George A. Ports

PORTS, WALTERS, RACKLIFF

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/10/2011 at 18:53:30

George A. Ports, cashier of the Huntington Bank, has been continuously identified with banking since making his initial step in the business world in 1900. He has chosen to apply himself to his work and is now thoroughly conversant with all of the main points in banking and many of the details. He was born in Carroll County, Illinois, April 18, 1880, a son of J. J. and Lottie (Walters) Ports, who were natives of Maryland and of Illinois respectively. In 1892 they removed to Iowa, settling first at Iowa Falls, where they resided for five years. On the expiration of that period of time they established their home upon a farm in Emmet County, whereon they resided until 1912, the father becoming one of the leading agriculturists of the district. They then removed to Estherville, where they now reside, and they are among the highly respected residents of that place.

George A. Ports is one of a family of four children, of whom three are yet living. He perused his education in the schools of Iowa Falls, becoming a high school pupil there, and eventually he entered a business college at Minneapolis, Minnesota, from which he graduated in July 1900, thus qualifying for life's practical and responsible duties. He afterward turned his attention to the banking business in Dolliver, where he remained for a year and a half, and in 1902 he removed to Huntington, accepting the position of cashier in the bank of that place He has since served in that capacity, taking an active part in directing the policy and shaping the business interests of the bank.

In August, 1903, Mr. Ports was married to Miss Louise Rackliff, who was born in Humboldt, Iowa, and is a daughter of Eli and Addie (Neal) Rackliff, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Ports have become the parents of three sons: Eugene H., born May 26, 1904; Jay N., born September 22, 1906; and Paul F., January 2, 1909.

The family occupy a fine new home in Huntington which is the property of Mr. Ports. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church and he also belongs to the Masonic Lodge at Estherville, and to the Modern Woodmen Camp at Huntington, of which he has been the clerk for ten years. In politics he is a republican and is now filling the office of township school treasurer. He is actuated in all that he does by a public-spirited devotion to the general good and his energy and industry have made him a representative business man of the town in which he resides.

Source: History of Emmet County and Dickinson County Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, The Pioneer Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1917.