page 242:
John D. PORTER, cashier of the Mount Vernon Bank, is of Irish and German
descent, and is a son of William PORTER, who was born in Illinois in 1816,
and in 1852 married Elizabeth DYER, a daughter of William DYER, who was a
soldier in the Revolutionary War, and the following were their family:
Isaac M. William A., John D., Mary (deceased) and Emma M. Mr. Porter moved
to Texas in 1853, and engaged in the stock business, but in 1866 settled on
a farm of 200 acres in Cedar County, Mo., where he still resides. He is a
Democrat in his political views, and he and wife are members of the
Christian Church. John D. Porter was born on a farm in Fannin County,
Tex., in 1859, and was educated in the State Normal School at Warrensburg,
Mo., and at the Drake University at Des Moines, Iowa. He taught school and
paid his own expenses after he was sixteen years of age. In January, 1884,
he became cashier of the Hartley Banking Company, at Jerico, Mo., but
resigned this position in 1886 to assist in the organization of the Mount
Vernon Bank, of which he became cashier, being also one of the directors
and stockholders. In 1885 he was married to Miss Floy, a daughter of A. C.
and Louisa (MADDOX) WOODBECK, of Cedar County, Mo., and by her is the
father of two children, Edith and Harley W. Mr. Porter is a Democrat in
politics, and is one of the reliable and honorable business men of Lawrence
County. He is a thoroughly self-made man, and his struggles in early
manhood have developed those characteristics which go to make up an
honorable and useful citizen. He is a member of the I.O.O.F.
page 242-3
Joseph P. PORTER is of English descent, and is a grandson of William
PORTER, who was one of the pioneers of Kentucky, and there reared a family
of eight children. The Porter family originated in Virginia, being one of
the first families of that State. The maternal grandfather, Joseph YOUNG,
was a Revolutionary soldier, and was married to Elizabeth HEADY, who was
afterward captured with two of her children by the Indians, and was held a
captive for about three years, when she was ransomed by her husband. One
of the children was killed. Mr. Young was buried with military honors, and
Mr. Porter, though a small boy, well remembers the occasion. William
PORTER, father of our subject, was a farmer of Hopkins County, Ky., and was
married to Paulina YOUNG, who bore him four children: Joseph F. {sic},
Sarah E., Victoria and Elizabeth, all of whom were born in Kentucky. The
father was in comfortable circumstances, and was the owner of slaves. He
was a member of the Methodist Church, and died at the age of fifty years.
Joseph P. Porter's birth occurred in 1839. He attended the common schools
in his boyhood, and came with his mother to Lawrence County, Mo., in 1848.
He learned the mercantile business with Robert W. CRAWFORD, and clerked for
different firms until 1857, at which time he engaged in the business under
the firm name of WELLMAN, YOUNG & Co., remaining in this connection until
1861, and then went to Raleigh, Mo., and clerked for FALKNER & GRAUS about
four years. The following two years he was engaged in the mercantile
business with a Mr. HALEY, under the firm name of HALEY & PORTER, and the
next two years were spent in Fayetteville, Ark. From that time until 1870
he was engaged in the stock business in the Indian Territory, when he
returned to Lawrence County, Mo., and held the office of deputy county
clerk until 1874, at which time he was elected county clerk, and held the
office twelve years. Since that time he has been engaged in selling lumber
in Mount Vernon. He is a stanch Democrat politically, and is a Knight
Templar in the Masonic order. He was married in 1865 to Mildred, a
daughter of Harrison HALEY, a pioneer merchant of Mount Vernon and a native
of Kentucky. She bore him one daughter, Fannie. Mr. Porter has been in
official or mercantile life in Mount Vernon for many years, and is one of
the well-known and respected citizens of the county.
Return to Lawrence County Biographies