My Genealogy Hound

L. A. PORTER carries on general farming on sections 3, 9 and 10 Sand Ridge Township, Jackson County, and is one of the prominent citizens of this community. His father, Marshall Porter, was born in Connecticut October 31, 1810, and was a son of John and Sarah (Fuller) Porter. The former was a farmer and mechanic. In the early part of this century he removed to Ohio, locating in Marietta. He removed thence to Athens, Ohio, and his last days were spent in Gallia County. In church work he took a very prominent part, and served as Deacon in the Presbyterian Church, with which he held membership. In Athens he built a large seminary, which is still standing. The Porter family dates its origin back to the days when the Pilgrim Fathers landed in America from the “Mayflower.”

Mrs. Porter, mother of our subject, bore the maiden name of Celestia C. Bort. She was born near Erie, Pa., in 1816, and was a daughter of the Rev. Barnard and Polly (Dewey) Bort. Her father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and came of an old Pennsylvania-Dutch family. He was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and both he and his wife died in the Keystone State. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall S. Porter were married in Erie, Pa., and removed thence to Marietta, Ohio, where he worked as a mechanic. He afterwards studied medicine in Marietta College, but his eyesight failed him and he never engaged in practice. Later he removed to Porter, Ohio, which town was named in honor of his father, and in 1850 he came to Jackson County, Ill., settling in Vergennes Township, upon a wild farm. Their home was a log cabin in the midst of the forest, and they lived in true pioneer style.

The father died April 1, 1880, and the mother died in August, 1886. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Porter served as Deacon and was a prominent worker in the church and Sunday-school. In politics he was a Whig. Of their family of eleven children four are now living: Luther D., of Sand Ridge Township; L. A.; George H., of the same township; and Ellen L. Luther D. and Solomon M. served in the Seventh Illinois Infantry during the late war. The former continued at the front until after the close of the war, but the latter was discharged on account of disability, and died from its effects.

L. A. Porter, whose name heads this record, was born in Athens, Ohio, September 17, 1843, and when a child was brought to this state. His education was acquired in the common schools, and he early became familiar with the arduous task of clearing and developing new land. He was married April 5, 1869, to Mrs. Mary (Worthen) Allen, daughter of William and Mary (Will) Worthen, who are mentioned in the sketch of Ed Worthen, on another page of this work. The lady was born on this farm, in a log house, April 29, 1837. She began her education in the district schools and completed it in Du Quoin Seminary, after which she successfully engaged in teaching school for eight years, and was then married.

Mr. and Mrs. Porter began their domestic life upon an unimproved farm in Vergennes Township, which he transformed into a productive and highly cultivated tract, building a fine residence, surrounded by a well kept lawn, and planting fruit trees. Upon that place they resided until 1873, when they returned to the old home to live with Mrs. Porter’s mother, and afterward bought the homestead from the heirs. In the house, which was erected at a cost of $6,000, they lived until 1879, when it was burned with all its contents. They then removed to the old home, which was erected by Mrs. Porter’s father in 1853. The farm now comprises five hundred acres of valuable land, most of which is under a high state of cultivation. He makes a specialty of raising Jersey cattle for dairy purposes and Hereford cattle for the market. He also owns and operates a steam sawmill at Grand Tower, and manufactures and saws railroad timber for the Illinois Central Railroad Company.

Mr. and Mrs. Porter have never had any children of their own, but the following named orphan children have found a home with them: Lee Hull, Loring, Ida, May, Elmer C. and Luther Lovejoy, Mary E., Sanford B., Fred O. and Lucinda Porter, and several others, fifteen in all. Our subject and his wife are faithful members of the Presbyterian Church of Murphysboro, in which he serves as Elder, and are active workers in the Sunday-school, In 1881 they organized a Sunday-school in their own home. It afterwards convened at the schoolhouse, and its sessions are now held in the Mound Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have been very active in its growth and have been absent only a few Sundays in ten years. Mr. Porter now has charge of the Bible class, while his wife is teacher of the primary class. Socially, he is a member of the Odd Fellows’ society of Murphysboro, in which he has filled various offices and is now Past Grand of his lodge. In politics he takes an active interest, and has frequently been a delegate to the conventions of the Republican party. He is now serving his fourth year as Supervisor.