My Genealogy Hound

HARLAN P. PORTER, who resides on section 21, Vergennes Township, Jackson County, is numbered among the leading farmers of this community, and owns and operates two hundred acres of valuable land, having placed the same under a high state of cultivation and improved it with all the accessories and convenience of a model farm. It is pleasantly located within a half mile of the village of Vergennes and is one of the valuable and desirable farms of the neighborhood.

Its well known owner was born in Vergennes Township, October 30, 1849, and is a son of Benjamin F. Porter, who was born in Ohio February 11, 1826. At the age of twenty he came to Illinois and settled in this locality. His father, Russell Sumner Porter, afterwards emigrated to Illinois. In the family of the latter were seven children, Eliphas, Solomon, John, Lawrence, Benjamin; Sarah J., wife of John A. McNerney, and Phoebe, wife of W. Gray. The father died in 1873, at the age of sixty years. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and with one exception all of his children held membership with the Methodist Church. In politics he was a Henry Clay Whig until the organization of the Republican party. He cast the first Republican ballot in Jackson County. He took a very prominent part in church and benevolent work. In 1868, he removed to Jasper County, Mo., where he spent three years, and then returned to Illinois.

Benjamin F. Porter, father of our subject, was married in this county to Elizabeth Parish, September 14, 1848, and they became the parents of the following children: Harlan, of this sketch; Edward and Edwin, twins, born November 5, 1855, and died in infancy; Henry S., born January 21, 1853; Lucy A., who was born March 30, 1855, and died at the age of fourteen; Lucretia D., who was born August 1, 1857, married Walker Sheets, and died fourteen months later; Mary E., born March 16, 1860, became the wife of Frank Verbeck, and had two children, Henry and Eugene; Martha J., born April 19, 1862; and Nellie, born September 18, 1871. She is now the wife of John Murray. Benjamin F. Porter and three of his brothers enlisted in the Union army, but as it was necessary for one of them to remain at home and provide for the four families they drew lots, and Benjamin was the one who remained.

Harlan P. Porter continued upon the old home farm until he had attained his majority. He removed with his family to Missouri, and returned with them to Jackson County in September, 1870. On the 17th of November following, he married Virginia M. Spencer, and their union has been blessed with the following children: Lucy A., born December 30, 1874; Clara S., September 24, 1877; Benjamin E., November 26, 1879; Otto H., February 1, 1882; Sterling C., February 29, 1884; Leonard J., November 27, 1886; Russell H., January 1, 1889; Beulah E., June 1, 1891; and Bert, January 7, 1894. Mrs. Porter was born March 8, 1854. Her father, Edward H. Spencer, of Vergennes, came from southeastern Missouri to this county in 1861. He married Frences Trannel, and their children were as follows: Jackson; Mary, wife of John Blacklock; and Eunice, wife of William Brooks. When Mr. Spencer came to this county he purchased the old Porter farm, and made it his home until his death, November 25, 1865. His widow is still living on the old homestead with her son.

For four years after his marriage, Mr. Porter operated rented land, and then purchased forty acres where he now lives, adding to it until he became owner of his present fine farm. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of Vergennes, and are highly respected people. He takes an active part in local politics, votes with the Republican party, and on that ticket has been elected to all the township offices except that of clerk. He has not been out of office for the past twenty years, a fact which indicates his fidelity to duty and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow-townsmen. He is a member of the Masonic lodge of De Soto and the Odd Fellows’ lodge of Vergennes, and has filled various offices in these organizations, also represented them in the Grand Lodge. He is a man of great energy and determination, and though he has met obstacles and difficulties, he has overcome these by determined effort, and has steadily worked his way upward to success, being now the possessor of a handsome competence. He is recognized as one of the prominent citizens of the community, and has the high regard of all.