JOSEPH G. PORTER. This gentleman is a prominent citizen of Hanover township, and a native of Washington county, Penn. His grandfather, Nathaniel Porter, a native of the North of Ireland, was the first member of the family to immigrate to America, coming here about 1770, and first locating in Chester county, Penn. After settling in Pennsylvania he married and reared a family of eight or nine children. He kept a tavern in Williamsport, Penn., for many years, and his hostelry was a great resort for salt packers and people who were crossing the mountains to bring merchandise and salt to western Pennsylvania This property was destroyed in the battle of Brandywine, in the Revolutionary struggle. Nathaniel Porter and his wife passed their days in eastern Pennsylvania, and died in Chester county. William Porter was born about 1782 in Chester county, Penn., where he was inducted into the mysteries of agriculture, and attended the English type of schools. When a young man he was married to Peggy Wallace, who was born in 1784, a daughter of William Wallace, and descendant of Sir William Wallace, of Scotland. Her father and Nathaniel Porter came to America with the same party of emigrants. To the union of William and Peggy Porter ten sons and two daughters were born, of whom the following lived to an adult age: James, Wallace, Andrew, Joseph G., Franklin (a farmer of Jefferson township) and Sarah (wife of Robert Proudfit, of Smith township). During his early life the father of this family kept a tavern in eastern Pennsylvania, and in 1827 moved to a place in Jefferson township, this county, where he followed farming; he voted with the Democratic party. He died in 1856, having been preceded by his wife in 1834. They are buried in the Paris U. P. cemetery. Joseph G. Porter was born December 20, 1817, in Nottingham township, Washington Co., Penn. He learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed until taken ill with the smallpox. In 1850 he joined the rush to California during the "gold fever" excitement, and walked from Independence, Mo., to Sacramento, Cal.; he remained in California until 1854, during that time being engaged in mining, and also worked at his trade. He returned home by water, passing through Nicaragua, thence to New York, and finally arriving at home in Washington county, Penn. In 1842 he was married to Nancy Fullerton, who was born in 1819, in Hanover township, this county, a daughter of John Fullerton. The children of Joseph G. and Nancy Porter are as follows: John T. (a farmer of Hanover township), Joseph C. (a plumber) and Melissa (Mrs. John Tucker, of Hanover township). In 1856 Mr. Porter purchased the farm upon which he is now residing, and successfully followed general agriculture until the approach of old age compelled him to abandon active life. Of late years he has been living in retirement, while his son, John T., manages the farm. Mr. Porter is a genial companion, and in politics is deeply interested in the welfare of the Democratic party.

Text taken from page 1444 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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