Porter, Melvin 1878-1931

PORTER, JACOB, VAN DRASKA, COPELAND, REID

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 10/22/2012 at 10:13:59

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Jan. 6, 1931

FUNERAL OF MELVIN PORTER
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Impressive Services are Held in the
Methodist Church Sunday
Afternoon
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KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS AND
WOODMEN ATTEND IN BODY
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Services are Conducted by Rev. A.B.
Cadwell--Funeral is Largely
Attended
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The funeral of Melvin Porter Sunday was attended by a very large concourse of friends. The numerous relatives, their prominence, the tragic death of Mr. Porter and the attendance of the members of the lodges to which he belonged made the funeral one of the largest which has been held in many years. The Knights of Pythias in large numbers were present and added their sympathy for the sorrowing family and their appreciation of their former member to the long list of sorrowing relatives and friends.

The funeral at the Methodist church at one o'clock was in charge of Rev. A.B. Cadwell who drew useful lessons in living from the sudden death of Mr. Porter. The funeral was held Jan. 4, 1931, and just fifty-three years before, Jan. 4, 1878, Melvin Porter was born on a farm in Pleasant township, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Porter.

Nov. 29, 1905 he was united in marriage with Miss Lena Jacob then of Pleasant township. For sixteen years his residence has been in Grinnell.

Mr. Porter became a member of the Methodist church at Ewart and was a member at the time of his death. He was also a member of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodman lodge. Until his health failed about a year ago he was employed as a mechanic at Grinnell Motor Car Company on Main St.

His wife, Mrs. Lena Porter, survives him and also a son, Keith, and a daughter, Charlotte. Four brothers and three sisters living to mourn his death: T.W. Porter of Newton, J.D. Porter of Ewart, Mrs. Charles Van Draska of Grinnell, Mrs. J.S. Copeland of Ewart, Vernon F. and Harry Porter of Montezuma, and Mrs. Nina Reid of Ewart.

Singers at the funeral were F.E. Ludlow, Homer Dawkins, E.G. Peterson and J.L. Lindsey. They sang two songs, "Nearer My God To Thee" and "Jesus Savior Pilot Me."

Bearers were members of the K.P. lodge Clyde Connelly, Charles Hink, T.G. Mowitt, William Bader, Elmer Burnson and Ludwig Larsen.

Mr. Porter's daughter, Charlotte, who has been employed in the office of the secretary of the Scott store at Iowa City will not return to her position immediately but will be at home with her mother for a time. Mr. Porter's son, Keith, has returned to Charles City to resume his duties with the Hart Parr Company.

Among the out of town people present at the funeral were Mrs. Sarah Sweeney of Marshalltown, Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Cotton, Mrs. Charles McNary, Mrs. Jennie Copeland, Mr. Richard Fair, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Scott, Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Griffith, Mrs. Elsie Holland, all of Des Moines, and Fletcher Porter of Truro, Iowa.