Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-08-17
GONE PROM EARTH.
Death Of Ethel H. Porter.

Death Of Ethel III. Porter.
| A good man, one OF the oldest and
best among us, passed peacefully from
earth at half past three o'clock this
morning, in the person of Mr.. Ethel
H. Porter, who died of heart disease
at his residence, corner of Exchange
and Third streets. Mr.. Porter lohg
ranked as one ofour purest and most
respected citizens. He came to this
State forty-seven years ago, having
emigrated from Connecticut, where he
was born in 1904, and he has resided
in Memphis forty-fve years, the resi-
dence in which he died having been
built by him over forty years ago, and
it being the first brick house ever
built in this city. Mr. Porter for
many years was engaged in the foun-
dry business, and for period was a
partner of Mr.. Avery, of pillow. making
renown. Until falling health caused
him to retire from active pursuits, Mr..
Porter continued in this business, and
during this period of his ca
reer his active and inquiring
mind gave shape to numerous
inventive improvements. Indeed, he
was the real inventor Of the celebrated
Avery pillow now SO universally popular
throughout the South, but the right to
its manufacture fell to Mr.. Avery
after Mr.. Porter withdrew from the
business. Mr.. Porter retired with a
moderate fortune, and since that
period, when his health would permit,
he has BEEN prominent in various
projected railways. The proposed
road between here and Kansas City
engaging his earnest attention for a
number of years. Mr.. Porter
was an elder in the Second
Presbyterian church of this city,
and for thirty-one years past has
been President of the Shelby
County Bible Society, and he has
always been active and prominent in
religious as we'll as charitable matters.
Mrs. Porter, his spouse, widely known
for her Christian virtues and extern
Sive labors in the cause Of charity,
died at the same residence eight
years ago. AS late as yester-
day Mr.. Porter was out for an
evening drive and visited various
places in the city. among others the
new elevator at Central landing; also
paying a call on Mrs. Swayne, in Chel-
sea, whose daughters infant is his
great-grandchild. He was just recov.
ering from severe attack of illness
Of eleven weeks duration. The fol-
lowing tribute to his worth and mem
DRY is by Col. W. B. Waldran, whose
first Sunday-school lessons were
taught him by the respected deceased:
Colonel Ethel H. Porter was born
at Watertown, Conn, January 26,
1904, removed to North Carolina
when very young, from there to Shelby
county, arriving at Raleigh in the
spring Of 1884, removing to Memphis
in 1896, where he has ever since
resided, always interested in every
event connected with this city, and he
looked upon everything tending to its
advancement with pleasure and pride.
He believed every family should honor
the word of God in their homes, and
for over forty years he served as Pres
ident Of the Memphis and Shelby
County Bible Society, through whose
instrumentalities Bibles have been
placed in nearly every home Of this and
thirty adjoining counties Of Tennessee,
Arkansaw and Mississippi. Blameless
in life, honorable in action, true in all
the relations of life, he died peaceful
ly the death of the righteous. A
ruling elder Of the First Presbyterian
church from 1910 until the formation
Of the Chelsea Presbyterian church,
he became a'ruling elder there until
his death.
His funeral will take place to-
morrow morning at 10 o'clock, from
his late residence, 70 Exchange street,
this city.