Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 258
MRS. SARAH A. PORTER, who has been a resident of Muscatine County for many years, and is now living in Conesville, was born in Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of Henry G. and Hannah ( Negley ) Hesser. Her father was born in Pennsylvania, May 4, 1792, and died Jan. 15, 1871, while his wife, who was born Feb.20, 1793, departed this life Feb.7, 1875. They were the parents of ten children : Elizabeth C., widow of Rev. J. G. McKeehan, is now living in Chambersburg, Pa.; Lydia, widow of Dr. C. G. Reinhold, is a resident of Williamsport, Pa.; William and Mary Jane both died in infancy; Sarah Ann of this sketch, is the next in order of birth; Martha Jane wedded William Hess, who died in 1857, and had been a widow for seventeen years when she became the wife of W. H. Stewart, of Muscatine, who died in January, 1881, her own death occurring of the 24th of September following; George Washington died when four years of age; Hannah C. was the wife of Isaac Harless, and after his death wedded Robert N. Cawdery, who died in 1888, but she yet resides in Washington Territory; Joseph H., makes his home in Calhoun County, Iowa, and Charles W. is living in Clay Centre, Kan.

Miss Hesser spent the days of her girlhood in Pennsylvania, and in that State was united in marriage with J. B. Porter, the ceremony being performed May 15, 1853. Mr. Porter was a native of Pennsylvania, born April 22, 1802, and was a son of James and Elizabeth ( Buchanan ) Porter. His father was a native of Ireland, but in an early day emigrated to America, and participated in the famous Boston Tea Party, where the men dressed as Indians, threw a ship-load of tea into the sea at Boston Harbor. During the Revolutionary War he served under Gen. Washington for seven years, and was with him at Yorktown, Pa., at the disbandment of the army. Mrs. Porter was a second cousin of James Buchanan, one of the Presidents of the United States.

J. B. Porter, the husband of our subject, had been previously married with Miss Rebecca Pfouts, and to them were born five children: David James, who is now living in Nevada; Anna E., wife of Jesse Gubb, of Pennsylvania; Mary, widow of John R. Porter, residing in Minneapolis, Minn.; Thomas, who makes his home in Pennsylvania, and Rebecca, who died in childhood. In early life Mr. Porter followed the profession of school teaching, and for eighteen years was the teacher for one school in Liverpool, Pa. For many years he served as County Superintendent in that State, and after coming to Iowa held the position of County Superintendent of Louisa County for two years. Being gifted with oratorical powers, and taking great interest in political affairs, he often made political speeches, and during the several campaigns canvassed the State of Pennsylvania. He supported the Whig party during his earlier years, but at its dissolution he enlisted in the ranks of the new Republican party, and was ever after one of its firm advocates. He, however, once voted for Andrew Jackson, of which fact he seemed rather ashamed, as he would always add: " I never voted the Democratic ticket but that once though."

For fourteen years after their marriage Dr. Porter and his wife remained residents of Pennsylvania, when, deciding to cast their lot in the West, they emigrated to Iowa, locating in Louisa County, where they remained until in February, 1865, and then removed to Muscatine County. He was a member of the I. O. O. F., and for thirty years proir to his death had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and took great interest in its advancement. On the 9th of September, 1883, he was called to his final rest, leaving behind the loving wife who had been to him a true helpmate for thirty years. Mrs. Porter is still residing in Conesville. Her life has been devoted to the cause of the Master for fifty-two years, for which time she has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She is numbered among Muscatine County's most noble women, and is held in high esteem for her excellencies of character.

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