My Genealogy Hound

Abner J. Porter, judge of the county and probate court of Sharp County, and a leading attorney of that place, was born in Williamson County, Tenn., in the year 1831. He is the son of William C. and Judith R. (Owen) Porter, the former born in Rockingham County, N. C., in 1803, and the latter in Davidson County, Tenn., in 1804. The parents were married in Williamson County, Tenn., in 1824, and resided there until the year 1836, when they moved to Weakley County, Tenn., and from there to Springfield, Mo., in 1856. In 1866 they settled in Sharp County, Ark., where the father died in 1878, and the mother in 1881. The elder Porter was a prominent farmer and a leading citizen of Sharp County during his life, and was held in the highest esteem by his fellow-citizens. He was a son of Dudley Porter, of North Carolina, who removed to Tennessee in 1811, and died three months after his arrival. His father was John Porter, who lost another son at the battle of Charleston, during the Revolution. Judge Porter’s parents had eleven sons, of whom seven are living: Their names are Robert G., a resident of Sharp County; William G., a tobacconist of Springfield, Mo.; Judge Abner J. Porter; Rev. Peter O., of Sharp County; Jesse W., residing in the same county; Henry W., of Randolph County, and Felix R., a prominent lawyer of Springfield, Mo. Five of them gave their services to the Confederate cause — Abner J., John W., Jesse W., Benjamin F. (who was captured and died in prison at Chicago), and Felix R. In his youth Judge Porter received a common school education, and also applied himself to the higher branches of education, which he mastered without the aid of a teacher. He had commenced the study of law at Springfield, Mo., when the war called him from his books, and he joined Capt. Thomason’s company of the Fifty-second Volunteer Tennessee Infantry. In the spring of 1862 he was sent home on furlough, on account of disability, but after recovering from his afflictions he re-joined the army under Gen. Forrest’s command, becoming a member of Col. Wilson’s Tennessee regiment. He held the rank of orderly sergeant in Capt. Dudley’s company, and served about one year longer, taking part in a number of engagements during that time. Judge Porter was married in Weakley County, Tenn., in 1866, to Miss Mary J. Carter, a daughter of Jerome and Mary (Matthews) Carter, of North Carolina and Tennessee, respectively, and they are the parents of five sons and three daughters: Ada J., William C., Thomas J., James O., Ida R., Mary E., John W. and Granville D. In 1867 the Judge arrived in Sharp County, and located at Evening Shade, where he entered the grocery business, and practiced law until 1875. He then settled on his present place of residence, and commenced farming, and now has about 100 acres under cultivation, owning 320 acres altogether in two farms. He is considered to be one of the best farmers in Sharp County, and has also continued the practice of law, with gratifying success, both in the justice and circuit courts. In 1878 he was elected judge of the county and probate courts for two years, and filled the office with distinction. The soundness of his judgment and the correctness of his views made him the most available man for that position, and he was again elected in 1888. In politics he is a Democrat, and has been one all his life. He is strong in upholding the principles and men of his party, and is one of its stanchest adherents. The Judge has been a member of Evening Shade Lodge No. 141, A. F. & A. M., since 1867, and is also a member of Royal Arch Chapter No. 52, at Evening Shade. He belongs to the Baptist Church, while his wife is a Presbyterian.