Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-08-20
DUMMERSTON.
Rhetorical Notes Continued from Way
9th...IusIre Samuel Porter.


Hon. Charles X. Field Of Bratteboro, IN converse.
tion with the writer In 1873 expressed much interest
In the history Of this town then being prepared for
publication. He urged that several portraits OF the
prominent early settlers should appear IN the history
aud among the number mentioned was that OF Judge
Porter, whom he extOled highly as lawyer aud chief
oicer Of the county court As 20 portraits read
lily secured for the work, doubtless that Of the Judge
might have been obtained also had the writer known
that such portrait was 10 existence. We are now in
formed that bis portrait was painted In 1910, when he
was In the 4sth year OF his age and represents him
3 a Of porty bearing and above the average in
size. II is now in the possession Of Mrs. Helen A.
Grain, sister Of F; W. Porter Of Springfield, w.,
grandson Of the judge. Mr.. Porter has kindly fur
niahed us with Information relative TO the Porter fam
lily.
was John Porter, resident OF bingham, Mass, ia
In 1898. He was born IN England probably Ia DORSEY
In 1896. He was man Of energy and influence, well
known In the colony and held many official positions,
amOug them that Of deputy to the general court la
1868. The Essex county records give his will in full
which shows that be the largest landholder In Sa
lem village He died In Salem Village (now Danversl
Sept. o, lc76. His widow, Mary, whom he probably
married IN England, died Feb. 6, 1884. They had
eight children. Joseph Porter, Of John, bap
tzed In bingham, sept g. 1888, by Rev. Peter Hobart
Joseph married, Jan. ~, 1854 Anne, daugher of Mai
William aud Ann Hathorne, baptized in Salem, FIRST
church, Dec II. 1913. The marriage contract, taken
from the registry OF Deeds Essex county, reads
follows: Joseph Porter, Salem-agreement between
his father, Sergt John Porter aud William HathOrne,
concerning the marriage Of said Joseph with Aune,
daughter Of said WIN Hathorne, wherein said Hath
agrees TO give his daughter 60 within two years
from date Of their marriage, aud said John Porter
Downing farm, with one-hAlf an acre in town near
Mr. Geo KeAzer, both which shall be given Joseph on
tue day Of his marriage aud also ESQ to be paid in
horses neate cattle hides cider, some corn aud some
money within one year after marriage. jan. q 1854"
Joseph Porter had IL children His wife died previous
to his death, which occurred Dec. u, l7il Deacon
william Porter son OF Joseph, was born Aug 80, 1914;
lived In Topsneld, Mass; removed to Norton before
1880; married Phoebe Dorman, Dec. 25, 17OO He died
In Norton, May T. 1882. His widow died IN Brantree,
June a. l7gG aged 90 years They had eight children,
| william was born Feb l. l723 He was graduate Of
Harvard college in 1913; lived in Braintree, and
/ . school teacher by profession; taught the Latin
school Ia that town eght years httng young men for
Harvard college. Several Of the Latin aud Greek
| teIt.books used by him have been handed down in
the Porter family aud are now 10 the possession Of F.
W. Porter of Springfield, his great-grandson. The
books published in the sixteenth century except
one In the year 1887. Jabez Porter married Ruth
wadsworth. who died May H. 1872 at the age OF 55
years He died Jan o. 1902, aged 10. They had two
children, Ruth aud Samuel, born in Braintree. Ruth,
| aged 81 years
| samuel the subject Of this sketch, was born April
10, 1903, aud educated at his fathers school In
Brantree preparatory to entering Dartmouth college
Such the proficiency made In his studies that he
entered the senior class 1888 and graduated I'm 1890
one year from the time OF entertng college He began
the study OF law with stephen Il. Bradley OF West
minister, Vt, in the spring Of 1891, and In West
minister 10 January 1893 when he made bis frst pur-
chase OF land in Dummerston. II ia not certain that
he became a resident here ul 1894 He was admitted
to the practice OF law in wndhsm county, August Z,
1877; commissioned captain Of the first company,
hrst on The militia OF this state
| June l, 1902; was elected chief Judge Of Windham
county court for ls03-l-5 was Judge Of probate for
49, As; town representative in 1903 40; and
was seectman from lSO2 10 1907. He married Mehet-
able, daughter Of Gen Samuel and Mehetabe Hazel
tinej Fletcher OF Townshend. They had eight chill
dren all born in Dummerston except the eldest, who
was born 10 Townshend.
Ist. Samuel Wadsworth Porter was born Nov. 4,
lTq2 and received his education at Newfane BrAtte-
born and Chesterfield academies He began the study
Of Law with Hon. william G. Bradley OF Westminster,
Oct 90 1sli admitted to the practice Of law 10
Windham county court June n, 1914, opening a Law
once IN Putney, aud remove to Springfield 10 De-
cember, 1918, where be spent the Of his life He
was appointed postmaster when the irst pOst-ofhce
was established in Springfield in 1878, and held the
ONCE TIL 1928; town representative 10 ls2I.s;
county Judge for Windsor county from 1928 To 1887
was member OF the council Of censors aud Of the
hrst senate In 1861 and was town clerk from 1913
issI-ss Consecutive Years UemArrted Fam v daupb.
ter OF Hon Mar and Ann Ingeies1 Richards of West
minister. He died Aug H. 1852, in the 9Oth year OF
his age, and was the Oldest member Of the windsor
Springfield.
