BIO: Porter KINPORTS, Clearfield County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm _____________________________________________________________ From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr., Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 624 & 625. _____________________________________________________________ PORTER KINPORTS, a respected resident of Cherry Tree, where he was for many years one of the town's most active business men, but is now retired, was born at Frankstown, Pa., September 6, 1831, son of John and Mary (Rench) Kinports. John Kinports, the father, was a native of Pennsylvania, born near Lancaster, and came with his family to Cambria county in 1845, having previously spent some time in Huntingdon and Blair counties. In the former he was engaged in farming and lumbering, and later at Hollidaysburg, Blair county, was occupied as a miller and millwright. He was a Free Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Hollidaysburg. He died in 1862 at the age of 68 years. His wife Mary (Rench) Kinports died at the age of eighty-two. She was of Maryland parentage. The subject of this sketch is the only one of their family of seven sons and three daughters that is now living. Porter Kinports attended school until reaching the age of 13 years. From that time until his father's death in 1862 he was in the latter's employ or was associated with him in business matters, with the exception of two terms that he spent in teaching school during the early part of that period. For one year he was in partnership with a brother, but on the latter's death he conducted the business alone, from 1845 to 1903 being engaged in lumbering, farming and conducting a mercantile business at Cherry Tree. Aside from his ordinary business, he is president of the First National Bank of Cherry Tree, and a director of the Water Company and the Power and Light Company. He is however now retired from active business life. Mr. Kinports is a Democrat in politics; he served one term as burgess and was for some time a member of the school board and a councilman of the borough. He has belonged to the I. O. O. F. lodge at Cherry Tree for the past 57 years. He is also a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Curwensville, the Chapter at Clearfield, the Commandery at Philipsburg, the Consistory at Williamsport, and the Mystic Shrine at Altoona. He has also been a member of the A. O. U. W. lodge at Cherry Tree for 26 years. His connection with the Masonic order dates back to 1867 and he is now the oldest Sir Knight in the southern part of the county. He was a charter member of Noble Lodge at New Washington. Mr. Kinports was married September 18, 1860, to Margaret B. Mahaffey, a daughter of John and Ella (Byers) Mahaffey, born April 1837. Of the ten children born to this marriage, but four are now living, namely: Minetta, wife of John Driscoll, residing in West Virginia, who has one child; J. Clyde, residing on the old Mahaffey home in this vicinity, who married Mary Belle Lydick; Stella, wife of George Davis of West Virginia; Boyd W., who is engaged in the lumber business at Cherry Tree, and who is unmarried. A daughter Gertrude, who is now deceased, was the wife of Joseph Wilson. She left one child, who is now living with the subject of this sketch. On September 18, 1910, Mr. and Mrs. Kinport celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary, some 200 guests being present, and the occasion was a most enjoyable one to all.