BIO: JAMES PORTER, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
   
  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson
  OCRed by Judy Banja

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
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  >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania,
  Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 282-283
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  NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
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    JAMES PORTER, a prominent contractor and builder of Carlisle, is the son of
  Commodore and Sarah (Walker) Porter, and was born in York county, Pa., near
  York city, Aug. 3, 1857. The Porter family is of Swiss extraction, the
  great-grandfather of James Porter having been a native of that land, while
  the grandfather, Elisha Porter, probably came from some other European
  country. The latter was a brickmaker by trade, and worked for a number of
  years in Franklin county, Pa. He also lived in the vicinity of Huntingdon,
  in the county of the same name. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was
  a brave and loyal man. He was twice married, and his family was a large one. 
    
    Commodore Porter, the father of James, was born near Orrstown, Pa., in
  1835. He was a trader and auctioneer, residing in Plainfield, Cumberland Co.,
  Pa., where he passed forty years of his life. In politics he was a very strong
  Republican, and he held a number of the township offices. His religious belief
  made him a member of Bethel Church of Plainfield. He married Sarah, a daughter
  of Richard Walker, a farmer of Cumberland county, and by her had children as
  follows: Susan, who died in infancy; Nancy; a son that died in infancy;
  Commodore, a carpenter of Carlisle; Anna; Sarah deceased, who married Elmer
  Jacoby; Alwilda; Lillie; Walter, and James.
    
    CUMBERLAND COUNTY.  283
    
    James Porter received his education at the Plainfield public schools, the
  high school and the Greason Academy, in Cumberland county. After finishing he
  went West, where he remained a year, returning to this county, and at the age
  of twenty-one years he began to learn the carpenter trade which he followed
  as a journeyman for four years. He then became a contractor and builder, in
  1883, since which time he has devoted himself to his business in Carlisle and
  the neighboring towns. Mr. Porter has erected a number of the fine buildings
  of the town, among which may be numbered the Cumberland fire engine house of
  Carlisle, the Penn school building of Carlisle, the First Lutheran church of
  Carlisle, and the Lindner greenhouses; he also laid out the park which was
  presented to the city of Carlisle by Mr. Lindner; he also erected the Dr. A.
  J. Miller building, of Harrisburg, and many others too numerous to mention.
  He is a thorough mechanic, an excellent draughtsman, a competent architect,
  although self-educated through private study and close observation. In 1889
  he erected his present home, a fine brick residence on the corner of Penn and
  Bedford streets, where he and his family reside. 
  
    Mr. Porter was married Feb. 8, 1883, to Annie S. Stock, daughter of Peter
  S. Stock, of Carlisle, and three children were born to this union, Nina R.,
  James Elmer and Bertha Mary; the two last named are deceased, and Mrs. Porter
  passed away Aug. 3, 1900. On May 14, 1902, Mr. Porter married Miss Clara R.
  Mowery, daughter of Jacob and Susan (Hanes) Mowery, of Biglerville, Adams
  Co., Pa., where Mrs. Porter was born and where the parents still reside.
    
    Mr. Porter is an excellent shot and is a popular member of the Carlisle
  Rifle Club and the Carlisle Gun Club, and he is very prominent in all their
  affairs. In addition to his other interests Mr. Porter is actively engaged in
  buying and selling real estate, and also does considerable building of
  residences, which he sells. In religious matters he is a consistent member of
  the Bedford Street Lutheran Church, toward which he has given liberally, and
  no man stands higher in the regard of the general public than he.