Porter, Andrew J.

PORTER, MICHAEL

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/15/2009 at 06:51:18

Andrew J. Porter, who ranks among the prosperous agriculturists of Fairview Township, Jasper County, was born in Decatur County, IN, July 17, 1840. His parents, John and Sarah (Michael) Porter were natives of Ohio and Virginia respectively. Grandfather Porter was a native of Pennsylvania, and served his country in her struggle for independence. His father in turn came to this country from Ireland when a young man.

0ur subject is the ninth of eleven children in the parental family. They are as follows: Nancy, James, Isaac, Casper, Philip, John, Tamer, William, Andrew J., Elizabeth and Robert. The mother of this family died when attaining her seventy-ninth year. The father came to Iowa in 1858, and one year later settled on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which Andrew J. now owns. He was a sagacious and industrious man and a Democrat in his political affiliations. He died at the age of seventy-four years.

Andrew J. Porter, in 1862, enlisted in the late war in Company G, Twenty-third Iowa Infantry. He was not in many famous battles as his army life was spent, mostly west of the Mississippi. He served faithfully until the close of the conflict when in the spring of 1865 was honorably discharged at Mound City, IL. On account of a slight disability he now receives a small pension. Andrew J. remained under the parental roof until the death of his worthy parents, when ha bought the old homestead and there resided until 1882. At that time he came to Fairmount, this county, and engaged in the grain and lumber business, in which he has since been very successful.

Our subject is a man of good mental endowments, frank and straightforward, and is highly regarded by all who know him or have had dealings with him. The Grand Army of the Republic claims him as one of its lending members, being connected with Shelledy Lodge No. 84, at Monroe. He is also a member of the Free & Accepted Masons. Religiously he belongs to the Baptist Church and politically is always in favor of the candidates of the Democracy. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 215.