Porter, Isaac

PORTER, MICHAEL, HAYES, WYATT, STRAIN, ROSENOW, VAN DIKE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 11/23/2008 at 17:23:42

PORTER, Isaac; Farmer and stock raiser; Sec. 18; P. O. Prairie City; born in Decatur Co., Ind., Aug. 26, 1826; came to this county in 1855; has 520 acres of land, valued at $15,600. Held the offices of Town Trustee, County Supervisor, etc. Married Mary HAYS; she was born in Henry Co., Ind., April 2,3 1840; they have three children-Annie, Sarah and Nancy E.; Andrew J. died when he was 10 years old. Emigrated direct from Indiana to this county, where he has resided since; raises 5,000 bushels of corn yearly, 900 bushels of wheat and 600 bushels oats; turns off sixty-five hogs; when he came here, he drove through some stock; was single at that time, and had but a very little money, but to-day has 520 acres of land as fine as a man need look at, which shows what a man can do if only he has the vim about him; to-day he can be classed among the wealthiest farmers of the county; has some pure-blooded Berkshire pigs, and any one in want of any would do well to call and examine his stock; has one of the best barns in the county; good orchard of 400 trees, thirty-six cherry trees, 200 grape vines and a variety of small fruit; came here among the earliest settlers and knows what a pioneer life is. ~ "The History of Jasper County" (Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878), 645
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Isaac Porter

Farming and stock-raising have formed the chief occupation of this gentleman, and the wide-awake manner in which he has taken advantage of every method and idea tending towards the enhanced value of his property has had considerable to do with his success in life. In addition to being a successful stockman, whose opinions on all matters pertaining to that industry carry with them much weight in the county, Mr. Porter is a man of broad intelligence and has given much attention to questions of public import. He is now the proprietor of the Porter Stock Farm, one of the largest and best in Jasper County.

Originally from the Hoosier State, Mr. Porter was born in Decatur County, August 21,1826, and his parents, John and Sarah (Michael) Porter, were natives of Virginia, the former born in July 1793, and the latter in 1801. Our subject's grandfather, David Porter, was a native of Scotland, and he and four brothers came to this country at an early date, landing in New York City. David and one brother remained in New York, but the others went on to Boston, Mass., and finally all trace of them was lost. David went from New York to Virginia, served seven years in the Revolutionary War, and participated in the battles of Brandywine and Bunker Hill, being wounded during his service. He subsequently moved to Indiana, where he was one of the pioneers. He was twice married, and the father of our subject was next to the eldest of three sons. The latter was a soldier in the War of 1812. His brother David died in Indiana, and Alexander died in Decatur County, Ind., in 1891, when ninety-one years of age.

John Porter, the father of our subject, was a man of more than ordinary ability and was quite prominent in politics. He accumulated considerable wealth and came to Iowa, where his death occurred in 1868. He married Miss Michael, daughter of Philip Michael, a native of Pennsylvania, and one of the pioneers of Decatur County, Ind., where he passed the closing scenes of his life. Our subject was third in order of birth of thirteen children, all but one of whom grew to mature years, and eight of whom are now living. He was early trained to the duties of the farm and received a good practical education. After growing up, he taught school for five years, and in 1853 came to Iowa. While in Indiana he worked on a farm for $10 per month. After he had accumulated some means he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, paying $100 down. Soon afterward he sold this at a profit of $1,000 anti bought land near Prairie City.

From that time to the present Mr. Porter has prospered, and he now owns one of the largest and finest stock farms in the county, being counted one of the wealthiest men of his locality. His farm consists of about eight hundred acres, on which he has some of the finest imported horses. Of late years he has been taking life easy and his children look alter his farming interests. Mr. Porter was married in 1859 to Miss Mary Hayes, a native of Henry County, Ind. Her father, William Hayes, was a native of North Carolina, born in 1814, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Jasper County, Iowa, settling here as early as 1846, and was one of the wealthiest men of the county. He is still living, but has given his large fortune to his children, with whom he now finds a pleasant home. His wife, whose maiden name was Anna Wyatt, was born in Virginia, and died in 1884. Her father was killed by the Indians.

Mr. and Mrs. Porter have had four children, as follows: Anna married John Strain in 1878, and lives on a part of her father's farm; she is the mother of three children, Eugene, James and John. Sarah married Ferdinand Rosenow in 1882, and now lives on the farm with her parents; they have had two children, Mary and Cora. Nancy married Charles Van Dike in January 1893, and lives on his own farm. The only son, Andrew Jackson Porter, died in 1875, when eleven years of age. Our subject has been a life long Democrat and has filled many of the local offices in his county, the most prominent being County Supervisor, Township Trustee, etc. He is a prominent Mason. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 597