, Verna Violet Potter [his wife], maiden name Curtis, born 20 April 1910, Spencer, Clay County, Iowa; died 26 January 2001, Montevideo, Chippewa County, Minnesota; Terrace Lawn Memory Gardens, Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota; father Arthur Garfield Curtis; mother Hazel Lucille Curtis; spouse Elmer Nelson Potter (findagrave.com/memorial/122557771); as indexed in "U.S., Find a Grave Index," Ancestry.com (index read 27 September 2026; the memorial page not viewed).

    Ancestry

  7. 7

    "Web: Minnesota, U.S., Birth Index, 1900–1934," database, Ancestry.com, Elmer Arthur Potter [his son], born 14 November 1928, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota; mother's maiden name Curtis (record 119804; search-result line read 27 September 2026).

    Ancestry

  8. 8

    1930 U.S. Federal Census, Maynard village, Chippewa County, Minnesota, E.D. 13, sheet 2B, dwelling 46, family 48, household of Arthur G. Curtis (49, born Indiana) [his father-in-law], with his wife Hazel L. (38, born Nebraska) and children Madge M. (14), Arthur N. (11), Adelaide L. (9) and Inez L. (0); FHL microfilm 2340817; database with images, Ancestry.com (index read; image not read).

    Ancestry

  9. 9

    "Minnesota, U.S., Birth Index, 1935–2000," database, Ancestry.com, the mother's line in the birth entry of a daughter (living): Verna Violet Potter, female, maiden name Curtis; spouse Elmer Nelson Potter (record 309548668; index read 27 September 2026).

    Ancestry