Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah November 1, 2020

Among the native sons of Illinois, who are well established in Iowa is Wilbur H. Porter, assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Glidden and also now filling the office of mayor of the town. He was born in La Salle county, Illinois, June 15, 1877, a son of Erwin and Amanda E. (Sellers) Porter, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The father was reared in the Buckeye state and after arriving at manhood moved to La Salle county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming. Later he came with his family to Carroll county, and established his home upon three hundred and sixty acres of land in Glidden township, which he improved and provided with most of the modern conveniences. Here he lived until 1900, when he took up his residence in Glidden, but after three years he and his wife removed to Guthrie, Oklahoma, where they now reside. They are both members of the Presbyterian church. In their family were eight children: Anna, the wife of George P. Halsted, of Guthrie, Oklahoma; Alice I., who died at the age of eighteen years; Wilbur H., of this review; Clifford R. and Roy E., both of whom are of Guthrie; Zella E., who is engaged in teaching in the public schools of Guthrie; Earle S., a graduate of the University of Oklahoma; and one who died in infancy. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Robert Porter, a native of Ohio and by occupation a farmer. There were eight children in his family, Mary, Maggie, David, Cyrus, Mattie, William, Amanda and Erwin. The maternal grandfather was also a native of Ohio and in his family were three children, William, Amanda and Alice.

Wilbur H. Porter came from La Salle county, Illinois, to Iowa with his parents at the age of thirteen and has ever since made Carroll county his home. He was reared on his father’s farm and after securing his preliminary education in the public schools of Glidden went to Dixon, Illinois, and took a course at the Dixon Business College, which proved of great practical benefit to him in after years. After returning home he engaged as clerk in grocery stores for several years until the fall of 1901, when he entered the First National Bank as bookkeeper. After being connected with this institution for eighteen months he was appointed assistant cashier, which position he has filled to the general satisfaction of the officers and patrons of the bank. He is the owner of one hundred and forty acres of land, which is located near Elgin, in Morton county, North Dakota, and in business affairs has shown a judgment that has produced very satisfactory returns.

On the 15th of June, 1904, Mr. Porter was married to Miss Jennie Walter, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Henry A. and Alice (Adams) Walter. The parents were also born in the Keystone state but came to Glidden, Iowa, about 1885, where they took up their permanent residence. The father was accidentally killed by the cars at Glidden on the 7th of March, 1911. He had arrived at the age of seventy-two years, three months and four days. The mother still lives at the old homestead in Glidden. There were five children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Walter, Harry, Jennie, Alice G., Charles C. and Effie. Henry A. Walter was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Felmley, and to this union two children were born: Emma, who is the wife of C. M. Fout, of Worland, Missouri; and Annie, who married Harvey Keubler and lives near Lanesboro, Iowa. Mr. Walter was a man of sturdy character and a brave and loyal citizen. He served as a private in the Civil war in Company I, One Hundred and Sixty-eight Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

Mr. Porter and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, of which he is an elder. In politics he is a stanch supporter of the platforms and candidates of the republican party. He served as recorder of Glidden for six years. He was elected mayor in 1910 and is now in the second term in that office. Possessing an attractive address and also the ability to make friends, he has a large circle of acquaintances in Carroll county and is recognized as one of the substantial and progressive men of the county, for whom the future is bright with promise.

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