The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-02-01
TRIBUTE TO MR.. PORTER.
Chadd's Ford Friend Speaks Kindly
of the Dead Man.

"A
Porter WRITES The lonowing to the West
chester Local News:
Inc deatn OF Miiilam Il. Porter, head
OF the j. Morton rooie Company, VINO
uleu ut his home On ADAMS street, VIZ
nington, from neuralgia OF the neafi,
.Ionuay, removes man who was luentl-
ned with the business interests and pup
nc growth OF the Delaware Metropons
anu VINO was the possessor OF a unique
and uncommon personality. Not only
was his sudden taxing or great shoeK
TO the community III which he hau re-
sided tur 50 many years, bur aiso IN other
sections as. Wei, 1or Nil. Porter had been
Il frequent visitor to West Chester Tor
many years, and only last summer spent
some time with his daughter, who Is the
wife of Dr. 5. Lane Anderson, OF
Shudd's Ford.
Born in beauford, 5. o., in the early
part of 1923, young Porter at an early
age showed an aptitude for business pur-
suits and when u lad Of tifteen years,
walked into the office OF the j. Morton
fooie Company i'll Wilmington and ask
ed Tor employment. MIR. Poole, the then
mead OF the concern, and afterwards Mi.
Eorter's partner, was SO tavofaDly I'M
pressed with the hrmness and reSolute
manner of the boy, that he conducted
ann 10 the machine shop ana put nun TO
work. lie had not been long in that ca
pacity until nc showed his admirable lit
.iess for the duties devolved upon the
Joy. lie rose rapIuly through the vari-
GUS gradatlous OF the business, until he
iuaily became Mr.. Pooles partner, anu
Jpon his death, succeeded to the entire
control OF the business.
TOR years his name has been synony.
.nuuS with the business activity and cor
Dor;Ite growth OF Wilmington. Possessed
| II Il broad mind, Il liberal view of pub
| &c matters and wealth Of general ana
.,ctul information, his opinion was
ought alter by many business men OF
,he city and III the State as well. Ii
| periods of business depression and iinan
lal Stasnaton, he was rs cool ana
collected as Napoleon ut Austerlitz, OF
as Grant at AppomattoX Court House
| lot he could be as mild as an Arcadiat
,cus;ult, ms gentle rs Il mountain deer
file had the rare faculty of making
riends by his personality and actua
| PERSONAL worth. Although sclf-madt
| nan Mr., Porter was imhucd with IL keel
| insight into human affairs, and when hi
poke or acted upon subject under hi,
| consideration, he was most always righ
| mi seldom wrong.
1 II WAS at the head of the Wilmington
| Water Department that he first came
hiciiy into public notice. This depart
ucnt was changed to its present system
| lhuut twenty years ago, and Mr.. Porter
| dong with Caesar Rodney, We're SccrtoC
As members Of the board. From the iirS
licensed took an active interest III III,
| workings of this huly and through hi
Clupulous honesty, integrity and capN
ity, many hundreds Of dollars have bee
avrd ~ the Tux payers. The Water De
Artmrnt was his personal hobby ana I,
make il second 70 none Of its eharactc
j The country was his absorbing ain
md ambition.
Once when IN attempt was made Il
urn il oyer To the Office hunters anf
roilsncn. Mr.. Porter Indignantly re
listed the efforts Of tho politicians IT.
respective oC party. He declared to TIL
writer, that never rs long rs he lived o
vas Il member Of the board, would h
| soc it descend to the level Of the ordinar
place hunting body. He had no axe T.
,rind. lie never turned aside to avoi
4 foe or meet Il friend. In his natur
here was no compromise, for when hi
mind was once set he was rs impalpabI
md formidable as rock.
1t was as a member of the Board o
Water Commissioners that the write
irst made the acquaintance of Mr.. por
or. and as the President Of that bod,
had the opportunity TO observe him il
III his characteristic moods. In the sey
ral years that he las known him. tn
writer always found nim Kind, afrabl
md courteous and whether he was he
ny interviewed upon matters prrtainin
o public import or Scmi-privat" end
he was ever the same agreeable an
DlraSant-srolen gentleman. Natural,
1nassuming in character, he shrank frol
/, The notoriety and glamour Of public lf
md possessed no political ambition.
; As an evidence Of The respect in whic
{ he was held, one has only to glance 4
he list Of those who gathered about I'll
T bier to honor his memory. Among I'll
! honorary pall-hcarrrs were many prom
lcnt in the various walks of life. Bus
ucss men left their counting room
!. Judges the bench, physicians their profe
sional duties, while workmrn quit the
benches on the day he was buried. He
lead and he is buried. The world IS be
. Ter that he has lived and his life is
i fitting example for truthfninpSs. bus;
:, moss integrity, sclupulous honesty an
uqare dealing between fellow men.
G W.
Chadd's Ford. January 80.