My Genealogy Hound

JOHN C. PORTER, sheriff of Pettis County, is a gentleman of great personal popularity, and one in whom the public places confidence, as was shown by the fact that he was elected to this responsible position by a good Republican majority, though in a county which heretofore was strongly Democratic. His father, who was also a Republican, served for two terms as Sheriff of Pettis County just after the war, to the satisfaction of both political parties. Our subject was first elected to the office in 1892, and on the expiration of his term of service was re-elected, in 1894.

One of the native sons of this county, John C. Porter was born in Beaman Township, on the 6th of January, 1860, being the son of William H. and Sarah E. (Mabery) Porter, the former a native of this county, and the latter of Jackson County, Mo. William Porter was an engineer and farmer by occupation, owning mills at various times, but lived with his family on a farm in the northern part of Pettis County. In 1875, while in Houstonia Township, he lost his life in a cyclone, and the care of the family devolved upon our subject, who was then a youth of fifteen years. He bravely shouldered the responsibility and met with fair success, at the same time managing to pick up a good general education, amply sufficient for all practical purposes.

In March, 1882, J. C. Porter and Miss Mollie Card were united in marriage. The lady was born in Cooper County, Mo., January 19, 1864, and is a daughter of James and Susan (Smithers) Card. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have had three children, Hester, Irene and Minnie.

During the war our subject’s father served throughout the conflict as a soldier on the side of the Union. His father, John Porter, was a native of Virginia, and a pioneer of this county, having removed here from his first Missouri home in Madison County. Thus the family has long been identified with the history and development of this vicinity.

Socially Mr. Porter belongs to Houstonia Lodge No. 329, I. O. O. F., of which order he has been a member since 1882, and has filled all the chairs. In 18S9 he became associated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and has held offices in the local lodge. In 1893 he joined the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias, and in the latter order is identified with Sedalia Lodge No. 52. For several years he has been recognized as one of the influential Republicans of this county and, in fact, of this part of the state.