Jim Potter, Author Jim Potter

Nine months after their marriage, on September 11, 1902, Robert was arrested on a charge of improper relations with his fifteen-year-old daughter, Edith Borchert.

In January 1900, Martha became sick and was confined to bed for seven months until her death. During this time, Robert conducted an exhaustive search for doctors who could help save her life.

There’s no reason to believe that Anna was adjudged insane solely due to her lack of financial resources, but people, especially woman, were more likely to be judged a lunatic when they were poor.

Today, most people aren’t familiar with the era of poor farms. Whether they were called workhouses when located in the city, or poor farms when located in the country, they were supported at public expense. They housed paupers in their jurisdiction, usually elderly or disabled, who had no means of financial support.

During wet weather, streets in towns with poor drainage resembled pig pens. Dedicated shoppers accepted wet and muddy shoes, but it was detrimental to attracting customers or growing a community.

If Richard, the new immigrant, was looking for a business model for advertising shoe making, his brother was top notch, cream of the crop. Robert displayed an ongoing, original, advertising presence.