A Joint Project of the Sam Rayburn House Historic Site and the Fannin County Historical Commission
Celebrating America 250 with Spotlights of Fannin County Citizens Who Participated In or Witnessed Historical Events
Fannin County, Texas -- Walter Edward Potts was born January 9, 1892 in Denison, Texas, the son of William and Mollie Oliphant Potts. William grew up in Pottsboro and Denison and Mollie was from Ravenna, the daughter of Fountain and Patsy Oliphant. William and Mollie were living in Denison in 1902 when Mollie died in a smallpox plague in 1902. Walter was nine years old. His father took Walter and his brother to live with his grandparents in Ravenna, where Walter spent the remainder of his childhood.
Walter only attended school to the 3rd grade, but he became a skilled farmer, carpenter and blacksmith.
At the age of twenty-five, Walter was drafted into the U.S. Army and served as one of the Buffalo Soldiers during World War One.
The name “Buffalo Soldier” was first applied to four black Regular Army regiments that were authorized by Congress in 1866 to fight in the Indian wars. The black soldiers killed buffalos to make robes to keep themselves warm on the cold plains. The “Buffalo Soldiers” continued their service in the Spanish-American War.
Black men were drafted for World War I, and one of those was Fannin County resident Walter Potts, who was inducted on October 29, 1917. He received training at Camp Travis in San Antonio and Camp Upton, New York. Because of segregation Negroes did not fight alongside white American soldiers. Walter’s 92th Division, 367th Infantry Unit was assigned to the French 16th Division.
Walter left the United States on June 10, 1918 with more than 1,100 men. His unit was sent to France near Metz, Germany, and he was stationed about 700 yards from the border between France and Germany. The commander of the 367th called his regiment The Buffaloes. Details of the battles and service can be read in the book authored by Walter’s granddaughter, Eva Hogan and titled The Last Buffalo. Walter returned from France to New York City on February 17, 1919.
Walter married Eva Brown upon his return from France, on May 22, 1919.
Eva was a school teacher in the Mulberry/Ravenna area. They lived in the Mulberry/Ravenna area for many years, later moving to Denison.
Eva Potts, born in 1892, died in 1960 and is buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Denison. She had attended Wiley College in Marshall and taught school in Ravenna.
Walter died on June 13, 1997 at the age of 105 and is buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Denison.
Much of the information in this article is from The Last Buffalo. Walter E. Potts and the 92nd “Buffalo” Division in World War I, by Walter’s granddaughter, Eva Hogan.
