Elliott County Civil War Veterans in 1890

Written by John A. Stegall <johnstegall@hotmail.com
A continuation in a series of articles Mr. Stegall publishes in the Elliott County 
News, this article, (series #30), first appearing in the Sept 26, 1997 addition of said paper 
and continued from Sept 5, 1997.  Transcribed, with permission from Mr. Stegall, by 
Samone Ratcliff.

 	James Porter:  Pvt., Co., D, 40th., Ky., Mtd., Inf.  When the census was taken in 
1890, he stated that he entered the Union army on July 8, 1863 and ended his service on 
Dec 30, 1864.  He did not name his post office, but said he was from “Backbone in Elliott 
County”.
	James was an often-used name in the Porter family, therefore it is very difficult to 
sort out James that was in the Civil War.
	When the tax assessments were taken in Elliott Co in 1890, there was only one 
James Porter listed as a resident of the Little Fork Precinct. If he owned land, it was not 
specified in the tax record, neither was a nearest neighbor mentioned and this leads me to 
believe that his tax record might not have been complete.  Perhaps, though, I should point 
out that James Porter was listed as the nearest neighbor of Jacob Robinson and John 
Sloas.
	Backing up a bit to the 1880 Elliott Co census, we find that again only one James 
Porter was named in the Little Fork Precinct.  At that time he stated that he was 32 years 
of age, and was born in KY (Floyd Co, perhaps?).  His wife, Sary J., was 31, and also KY 
born.  They had 5 children: William A., 11 years; Lucy J., 8; Henry H., 6; U.S. Grant, 7; 
and Ellnoria, 2.
	Using age as a guide, I think this is the James Porter, age 22, named in the 1870 
Elliott Co census.  Sarah, his wife, was 21, and their only child, Allen, was 1 year of age.
	Carter Co marriage records indicate that a James Porter and Sarah J. McDavid 
were married Dec 5, 1867, at the residence of John McDavid, probably her father.  This is 
somewhat supported by a birth record in the vital statistics of Elliott Co, in which it is 
recorded that a son was born Aug 10, 1874 to James Porter and Sarah McDavid (Porter).
	I believe we can again pick up the veteran, James Porter, in the 1900 census of 
Elliott Co.  He stated that he was 53 years of age, having been born in Nov of 1847; 
Sarah was 52, indicating that she was born in Aug of 1847.  James and Sarah stated that 
they had been married 34 years, which would closely support the marriage date of 1867.  
They said they were the parents of 10 children, but that four of them were deceased.  
Children still at home with them in 1900 were: Harrison, 23, (born Aug 1876); Sherman, 
13 (Sept 1886); Tennessee, 11 (Aug 1888); and Linsa, 8 (Dec 1891).
	James Porter was apparently deceased by the time the 1910 census was taken.  
Sarah was named as a widow, 60 years of age.  Again, she indicated that she had 10 
children, 4 of which were deceased.  Still at home with her were: Harry, 28; Sherman, 24; 
Tennessee, 21; and Linzey, 18.  Her son, Allen, age 41, was living next door to her.  He 
was listed as a “Livestock dealer.”
	I am unable to identify James Porter’s parents, but it seems likely that he traces 
back to John Porter of NC, possibly through his son, Barnett.  Barnett had moved to KY 
before 1850 (remember that James was born in 1847 in KY), and his father, John, made 
the move from NC to KY in 1859, according to Porter family researchers. 

