John Henry Porter (1887)

PORTER

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 11/7/2007 at 04:11:02

Winterset Madisonian - December 15, 1887
Winterset, Iowa
page 4

A sad affair occured at Macksburg last week in which J. H. Porter, one of the oldest settlers of the county, was accidentally shot and killed. The particulars are about as follows: Mr. Porter left his home to attend a shooting match about a half mile from his home. After arriving he dismounted his horse and went to the fire to get warm. He was standing at the fire and had not been there five minutes when the accident occured. A ten year old son of Samuel Lockard and another boy were standing a few feet away examining a gun which became discharged from some unaccountable reason, the full charge entering Mr. Porter's left side just above the heart. He exclaimed "My God, I am shot," and sank down, expiring almost immediately without another word. Just what discharged the gun or just what they were doing with it is not known as the boys were so badly frightened they could not give any explanation of it whatever. It is a very sad occurence and has caused much sorrow throughout the county. The deceased was seventy-two years old and much respected by his neighbors and friends. He was one of the earliest settlers of Madison county, coming here in 1849.

Note: Burial was made in the Moon cemetery.