PORTER, Robert A. - 1914

PORTER, STINSON, WIRT

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/9/2009 at 09:00:27

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

ROBERT A. PORTER.

Agricultural interests of Cherokee county find a progressive and worthy representative in Robert A. Porter, who owns and operates one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land on section 15, Amherst township. He was born in Illinois, July 24, 1879, and is a son of Robert M. and Eleanor (Stinson) Porter, the former a native of England and the latter of Pennsylvania. The father came to America with his parents when he was nine years of age and was reared and educated in Illinois. There he began his independent career as a coal miner and at the outbreak of the Civil war enlisted in an Illinois regiment. Upon the close of hostilities he returned home and resumed his coal mining for some time, after which he rented land and turned his attention to farming. He remained connected with agricultural interests in that state until 1893, when he came to Cherokee county, Iowa, and purchased land in Amherst township. This he operated until 1903, when he retired from active life and moved to Alarcus, where he resided until his death, in February, 1910. His wife passed away in June,

Robert A. Porter was fourteen years of age when he came with his parents to Cherokee county and he completed an education begun in Illinois in the public schools of this locality. Since his arrival here he has never left the homestead and in 1911 purchased the property. He has one hundred and sixty acres on section 15, Amherst township, and specializes in the breeding of thoroughbred Duroc Jersey hogs, raising also Buff Orpington chickens. He has met with excellent success in the conduct of his interests and is regarded as a practical and representative agriculturist.

On the 25th of November, 1903, Mr. Porter was united in marriage to Miss Iva Wirt, a daughter of Joseph and Margaret Wirt, pioneers in Cherokee county. The father passed away in April, 1912, and his widow resides upon the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have two children : Margaret, aged eight ; and Robert, aged five.

Mr. Porter is a member of the Methodist church and is connected fraternally with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is interested in school affairs, serving at the present time as school director. Having resided in this township and upon his present farm since his early youth, he is very well known here and he holds the esteem and confidence of all who are in any way associated with him.