My Genealogy Hound

BELFIELD I. PORTER. The history of Pettis County is best told by giving an account of the lives of its old residents, and it therefore gives us pleasure to place on the pages of this volume a brief outline of the life of Belfield Porter, who had much to do with the early settlement of this portion of the county. He came to Missouri in 1833, and continued to make his home within its confines until the time of his decease, which occurred January 7, 1876.

Our subject was a native of Virginia and was born in Campbell County March 2, 1801. He remained in his birthplace for the first eighteen years of his life, when he changed his location to Bedford County, that state, where he learned the trade of a tanner. While living there he was married to Miss Louisa R. Joplin, who was born in that county, January 4, 1804. Their marriage occurred November 9, 1824, and for nine years thereafter they continued to make their home in the Old Dominion. As before stated, they came in that year to this state, first settling in Madison County. Their stay there was of short duration, for one year later we find them living in Pettis County. Mr. Porter secured possession of land in Bowling Green Township and engaged in farming until his death. By untiring industry and strict economy he won success and acquired a comfortable competence for old age, although beginning in a new Country poor and almost friendless.

The development of Pettis County he witnessed and aided, as when he came here railroads and telegraph wires had not yet been introduced; but with the introduction of modern improvements came advancing civilization, and no one rejoiced more in the county’s progress than did he.

For many years Mr. Porter was Justice of the Peace. At all times he took an active part in church work and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. In those early days when there was no “meeting-house,” services were held in his home, and under his roof he entertained many preachers. His widow has attained the advanced age of ninety-one years at the present writing (March, 1895).