Porter Hines 1817-1904

HINES, VAN NEST, RATHBUN

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 1/9/2019 at 08:37:58

5 May 1904 - West Branch Times

Porter Hines died at the home of his daughters, southeast of town, Tuesday night at 10 o'clock. The funeral will be held this afternoon (Thursday) at 2 o'clock at the Presbyterian church.

12 May 1904 - West Branch Times

Porter Hines was born Aug. 15, 1817, in McKeesport, Pa., being at the time of his death, aged 86 years, 8 months and 28 days.

He was twice married, being united in marriage to Margaret Van Nest, Feb. 4, 1840, in Worcester, Ohio. She died December 17, 1854. Nov. 15, 1855, he was married to Cornelia Rathbun, who departed this life Jan. 28, 1892. He is survived by two sons and three daughters.

He was one of the pioneer settlers of this community, coming here in Oct., 1849, residing within seven miles of this place for 55 years and having seen the then unbroken prairies develop into the cultivated, populous country. He helped to lay out, over the trackless prairies, the first road used by the early settlers.

His mental faculties were not imparied by his extreme age and he was able to read and converse understandingly until within a short time of his death. In his active manhood he was generous to a fault, giving liberally of his means to every cause and for the advancement of the community. He was an affectionate father, a kind neighbor and a staunch friend. He was a man of refined tastes, being passionately fond of flowers and birds, and when his life was fast ebbing away, a little bird was trilling its notes outside the window of his room, seeming to be wafting his spirit on wings of song to the brighter shore.

Those who kindly cared for him in his declining years will view the vacant chair with saddened hearts.