John M. Porter Biography


	This biography appears on page 1863 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	JOHN M. PORTER, who is now living practically retired in the 
village of Fairfax, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio. He was reared on 
the old pioneer homestead, and such were the exigencies of time and 
place that his early educational advantages were extremely meager. He 
continued to be identified with the agricultural industry in Ohio for 
many years, having assisted in the clearing of much land and in the 
development of the resources of the old Buckeye commonwealth. In 1882 
he disposed of his interests in his native state and removed to 
Nebraska, where he took up government land, improving the property and 
there engaging in general farming and stock-growing until 1894, when he 
sold out and came to Gregory county, South Dakota, where he took up a 
homestead claim. This property has been placed under an excellent state 
of cultivation and equipped with good improvements. Mr. Porter there 
continued to be actively engaged in farming and stock raising until the 
spring of 1901, when he came to Fairfax, where he has since lived in 
the home of his son. The subject is a stalwart Republican but has never 
sought or held public office, and he has long been a zealous member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church.

	Mr. Porter was united in marriage to Miss Martha Kirkpatrick, who 
was likewise born and reared in Pickaway county, Ohio, and they are the 
parents of seven children.