GEORGE F. PORTER.  In 1891 Mr. Porter was elected State Senator, representing the Twenty-first Senatorial District of Michigan. He has long been a popular citizen of Chester Township, Ottawa County, and is one of the most prosperous and progressive general agriculturists in this part of the Wolverine State. Mr. Porter is a native of New York, and was born in Madison County, August 28, 1832. His parents, Curtis and Hannah (Holt) Porter, were natives of New England, the father having been born in Connecticut, and the mother in New Hampshire. They settled in the Empire State some years previous to their marriage. The mother of our subject was the second wife of the father, who had married in his native State and by his first wife had two children, David C., and Betsey E., Mrs. John Bennett, both of whom are deceased.

 

The parents of Mr. Porter were blessed by the birth of three children: Henry B., residing in Kent County, Michigan; Robert E., deceased; and George F., our subject. The father emigrated to Michigan in 1847, and settling in Kent County engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. He was by trade a brick and stone mason, and assisted in building the Pierce and Taylor Blocks and many of the first good houses of Kent County. He resided in Grand Rapids until 1865, when he came to this township and purchased forty acres of land, on which he resided until his death, October 30, 1873. His wife survived until the 3^rd of March, 1878. The father served with courage in the War of 1812 as Sergeant of his company. He was fraternally connected with the Masonic order and assisted in the organization of the lodge at Lisbon. He and his wife were valued members of the Episcopal Church. An able official, he held many important public offices in Kent County, in all of which he served with fidelity and efficiency.

 

George F. Porter was educated in Grand Rapids Union School. He began life for himself at the age of twenty-one as a general farmer on rented land in Kent County. He resided in the same locality until 1861, and beside the pursuit of agriculture was for some time employed in gristmills. In 1857 he purchased the homestead, consisting of eighty acres, then in a wild state, and locating thereon in 1861 entered with ambitious enterprise upon its cultivation and improvement. During the war he built a good house, and from dawn to eve labored to bring the farm up to a profitable state of cultivation. Financially prospered, he added to the original property eighty acres, and of the valuable one hundred and sixty acres he has one hundred and twenty whose fertile fields annually bespeak an abundant harvest.

 

Beginning life with little or no moneyed capital, his hope, courage, enthusiasm and tireless industry have wrought results of which our honored subject may well be proud. A handsome and commodious residence, two large barns and numerous outhouses attest the thrift and plenty of the Porter farm. The second year after coming to this locality Mr. Porter had the misfortune to lose his team and was then obliged to go in debt for another. He used oxen at that time, and it was five or six years later before he owned his first horse.

 

In 1855 were united in marriage George F. Porter and Miss Delilah E. Champlin, a native of Delaware County, N. Y., and the adopted daughter of Jeffrey C. Champlin, a highly esteemed resident of the Empire State. Our subject and his accomplished wife became the parents of nine bright and intelligent children, of whom but four lived to years of maturity. Eugene A., is a resident of Chester Township; Mary E. is the wife of Robert Lange; Ferdinand is a citizen of Kent County; Charles G. is attending school. Mrs. Porter, a lady of high worth and ability, passed away deeply mourned on the 2^nd of November 1882. She was a member of the Free-will Baptist Church and a leader in religious work. Upon the 2^nd of February, 1884, our subject married Miss Mary A. Batson, a native of this State and a daughter of Aaron Batson, an early and highly respected settler of Chester Township, who resides upon the place where he located in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have two interesting children, Mila H. and Gaylord F. Mrs. Porter is a prominent member of the Free-will Baptist Church and occupies a leading social position. Our subject is also connected by membership with the same denomination and is a liberal giver in behalf of religious extension and church work.

 

Politically a Democrat, Mr. Porter has served with ability upon the township and county committees and conventions of the party. In 1863 he was elected Township Treasurer for on term. In 1867 he was chosen Supervisor, and for seventeen years in all, with intermissions, faithfully discharged the onerous duties of the position. For one term he occupied the office of Justice of the Peace. As State Senator, elected in 1891, he is a member of the Committee on Finance and Highways of the State and has also served upon other important committees, where he has distinguished himself by fidelity to his commitments and devotion to public interests. A self-made man, having through his individual efforts won his way upward, he has made a record in his private life and public service of which his family and descendants may well be proud.

 

 

 

Portrait & Biographical Record of Muskegon & Ottawa Counties, Michigan 1893, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company, 1893, 251-252