Tombstone Tuesday: Martha (Scott) Porter, 1824-1909

In honor of the recent discovery of my g-grandmother Martha (Scott) Porter's picture, I thought it would be appropriate to post a picture of her grave marker this week.

Born: June 1824, in Mercer, Mercer county, Pennsylvania

Died: 5 Sep 1909 in Leavenworth, Chelan county, Washington

Buried: Leavenworth North Road Cemetery, Leavenworth, Chelan county, Washington

Copyright © 2021 by Kevin W. Walker

"Just Another Picture of 'Just Another Distant Aunt.'" To Whom?

We all have them.  Me as many as anyone!  I have over a hundred pictures of great-aunts and great-uncles that go without much attention from me.  Why?  Isn't it obvious?  They are "just distant aunts and uncles". . . to me.  My bias is toward researching and giving attention to my "ancestors," not just "relatives." 

Then it happens, someone comes along less selfish than me.  More thoughtful.  More considerate.  He posts a picture on FamilySearch.Org of one of his "just another distant aunt."  He is thinking less inward and more outward.  What can he do that might be good for someone else?  What can he do that is good for the hobby of genealogy and therefore all genealogists?  

Then I come along and find the picture he posted of his "just a distant aunt."

Meet my 2xg-grandmother Martha Porter (nee. Scott, 1825-1909).  This is the first picture I have ever found or seen of her.  My newfound cousin's "just a distant aunt" is my gg-grandmother!  

I owe him so much for posting this picture publicly.  I think he is the type of guy who would appreciate me paying it forward.  I need to go start uploading pictures of "just distant aunts" and "just distant uncles."

Copyright © 2021 by Kevin W. Walker

Lt. Col. Dr. Frank G. Porter (1821-1879)

One of the surprise discoveries of my listing my Civil War ancestors was that I have a Brigade Surgeon as a relative.  Dr. Frank Gibson Porter was my 2xg-uncle, behind my Dad's mother.  His history is rich and will require future fleshing out, but for now let us hear his Civil War record.

From Reavis, L. U. (1881). Saint Louis, the future great city of the world: And its impending triumph. St. Louis: G.A. Pierrot. --

            Early in 1861, he joined the Union army as Brigade Surgeon. He remained in the army until the last days of 1865. He was with Generals Totten, Schofield, Herron, Fisk and Grant. He participated in thirteen hard-fought battles; quite a number of minor engagements; was "bushwhacked" three times, and captured once. At the battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, single-handed and alone, he turned back two six-gun batteries that were in full retreat, and thus saved the day for the Union. One of his most noted transactions during the war, was the planning and constructing of the most extensive field hospital of the Rebellion, at Hamburg, Tennessee, after the battle of Pittsburg Landing. Harper's Weekly reproduced it, and the New York Herald and Tribune noticed it in the highest terms of praise. The farthest east he was during the war, was Fort Donelson, Tennessee; south, New Orleans; west, Fort Gibson, Indian Territory, and north, Fort Laramie. 

            In the summer of 1865 he was ordered to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, as his headquarters, where he remained until the last days of the same year, when he was mustered out of the service, carrying with him a commission from the Governor of Missouri, and three from the President of the United States : the first, that of Assistant Surgeon ; the second, that of full Surgeon, and the third, that of Lieutenant-Colonel by brevet. 

            During the war, for a period of nine months he had charge of the United States Marine Hospital in St. Louis, and aside from this he always held the position of Medical Director while in the army, his appointment being that of General Staff Surgeon, United States Volunteers. Upon his leaving the service he returned to St. Louis, and resumed his profession.

Copyright © 2020 by Kevin W. Walker

Civil War Relatives

For the last month I have been obsessed with the Civil War, from a family history perspective.  I have been working on getting the National Park Service to give the grave of my gg-grandfather a marker; I have been researching the current location of the regimental flags for the 33rd Illinois, and I have been researching the oral history that one of my gg-grandfathers was a Union spy.

