Naming

Cabins were accumulating at Van Buren, LaFayette, and at the head of the hollow since known as Potosi. In 1839, a meeting was held at the former place to procure the consolidation of these three places, and the concentration of business at one of them. The convention is represented as having been largely attended, and the question lucidly discussed. But after,a free and frequent canvass of the situation, the head of the hollow bore off the palm of victory and was named Potosi. Another authority insists that this is all unworthy of belief or reputation. He states that the town of Potosi followed the moves made by miners toward Dutch Hollow, and one of the first to appreciate the necessity for change was Owen McLaughlin in whose saloon Jim Crow danced his final bar

Immigration in 1839 was immense, coming chiefly from Missouri and Illinois. Among these were S. E. Lewis, J. D. Merrit, William Hewitt, Robert Porter, Henry Webster, William McDaniel, Ezra Hall, Hiram Hallowell, Isaac Martin, William Hosmer, William Kinney, Alfred Kinney, with their families; Samuel Yenawine, Thomas Harrison, Thomas Smith, Myron Patterson, C. C. Drake, Cornelius Kennedy, a Revolutionary soldier and the first pedagogue in the village; Briar Davis, Charles Davis, Newton Morris, and some others. The improvements included storehouses by J. F. Chapman and S. E. Lewis; a dwelling by J. D. Merritt, the Methodist church, etc., and the village began to bear the appearance of life and activity it soon after bore for a period of nearly ten years.

In 1840, after it became evident that the movement made to establish Potosi would not fail of accomplishment, buildings went up rapidly, and improvements were projected and concluded by way of intimating earnestness in the cause with few delays. Woods & Massey opened a store in the building adjoining that in which Jim Crow was shot, and the succeeding year Langworthy & Massey erected a frame building for commercial purposes, which is still standing. In 1841, brick was substituted in some cases for frame in Potosi, when Solon M. Langworthy built a residence of that material, now owned and occupied by George Kinney.

During that year the present Banfil House was commenced by Cox Groshong, but its completion was delayed until 1842, when it was in part occupied by Buchanan's saloon,and, in part, by the boarding house of James Judson. At this period there were two stores remaining in LaFayette, those of Brayton Bushee and D. A. McKenzie, and that of George Maderie in Van Buren, the balance of the commercial world having located at Potosi and represented by Langworthy & Massey, S. E. Lewis and Company, Lawther & Dyer, 1. G. Ury and Mr. Brenneman. The improvements in both the former places ceased, while those in Potosi continued though with less frequency than during the year previous.

In 1841 James White, who came to the region in 1836, erected a stone house for blacksmithing purposes, which was this year (1842) when the Wisconsin House, now the residence of the Honorable J. W. Seaton, the brick building now used as the post office was erected by Henderson and Bell, and Dr. Hewett's brick dwelling were added to the architectural features of the village.

Incorporation

During 1845 Potosi became an incorporated village. At that time it contained three-churches--Catholic, Methodist, and Presbyterian--the two latter of brick, the former of frame; well sustained schools, St. Matthew's Female Seminary, under the direction of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin; a male academy, in connection with the Catholic church, under the direction of James Ryan, formerly professor of mathematics at St. Vincent's Academy, Cape Girardeau; two lawyers, three magistrates, three physicians, two drug stores, eight dry goods stores, three taverns, one watchmaker, two saddlers, one stove merchant, one fanning mill maker, one chairmaker, four cabinetmakers' shops, two wagonmakers' ,shops, two bakers, two copper and tinsmitbs, two milliners and dressmakers, one tan yard, two tailors, three blacksmiths, two butchers, one dentist, 25 joiners,12 masons, one confections six groceries,, a Masonic lodge and an Odd Fellows lodge, one painter, one livery stable, two brick yards, one barber, and four lead furnaces. The population was estimated at 1,300 including 292 children between the ages of 4-16 years, and a total vote of 400.