Charles Joseph Porth

PORTH, BOWMAN, SCHROEDER, SERK

Posted By: Barbara Gehlsen Nugent (email)
Date: 7/26/2011 at 23:40:40

Wolfe's History of Clinton County, Iowa, Volume 1, excerpt:

CHARLES JOSEPH PORTH.

The Porth family, for a number of generations, has been among the best known and most highly respected in the central part of Clinton county, and they have shown themselves as especially worthy of commendation in connection with agricultural pursuits, their farms always being well tilled and well kept and they have always made a comfortable living and had good homes and their reputations for honesty and integrity have been without a stain.

No better representative of this honored family is to be found than Charles Joseph Porth, who is a native of this county, born in Olive township on the old homestead, May 4, 1869. He is the son of Carl and Thresa (Bowman) Porth; the father was born in Germany on April 20, 1830. and the mother was born in Pennsylvania on July 20, 1831. Carl Porth spent his early manhood in Germany and was educated there. He emigrated to America in 1856 and settled in Hampton, Illinois. In 1858 he located in Clinton county, Iowa, on a forty-acre farm. He was an excellent manager and farmed on an extensive scale. As he prospered, he added to his original purchase until he owned five hundred acres of excellent land at the time of his death, all lying in Olive township. He was a general farmer and an extensive stock raiser and feeder, and he became well known and influential here. In politics he was a Democrat, but he never asked his friends for public office. He was a loyal member of the Catholic church, in which faith he died. His family consisted of six children, of whom five are living, three sons and two daughters. Carl Porth was also the father of four children by a former marriage, three of whom are living. By a former marriage the mother of the subject also had four children, of whom three are living. Carl Porth's death occurred on January 20, 1908, having been preceded to the grave by his wife on October 20, 1907.

Charles J. Porth, of this review, grew to maturity on the homestead and received his education in the local public schools. When a small lad he began farming and he has always followed this line of endeavor, with a large degree of success attending his efforts. He is now the owner of two hundred and eighty-seven acres, and he makes stock raising one of the principal lines of his work, being a good judge of all kinds of live stock and some excellent specimens are to be found at his place in all seasons. He has a comfortable home and good outbuildings.

Politically, Mr. Porth is a Democrat, but he has never sought office, preferring to devote his attention to his farm and live stock exclusively. He and his family are members of the Catholic church.

Mr. Porth was married on August 27, 1891, to Dora Schroader, who was born in Scott county, Iowa, and who is the daughter of Carl and Hannah Serik, both natives of Germany and early settlers of Scott county, Iowa, and there the father is still living, the mother being deceased. They became the parents of eight children, of whom five are living. To Mr. and Mrs. Porth five children have been born, namely: Yangle, Harry, Edwin, Norwin and Lester.