Wessie Porter, 1932, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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>From the September 30, 1932 Winnfield News-American


Mrs. Wessie Porter, First Woman Justice of Peace, Takes up Duties in Ward 6
Monday


Mrs. Wessie Porter, of Atlanta, Justice of the Peace of Ward 6, and first
woman to hold an elective office in Winn Parish, took oath of office in the
clerk's office here Monday morning.  Appointed by Governor Allen to fill the
office made vacant by the death of her father, J. W. Vance, Mrs. Porter
received her commission Friday.

J. W. Vance, who had held the office successively for 28 years, and was
reelected in the January primary, died last July , just fifteen days after
taking the oath of office.  Mrs. Porter, although competent to hold the
office, having helped her father during the past four or five years since his
health began to decline, was reluctant to accept the office, but friends of
hers who were also friends of her father, petitioned Governor Allen to appoint
her, and he granted their petition.

Mrs. Porter, who is 47 years old, is a long time resident of Winn Parish.  In
1908 she attended school in Winnfield, but illness prevented her graduation
that spring.  In 1913 she married Mr. Wessie Porter who died the following
year.  She has lived since then in the home of her father in Atlanta, her
mother having died in 1921.  Besides helping her father with the duties of his
office, she has engaged in truck farming and keeping borders.  

The office Mrs. Porter holds gives her authority to perform marriage
ceremonies, hold court in such matters as come under the jurisdiction of Peace
Courts, and attend to other matter which may not come under the jurisdiction
of the parish or district officials.

Clerk Walsworth says that she is the only woman he has ever sworn into an
elective office in Winn Parish, and she is probably the only woman justice of
the peace in the state.

Mrs. Porter says that she will carry on the duties of her office as her father
did and try to serve the people of Ward 6 to the best of her ability.  She is
a sister to Mrs. Howard Sowers of Winnfield.

(Submitted by Greggory Ellis Davies, Winnfield, Winn Parish, LA.)