James L. Porter, busily engaged in the work of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which constitutes his home place, and a tract of eighty acres on another section, is numbered among the representative agriculturists of the community. His home is situated in Stanwood and the farm is a well developed property. Since 1879 Mr. Porter has lived in Cedar county and in the three decades which have since elapsed has become widely and favorably known.
He was born In Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, July 20, 1851. His father, William Porter, was also a native of that county, born in 1819, and there he was reared and after arriving at years of maturity he married Isabella Lane, a native of Pennsylvania. He followed farming in the Keystone state and ere their removal to the middle west four children were added to the family. In the year 1852 he left the east and, in company with his wife and children, made his way to Warren county, Illinois, settling ten miles north of Monmouth. There he took up his abode upon a farm, on which he reared his children. His death there occurred in October, 1899, and his wife survived him for about three years.
James L. Porter was reared to manhood in Warren county, living upon the farm, so that he early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. His education was acquired in the common schools and after he had attained his majority he continued to live for several years with his father whom he assisted in carrying on the work of the fields.
On the 20th of February, 1878, Mr. Porter was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Maley, who was born and reared in Warren county, Illinois, a daughter of W. C. Maley, a native of Virginia, who in young manhood removed westward to Illinois, becoming one of the early settlers of Warren county. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Porter came to Iowa, settling first in Ringgold county, where he carried on farming for a year. He then removed to Cedar county and located on land in Fremont township, first purchasing eighty acres, upon which some improvements had been made. He at once began to cultivate and develop that property, upon which he resided for several years, after which he purchased one hundred and sixty acres near by and removed to his new farm. Upon the latter place he erected a good, two-story residence, a substantial barn, double corn cribs and a hog house. He also fenced and tiled the place, set out a grove and some fruit. He has plenty of water upon the place and has a water system whereby water is piped for the stock. In connection with tilling the soil he also raises horses and feeds and fattens from three to four carloads of cattle and two carloads of hogs each year. He also makes a specialty of raising Percheron horses. In 1907 he bought a town residence, since which time he has added to and remodeled the place, and he has since made his home in the town of Stanwood. For many years, however, he was closely and actively associated with farming interests.
Mr. and Mrs. Porter have five children, namely: Fred L., who is living on the home farm; Bert, a farmer, who married Freda Oetting and has two children, Merle and Margaret; Warren, who completed the high-school course in 1910; Mary, at home; and Grace, who is now a teacher in the schools of Webster City, Iowa. They lost their oldest child, a son, William M. , who was a well educated young man, having graduated from Monmouth College, at Monmouth, Illinois. He died in December, 1908.
The parents are members of the United Presbyterian church of Stanwood. In his political views Mr. Porter is a democrat and is an advocate of the cause of temperance. He has never sought nor desired office, however, preferring to center his energies upon his business interests. He has thus become one of the prosperous and well known farmers and business men of Cedar county, where he has been engaged for a long period not only in general farming but also in breeding and dealing in high grade stock. He is today one of the substantial residents of the county and, moreover, is regarded as a public-spirited citizen, his labors constituting an element in the support of all measures and movements which he deems of public benefit and value.
