Obit of John PORTER (b.1822 d.1894) Blue Earth Co., MN ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: William Porter ========================================================================= Source #1: Newspaper Mankato Review, 15 August 1894 Page 2: Column 2; Reads as follows: Death of An Old Settler Mr. John Porter, for thirty-nine years a citizen of this county, died yesterday at his home in Lake Crystal, and was buried to-day [Willow Creek Cemetery]. The deceased was seventy years of age. Some years ago he suffered from a sunstroke. He has been ill for the past year, and his death was not unexpected. He was the brother of Mr. Minor [Miner] Porter, formerly of this city, and in early life resided in Wisconsin [Fox Lake], but moved to Minnesota in 1855, and located in the present town of Ceresco, being one of its early settlers. He was a farmer, well informed, of good judgment and great industry, and by hard work and economy laid up a competency for his old age. Several years ago he secured a home in the village of Lake Crystal, where he resided at the time of his death. Mr. Porter was an honest and conscientious man, and during his life time was frequently honored with positions of trust and honor by his fellow citizens. He was a useful citizen, and his death will be lamented by hosts of old friends in this county. [John Porter is buried in Willow Creek Cemetery next to his first cousin, adjoining neighbor in Ceresco township and also JohnÕs closest friend Miles Porter. Source: taken from family reports and handed down stories.] [Information in brackets added by the transcriber Š William W. Porter on 2-8-2001] Source #2: Newspaper clipping Mankato Free Press, 15 or 16 August 1894 Page ?: Column ?; Reads as follows: LAKE CRYSTAL ITEMS John Porter, aged 72 years, died at his home here Tuesday evening. The deceased came to Ceresco township 35 years ago, and by hard work acquired a large farm, which he owned at the time of his death. Three years ago he built a nice residence in this place, and expected to spend his remaining years quietly, but from the effects of a sunstroke two years ago he has gradually declined until relieved from great suffering in death. Mr. Porter was born in Tompkins county, N.Y. and moved to Wisconsin [Dodge County] at the age of 25. After living there three years he went to California, where he remained seven years, and then came to Minnesota. A wife, three sons and one daughter all living here and at the farm in Ceresco, survive this estimable man. [Information in brackets added by the transcriber Š William W. Porter on 2-10-2001] Source: Newspaper Lake Crystal Union; 15 August 1894 Page x: Column x, Reads as follows, GONE TO HIS REST John Porter died at his home Tuesday eve at six o'clock, Aug. 14, 1894. Mr. Porter was born at Howard Flats, Tompkins Co.[?Steuben County], N.Y., July 17, 1822, was therefore 72 years and 29 days old at his death. His parents moved to Wisconsin [Dodge County] in '47 [1847]; in '50 [1850] he went to California [overland via Council Bluffs, Iowa to South Pass], in '57 [1857] he came to Minnesota and located in the town of Ceresco, this county [Blue Earth]. March 14, 1861 he was married to the devoted wife [Ellen Parks], who with three sons [Milton, Charley, Miles] and one daughter [Stella], all grown, and one brother [Miner Porter], the last of his family to survive him. Mr. Porter left the farm in Ceresco where he had toiled so many years and moved with his family to a new residence in this place [Lake Crystal] two years ago last fall. He took much pride in the building of his home for his declining years, and where he was destined not to long remain. Mr. Porter was an estimable citizen, a kind husband and loving father, he was possessed of a warm-hearted, sunny disposition, and during health was a hard working generous person. Since coming to live among us here he has been so sick much of the time that he did not form many new acquaintances, but his old friends and neighbors speak weel [well] of him. The funeral was held at one o'clock today from the residence, Rev. Foot officiating, and his remains were conveyed to Willow Creek [cemetery] for burial. For over two years Mr. Porter has been confined to his home in this place, and much of the time in his bed, from the effects of a sun stroke received while at work in his garden. He has been a great sufferer some of the time, and his condition required constant attendance, day and night of his wife and family to make him anyways near comfortable. At times he would seem to improve, and his devoted family hoped the worst was over, but these times were of short duration, and he would relapse into a state of mind in which he hardly seemed to recognize the anxious loved ones around him. This has been his condition for over two years. The extreme hot weather of this summer has affected him, and he has failed rapidly the past few weeks. The sympathies of many friends and acquaintances are with this estimable family in their affliction. [Information in brackets added by the transcriber; William W. Porter on 2-13-2001]