Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-19
JAMES S. PORTER.
Interesting Sketch of His Life by Rev.
j. M. McElroy.

James S. Porter was born near Pitts
burg, Pa, Nov. 81, 1926. His parents
removing to Cambridge, Guernsey
county, Ohio. in 1882, his early life
was spent in that region. Some 9TH
er well known Iowa men grew UP in
that part of Ohio, their early training
being technical rather than academic.
Our United States Senator James F.
Wilson was a harness maker; Rev.
Maynard, Fairfield, pastor some
years since, was a coach maker; our
governor Stone was a chair maker.
and Porter was a wagon maker. In
the early fifties the Porter family
came to Iowa, settling in Van Buren,
county. In 1856 James Porter, with
his young wife, came to Ottumwa,
from Keosauqua. They lived at first
in a small brick house on Front
street between Green and Jefferson,
and, later, bought lot at the corner
of Jefferson and Fourth streets and
built their first home, where is now
the r. N. Morren residence.
For about six years Mr.. Porter was
associated with Philip Keister in wag-
on making and plow repairing bust
ness. In 1862 he enlisted as private
in John M. Hedricks company in the
Fifteenth Iowa infantry, but before
the regiment left Iowa he was chosen
by vote of his comrades first lieuten-
ant of the company.
Inc writer was a near neighbor to
Porter and his pastor, and our families
were intimate. Citizens generally went
to the depot between Union and Vine
streets to see the soldier boys off
for keokuk. l fell in with Porter on
College square-then covered with ma
tive timber, now the Adams school
grounds. He had just hidden good
bye to his wife and two little boys.
We walked slowly and in silence. At
length he spoke up: Mr.. McElroy, /
think | have this morning fought my
hardest battle!" That may nave been
the fact, yet he saw, in following
years, some pretty hard service; at
Pittsburg Landing, where he was
wounded; at Corinth, in the battles be-
to the sea. AS a soldier and officer he
rendered effective and honorable SER
vice, being promoted to captain and
major and acting lieutenant colonel.
At the close of the war, upon turn
ing home he was elected judge hold
ing the Office two terms. Several
years later he was chosen mayor of
Ottumwa, serving efficiently for two
terms.
In 1883 he removed to northern Ne
braska, settling in Holt county, where
he spent his remaining days as far
mer and ranch man, his death occur
ring at Ewing, Nebraska, December IL,
1901, at the age OF rs years.
Mr.. Porter was a man of very fine
talents and attachments and of good
executive ability. He was not poll
clan nor a speech maker, nor an am
bilious self-seeker. The honors that
came to him were, Judge, unsought.
His spirit and life We're such as
brought friends to him. The people
saw in him a competent and faithful
man, of transparent honesty and they
loved and trusted him.
Religiously he was trained in the
strict discipline of the Associate Re-
formed church, and united with the
Ottumwa Presbyterian church in 1857,
and was an elder in the church in OF
tumwa and in Nebraska His wife,
who was Miss Isabella Goddard, and
most worthy woman, was member
of the Ottumwa Methodist church,
uniting with the Presbyterian church
| in 1861. Mrs. Porter died in 1881.
Their children were four in number,
all boys. The eldest and youngest,
Eddie and Charley. died quite young,
and are sleeping beside their mother
in the Ottumwa cemetery. The 9th
er two sons, Harry Porter, of Lincoln,
and Frederick Porter, of Ewing, Ne
braska, were present at the funeral on
Sunday, Dec. Is, in the Presbyterian
church. Many old citizens and old
soldiers and members and officers Of
the church We're present, the services
being in charge of the pastor, Rev. F.
F. Stoltz, assisted by the writer Of
these lines. j. M. McElroy.
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| A cold. cough or la Crime can ha