Obits of Miner PORTER (b.1820 NY d.1903 MN), 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 W. Porter ========================================================================= Obituaries for Miner PORTER (b. 1820 NY, d.1903 MN) Early pioneer, hotel keeper and resident of Blue Earth County, MN Source 1: Newspaper Mankato Review 4 February 1903 Page 3: Column 2; Reads as follows: DEATH OF MINER PORTER One of Mankato's Early Settlers Died at St. Peter, this Morning Miner Porter one of the early and well known residents of this city and county died this morning at the state hospital at St. Peter where he has been confined for the past two years. His death was due to old age and failure of health during the past few years. He was 83 years old and up to three or four months ago led an active life. Mr. Porter came to this county in the spring of 1857, locating at South Bend, where he lived only a short time. He took up a claim in what is now known as the town of Ceresco, and opened a small trading store there. Fox lake was named by the little colony that located there with him. After some years he came back to South Bend and together with Mr. Fox they opened a trading store. It was while living at South Bend this time that Mr. Porter purchased the property known as Minneopa Park, which he improved and beautified so that it was one of the most attractive places in the county. When the Blue Earth County Agricultural society was organized Mr. Porter took a great interest in it and the first county fair was held at his Minneopa Park property. Some years later Mr. Porter and his family moved into Mankato and conducted a small boarding house on South Second street, near where John Klein's residence now stands. After that he ran the Minneopa house for a number of years, and later the Merchants hotel where the Mankato State bank now stands. After disposing of his hotel interests Mr. Porter engaged in the grocery business, where the Mankato Gas and Electric Light office is now located. After disposing of this business he left Mankato making his home in Lake Crystal and Wisconsin until taken to the St. Peter hospital. He lived an interesting and eventful life, was industrious and hard working, generous to a fault, and honorable in all his dealings. He leaves three daughters, Miss Nettie Porter of this city, Mrs. W. H. Pfeffer of Windom, and Mrs. Knox of Lake Crystal. The remains will be brought to Mankato tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Source 2: Newspaper Mankato Free Press 6 February 1903 Page 8: Column 2; Reads as follows: MINER PORTER DEAD Old Timer Passes Away of Old Age This Morning. From Wednesday's Daily. Miner Porter, one of the old-timers in Mankato, Lake Crystal and South Bend, died this morning at St. Peter. For the past few yeares [years] Mr. Porter had been in feeble health and he was taking treatment at the hospital [St. Peter State Hospital], but old age and a shattered constitution could not be mended. Mr. Porter was born in New York state eighty-three years ago. He came to Minnesota in 1856, and settled in South Bend. Later he made Mankato his home and was in the hotel business, having conducted the Minneopa and Merchants hotels. Prior to his going to St. Peter Mr. Porter made Leke [Lake] Crystal his home. He was a man of much ability and was indeed an interesting character. He possessed a bright mind and a warm heart and up to the time of the breaking down of his health he was a most enjoyable companion and he could relate reminiscences of the early days in this section in a manner that few could equal for their brilliancy. His wife died some fifteen years ago. Three daughters survive him. They are Mrs. Horace Knox of Lake Crystal, Mrs. Pfeffer of Windom and Miss Nettie Porter of this city. The funeral will be held from John Klein & Co.'s undertaking rooms at 2:30 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Source 3: Newspaper Mankato Free Press 11 February 1903 Page : Column ; Reads as follows: MINER PORTER DEAD. Old Timer Passes Away of Old Age This Morning. Column above is re-published. Miner Porter, one of the old-timers in Mankato, Lake Crystal and South Bend, died this morning at St. Peter. .... [Buried in Glenwood Cemetery on Glenwood Avenue, Mankato, Minnesota. Location on official Glenwood Cemetery Map, Sections 83-97 at top of hill about 150 feet beyond the old clapboard office on the right side of the road heading west, next to a white stone cross. Also listed in a Glenwood cemetery electronic database at the Blue Earth County Historical Society as Section #6, Row 16, Grave 29. A photograph of the Minneopa Park tourist hotel near South Bend exists in the Blue Earth Co. Historical Society library.] Tombstone in Glenwood Cemetery, Mankato, MN, mapped as Sections 83-97 reads: Miner Porter 1820-1903 [Information in brackets added by the transcriber - William W. Porter on 7 July 2001]