I'd. Henry Lee Porter was born Dec. 2s 1894; msr-
RED s) Betsey daughter Of Martin and Rebecca ia
cobs) Miller Of Dummerston June S. 1914, (2i) MARY
Ann daughter OF vespasan aud Nsbby Miller; re-
| moved west about 1880 aud died MAY II, 1861 Abe
Porter living 10 IAporte Ind, IL his son.
| Sd. Frederick Augustus Porter was born Sept. g.
| 1896; married Haunah daughter Of DeA Thaddeu,
ThAyer Of Dummerston, Sept 3, 1925 died IN Spring
held, Feb. II, 1861 He was a mechanical genius AnC
in bis boy hood noted for his ability 10 mannfac
| ture many useful articles with the limited number Of
tools At his command. He taught school as a sourc,
Of Income while ia his teens and devoted bis spar,
time to the mechanic arts His hrst work away from
| home was at Greenwich, Mass where he was employ
ed In making parts Of card machines for king
clothing from sample pieces given MIN 10 duplicate
While in Greepwich il occurred 10 him that he coult
greatly i'm prove the card machines aud build up
business far himself I'm The mannfscnre Of cards Fo
that reason be removed TO Springfield where he eou,
have good facilities for the business His two broth
ers, samuel W. and Charles T.. Joined him in the en-
| tetprise under the hrm name Of =. A. Porter 4 Co
His superior mocha meal skin and talent for Invention
enabled him to construct machines that produce,
cards OF the best quality far In advance Of any other
| made in this country At that time The machine
we're automatic to such an extent that one operativ
| could tend 20 machines ANY imperfection In tn
card teeth would cause The machine 10 stop Tunpip
until the defect was remedied by the attendant Hi
machines patented, and. for protection, tn
| machine-room was kent strictly private
4th. Sophia Charlotte Porter was born Aug &c
, 1928 She married Hon Marshall Miller july g. 1915
she was his second wife His hrst wife was Betse
| Campbell who died in 1913 Their only child wa
Elizabeth c. who is now the widow OF the late Josep
| Dir The children by the second marriage wer
Charles, Sophia, Samuel p, Norris Maria, Frederick
tansI JnSoe Miller died inv ia isso' sopSia' IN
wife, died MAY O. 1879 Judge Miller removed TO New
fame about 1895 in which town he and his wife died
5ih. George Washington Porter was born July ?:
, 1900: married Lucretia II. BudurthA Of Ware, Mass
- Aug, 25 1923: died MAY H. 1879. His widow is sti
= living After completing his education while in Dun
merston and vicinity he IA ght school in NorthamI
ton and other places for few terms; but the mercat
tile business had greater attractions for him tina
school teaching aud be went to Boston to at himse
l. for his fayorte pursuit. About the year lS25 he e
| tAbished general store In Ware, Mass associAtin
=, himself with Frank Howe partner, where they di
u very successful business nt 1887 when Mr.. Porte
l. | removed to Springfield VI Here he was associate
a | in the mercantile business with BENJAMIN =, Dam
. and continued in trade till the Springfield sAyinl
II bank was established in 1884 He was then appoints
its treasurer and by careful management aud marke
ability in conducting its affairs secured to the ban
the general confidence Of the pubic and Il now rAnl
for security among the hrst in the state. He contI
| ued treasurer of the bank tin his death IN 1879
l. had two daughters and i've sons One Of the latte
r | SAMUEL " Porter has been for many years mast,
a. | mechanic and master armorer at the T. g. Armory
4. | SpripRheld Mass and was one Of the Ave resdeu
e OF the United States who were granted diplomas 81
silver medals At the Vienna exposition In 1873 for e.
ID | cellenee In his department,
d 9Th, Serena Stella Porter was born June 8, 1870
- married Philip L. ioss merchant Of Amherst Mas
= | and removed to Ohio many years ago
~ It'll Amelia p Porter Was born jolly Is, 1904; ma
W | ried David Goss a brother of Philip aud removed
a | northern Ohio.
i, | 9Th Charles Edward Porter was born Sent 2 lsO
a | married lydia Ann Emersou of Newburyport Mass
died April TO- 1859 He was IN business with b
m | brother Frederick 10 the manufacture OF cards
= springfield where he resided from ls2b and in wh,
Al | town be died
"A Judge Samuel Porter was large dealer In real G
,e tate In 1908 he was the owner Of 500 acres Of land
= | Dummerston and up TO 1910 had made 40 purchas
ar of land in this town Except the home farm he so
most OF the land he had purchased before that dat
a Dnring the fail and winter Of IsOT-s he built We
c large tWostory house-probaby as large as any rel
"a | dence ever built in Dummeretop The only hou
which eouaIed Il in size was built the same wear
10 | Asa button The two men were competitors In II
M strife for the largest aud finest residence In tow
In MIR button had annie means 10 anish his uuderta
or ing but Judge Porter became embarrassed for wa
M OF ready money and his house was never complete
he apished During the time OF it's construction he !
sided ip the house which he bought Of RbeneEer WI
-. and soId 10 nv Uoaea packi.v n,t < 1909 ahout