	John C. Porter: Pvt., Co., D, 40th., Ky., Mtd., Inf. Union army from July 8, 1863 
to Dec 30, 1865.  He did not name his post office, but indicated that he lived at 
“Backbone of Elliott Co”.
	It is interesting to note that there was a post office named Backbone, perhaps due 
to its proximity to a long rocky ridge called “The Backbone”.  This particular post office 
had been established on Dec 24, 1877 by John C. Porter, undoubtedly the Civil War 
veteran.
	Porter researchers seem to indicated that John C. Porter was born July 4, 1835 in 
VA, according to the census records.  The same researchers say John C. Porter and 
Rebecca C. Porter were married on Aug 1, 1853, but they do not indicate where they 
were married.  
	John C., was the sixth child of John Porter and Sarah “Sally” Shew of Wilkes Co, 
NC and Russell Co, VA.  Sharah Shew (Shue) was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1810.
	When the 1870 Elliott Co census was taken, John Porter indicated that he was 35 
years and born in VA, most likely in Russell Co.  Rebecca was 33, and indicated that she 
was born in TN.  Their children named in this census report were: Martha, 15; Leander, 
9; Louisa, 7; Mockberry, 4; and Marion, 1.  The name, Mockberry would be, in my 
opinion, a misspelling. 
	When the census was taken in 1880, John C. Porter was a resident of the Little 
Fork Precinct, and indicated that he was 44 years of age; Rebecca C., was 42, and again 
indicated that she was born in TN.  Children living in their household were: Leander, 20; 
Louisa, 17; Bonry, 14 and most likely the child referred to as Mockberry in the 1870 
census; Tafis M., 11; Stalawognia (misspelling?), 7; Walker, 5; Sallie, 3; Martha, 23 (the 
first born of their children); and the presumed children of Martha: John Fraley, 6; Lusy 
Fraley, 4; and Rebeca Fraley, 3.  (Elliott County Cemetery records show that the son, 
Bonry, is buried in the Porter Cemetery on Backbone Hill.  His gravestone has his name 
Boney M., born June 7, 1866 and died July 16, 1905.)
	The 1900 Elliott Co tax records indicate that John C. Porter owned 100 acres of 
land in the Little Fork Precinct.  He stated that there were tow children between the ages 
of 6 and 20 years in his home, and that his nearest neighbor was J.D. Sparks.
	The 1900 Elliott Co census places John C. Porter in the Brown Precinct, an 
indication that he had apparently moved from the Little Fork area.  He stated that he was 
64 years of age, having been born in July of 1835 in VA.  No wife or children were 
named, so he was apparently living alone.  It should be noted that John C. Porter’s sister, 
Camelia, had married Lemuel Johnson.  This particular Johnson family had settled near 
Brown Ridge in the western part of Elliott Co.  In 1900, John C. Porter, a brother to 
Camelia Porter Johnson, was living next door to their son, William P. “Bill” Johnson.
	In 1910, J.C. Porter, age 74 years, and a Union Veteran, was a resident of the 
Cracker’s Neck Precinct.  He was recorded as living alone, with no wife or children 
named.
	John C. Porter died Dec 12, 1912, but I am unable to identify the cemetery where 
he is buried.

	Larkin M. Porter: Pvt., Co., B, 39th., Ky., Inf.  His military service began on 
May 15, 1863 and ended on Sept 15, 1865.  He indicated that he lived on the “Backbone 
of Elliott Co”, and his address would have been Backbone.
	Larken “Mack” Porter was born Oct 13, 1844 in VA.  He was a son of John and 
Sarah Shew, and a brother to John C. Porter, the Veteran previously mentioned.  I 
suspect, but cannot prove, that he was a brother to James Porter.
	Porter researchers say Larkin Porter married Amanda Elizabeth McDavid in 
Carter Co on Oct 18, 1866.
	When the 1870 Elliott Co census was taken, Larken Porter was 24 years of age, 
was born in VA, and was a resident of the Little Fork area.  Amanda was 23, and stated 
that she, too, was born in VA.  They had two children; Allace, 3; and Laura, 3 months.  
They were living next door to Larken’s father, John H. Porter, age 70.
	In the 1880 Elliott Co census, Larkin Porter is listed as Mack.  He was 38 years of 
age, and again stated that he was born in VA.  Amanda was 30.  Ages given by Larken 
and Amanda in 1880 are not consistent with the ages they gave in 1870; however, if he 
was born in 1844, neither age was correct.  Children named in the 1880 census were: 
Allice, 13; Laura, 10; John, 6; Bermedia, 4; Ishubo, 2; and Joseph, 18 and listed as a 
“Son”.  In 1870, Joseph was 7 years of age and living in the home of Larken’s father, 
John H. Porter, which leads me to believe that Joseph was probably Larken’s brother.
	Larkin Porter stated in 1900 that he was 54 years of age, which is consistent with 
the 24 he gave in 1870, and with the birth date of Oct 1846 he gave in 1900.  Manda was 
53, stating that she was born in Mar 1847, in KY.  They had been married 33 years, and 
had nine children, all living.  Children still at home with them were: Ishabe?, 22 (born 
Apr 1878); James M., 19 (July 1880); Carace?, 17 (Oct 1882); Nancy J., 15 (June 1884); 
and George, 11 (Dec 1888).
	Larkin M. Porter was 65 years old in 1910, and stated that he was a merchant and 
a Union Veteran.  Amanda was also 65.  They had been married 44 years, and again 
stated that they had nine children.  Two children, Nancy, 23, and George, 21,were at 
home with Larkin and Amanda.  The son listed as Ishabe in 1900, is named Ishabode in 
the 1910 census, and was living near his parents.
	Larkin Porter died Feb 20, 1922, but I cannot identify the cemetery where he is 
buried.  I would think, however, that he is buried in one of the Porter cemeteries in the 
Little Fork area.

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