WI BIO - Dane Co - PORTER, William H.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 160-162

Hon. William H. PORTER, a wealthy farmer, miller and Legislator, of Medina 
Township, Dane County, Wisconsin, whose sterling qualities and manly ways 
have won for him legions of friends and an enviable reputation far and near, 
is the son of William F. PORTER, whose father was Jonathan PORTER, a 
native of Massachusetts, a farmer born in 1771 and died in 1829, being the 
father of six children: Harriet S., John, Tyler, William F. [the father of 
the subject], Henry and Edward. The father of Jonathan Porter, the great 
grandfather of our subject, Dr. Tyler PORTER, was a physician of Wenham 
[probably Essex not Plymouth County], Massachusetts, and a distinguished 
citizen and patriot during the Revolutionary War. Edward is the only one of 
the six children of Jonathan PORTER who is now living.

William F. PORTER, the father of our subject, was the fourth child; he was 
born in Essex County, Massachusetts, 18 April 1806; was brought up on the 
farm and received his education in the public schools of Massachusetts; left 
that State in the spring of 1856 and came to Madison [Dane County, WI]; had 
been previously married to Clarissa LUMMIS, 30 January 1830, in 
Massachusetts, and [p 161] she had died at Bradford [Essex County], 
Massachusetts, 23 September 1854, leaving two children, Martha and William 
H., our subject. The father of William H., after reaching Madison [Dane 
County, WI], settled upon what is now known as Orchard farm, in the town of 
Burke [Dane County, WI], buying 224 acres of unimproved land, mostly prairie, 
which he at once proceeded to improve; erecting upon it a good brick 
residence, built a barn, outhouses, erected fences, etc. This farm he sold 
in the spring of 1859; then removed to Madison [Dane County, WI], where he 
began to speculate in the real estate market; for several years he continued 
to buy and sell and then went to Boston [Suffolk County, MA]. He spent his 
winters in Florida, where he bought thousands of acres of land; owning a 
portion of the island of St. George, where he erected two hotels and ran 
steamers for the accommodation of guests; put out orange groves, graded 
streets and had 300 acres in Orange County [FL], which was one of the best 
orange groves in the State. William F. PORTER died at Jacksonville [Duvall 
or St. Johns County?], Florida, 20 November 1878, aged seventy-two years, and 
was buried in his native town of Wenham [probably Essex not Plymouth County], 
Massachusetts. William F. PORTER was married to his first wife 30 January 
1830; and his second wife was Elizabeth LANE, of Haverhill [Essex County], 
Massachusetts, there being no children by the last marriage. The widow 
[Elizabeth PORTER] is living at Malden [Middlesex County], Massachusetts.

Our subject, William H. PORTER, was the only son of his parents [William F. 
and Clarissa PORTER], and was born in Essex County, Massachusetts, 10 
November 1830. He was educated first in the common schools, and after in the 
Lawrence Academy, at Groton [Middlesex County], Massachusetts. Accompanying 
his father to Wisconsin, he remained on the farm in Burke [Dane County] with 
his father until he sold out; when he prospected for some time going through 
Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, looking at oil lands in the latter 
State. Finally he came to Dane County [WI], at Marshall, in 1860, where his 
father had property--land and a flouring mill--which interests he took charge 
of and lived in Madison until 1865, when he made Marshall his home. He now 
owns in Marshall 800 acres and 360 acres in the adjoining town. At one time 
he owned nearly all the vacant property there. All the land is used b him in 
farming, he employing the necessary help. He also owns the flouring mill at 
Marshall, a fifty-barrel water mill on Waterloo Creek; also is owner of the 
creamery building; is a dealer in salt, etc., and owns a warehouse at the 
depot. His business interests are much larger that those of any other man in 
the township and he is adding steadily and largely to his already great means 
by shrewd management, clear business ability and economic use of his forces. 
He is a man of great force of character, exact justice, strong will power, 
fine sense of right and possessed of purpose to be fair in all things.

William H. PORTER was married 26 April 1870 to Elizabeth BELL, of New 
Brunswick [probably Canada and not New Jersey, since the biographer later 
says "that province"], whose people came to Marshall from that province and 
afterward settled at Washburn [Bayfield County, WI], where her father still 
lives, her mother being dead. One child was born to William H. PORTER by 
this union, William, who died when thirteen months old. After the death of 
his first wife William H. PORTER married, 26 December 1876, Nettie PAGE, of 
Dunkirk, Dane County, Wisconsin, who was born in Columbia County, Wisconsin. 
Her people were from New York State, and removed to Wisconsin, where they 
were early settlers. Her parents now live in Cowley County, Kansas. By the 
second marriage there have been three children: William F., deceased; James 
H., at home; and Charles, deceased.

Mr. [William H.] PORTER has some valuable property [p 162] interests in 
Florida. He was administrator of his father's estate, and in that capacity 
disposed of property to the value of about $40,000. He has been chairman of 
his town for about twelve years; and was Postmaster for eighteen years, 
beginning with the administration of Andrew JOHNSON; and was treasurer of 
Marshall Academy. William F. PORTER was elected to the Legislature in 
November 1890, and has proved a most efficient public servant. His election 
to the Legislature is a high compliment to his merit and his popularity, he 
being a Republican and the district from which he was elected being 
Democratic. His success in life, the wealth he has attained, has not lifted 
him up in pride above his neighbors, but on the contrary, he is a man of 
modest merit, kind to all and a favorite of all who know him.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly