When John Lewis Poteet was born on 22 October 1885, in Cabell, West Virginia, United States, his father, George B. Poteet, was 22 and his mother, Lucy Hannah Stephenson, was 22. He married Pearl Adkins on 24 December 1918, in Huntington, Cabell, West Virginia, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 2 daughters. He lived in Guyandotte, Cabell, West Virginia, United States in 1930 and Guyandotte Magisterial District, Cabell, West Virginia, United States in 1940. He died on 7 November 1950, in Huntington, Cabell, West Virginia, United States, at the age of 65, and was buried in Oaklawn Memorial Park, Barboursville, Cabell, West Virginia, United States.