Biography - Isaac N. Porter
ISAAC N. PORTER. No man so truly loves his country as he who has
suffered and fought for it, and those citizens of Illinois who gave to our
Nation in her time of trial their hearty support and their best efforts upon
the battle field, have gained not only a heartier sympathy with the
institutions represented by our national banner, but also a record for
themselves of which any patriot may well feel proud.
Among those men of Shelby County, who have thus an honorable war record, we
are pleased to name the subject of this sketch, who follows the double
avocation of a farmer and carpenter, in Oconee Township. He was born in
Harrison County, Ohio, March 27, 1840, his parents being William and Susan
(Cribbs) Porter, natives of Ohio. In their household there were six sons and
five daughters, and Isaac is the firstborn son. Teresa, now Mrs. Row, of
Oconee Township, being the eldest. Following them came Isabella, now the
wife of John Martin, of Indian Territory; Daniel, who resides in Missouri;
Albert, who lives at Sioux City, la.; William, living in Montgomery County,
Ill.; George, a resident of Iowa; Priscilla, the wife of Mr. Drain, of
Oconee Township; and Abbie and Maggie, who reside at home.
The subject of this sketch enlisted in Company A, Ninety-seventh Illinois
Infantry, and was assigned to duty in the Army of the Mississippi. After six
months' service he was transferred to the United States gunboat
"Chilachthe," and did duty on the lower Mississippi and the Yazoo Rivers. At
Ft. Tamberton, while on the Yazoo Pass expedition, this young hero was
wounded, March 10, 1863, and was sent to the hospital at Helena, Ark., being
afterward transferred to the general hospital at St. Louis. Being somewhat
crippled by this hard service and wound, he was placed in Company E,
Eleventh Veteran Reserve Corps and served out his unexpired term, being
discharged at Boston, Mass., July 7, 1865, whence he returned to his
parental home in Oconee Township.
It was not until 1877, that Mr. Porter decided to establish a home of his
own, and he chose as a partner of that home Miss Annie Pressgrove, who was
born in Oconee Township in 1859, her parents being William and Eliza
Pressgrove. The parents had ten children, only four of whom are now living.
The wedding day of Mr. and Mrs. Porter was February 22. To them was born
three children, Hugh H., born in 1879; Anna Laura, a babe now three months
old, and one child who died when five months old. Mrs. Porter is a worthy
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a faithful and devoted wife and
mother, capable in all housewifely arts and active in promoting the best
interests of the community.
Mr. Porter is a member of the Coplin Post No. 268, G. A. R. at Oconee, and
his political views have led him to affiliate with the Republican party. His
handsome farm of one hundred and sixty acres is situated on section 7,
Oconee Township, and is in a highly cultivated state and richly productive.
Extracted 09 Apr 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 486-487.