In the meantime, I did put together a list of all my grandfathers and granduncles who served.  I have not done cousins yet.  This list is complete as best as I can determine (the seven names of gg-grandfathers have been bolded; the five names of those who died in service have been italicized) --

RANK        NAME                REGIMENT        STATE         COMPANY

        Henry M. Walker, Sr.    33rd            Illinois        A

Capt    Harvey J. Dutton        33rd            Illinois        A

        Horace S. Dutton        108th           Illinois        E  

        Charles H. Chesley      8th Cavalry     Illinois        K

        John P. Chesley         13th            Illinois        G

        Leonard Chesley         13th            Illinois        G

Sgt     Luman F. Ward           98th            New York        D

        David Ward              2nd Artillery   Ohio            C

Corp    Arthur H. Needham       2nd Cavalry     Iowa            E

        John H. Needham         155th           Ohio            A

        Horatio E. Needham      29th            Iowa            E

Sgt     George E. Needham       177th           Ohio            A

        Benjamin E. Needham     41st            Ohio            D

        Samuel R. Porter        17th            Illinois        I

Lt Col  Dr. Frank G. Porter               -- Surgeon --

        Alexander W. Porter     39th            Pennsylvania    B

Sgt     John W. Porter          39th            Pennsylvania    B

Corp    Alfred Gibson           33rd            Kentucky        D

Sgt     David Gibson            27th            Kentucky        E

        Thomas R. Gibson        35th            Kentucky        B

        William Gurwell         14th            Ohio            E

        Jesse Jones             13th            Kansas          B

Lt      Edward W. Hall          3rd             Iowa            B

        George Hall             26th            Illinois        K

Corp    Levi Hall               33rd            Illinois        C

        Wilbur Hall             2nd Artillery   Massachusetts   M

        Josiah McKee            33rd            Illinois        C

-- Twenty-seven names in total.  All blue, no grey.   My gg-grandfather James G. Gurwell is said to have served, but I can find no record, so he is not included.  Six of these Illinoisans were at Vicksburg, and their names are cast in bronze inside the Illinois memorial there.

Expanding the list to include cousins will be quite a chore but is within my plans.  I know that will expand my connection to the 33rd Illinois even further, at last count I had seven ancestral relatives in that regiment.  And I am not sure, but I think I have one Gibson cousin who went to Texas and fought on the side the Confederacy, ruining my perfect record of all Union ancestral relatives.

Copyright © 2020 by Kevin W. Walker

Amanuensis Monday: Will of Francis Gibson (1774-1858)

In the name of God Amen. I Francis Gibson of  Neshannock Township Laurence County and State of Pennsylvania considering the uncertainty of this present life and being of sound mind and memory Blessed be God for the same do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following Viz.

1st of All I commend my immortal spirit into the hands of God who gave it and my body to be buried in a deacent (sic) and Christen (sic) like manner and of the worldly good with which it has pleased God to bless me in this world I dispose of as follows

2nd  I give unto my Eldest son Isaac Gibson the tract of land containing 117 acres 84 perches (?) as this day deeded to him and he is to pay the $200 consideration money to my son William M. Gibson. I give unto my son Samuel Gibson the west end of the farm where I now reside dividing by the line run by James Oliver to be for his proper use and benefit during his natural lifetime and then to be the property of them their heirs or assigns and on consideration of his paying unto each of my daughters Ester Parters (Porters) Elizabeth Wilson Martha Hannah (Hanna) Anne Morehead Mary Fisher Sarah Johnston and Rebecca Wilson the sum of one hundred dollars and the sum of three hundred dollars unto my son William M. Gibson

3rd I give and bequeath unto my Son Francis Gibson the East end of the Tract as run off by James Oliver To be for his use and benefit and his heirs or assigns forever

And 4th I give and bequeath unto my son William M. Gibson the sum of five hundred dollars as mentioned above two hundred dollars to be paid by Isaac and three hundred dollars to be paid Samuel 

5th. I give and bequeath unto each of my daughters Ester Elizabeth Martha Anne Mary Sarah and Rebecca Jane an equal share of the Household and Kitchen Furniture not otherwise disposed of the property to be appraised and offer at public sale after my decease by my Executors in after named and proceeds after paying the expenses to be divided among all my daughters above named share and share alike.  And I allow my daughter Anne Morehead in addition to the sum of one hundred dollars and her equal share of the proceeds of the sale of my household furniture to have my clock it is my will that the stoves and grates be left in the house.  And I further give and bequeath the remainder of all my personal property money due me on notes books account or in any way after defraying all expenses paying all my Just debts funeral expences (sic) and putting up a tomb stone to my late wife’s grave to my grand children herein after named Viz Francis Wilson Francis Gibson Francis Fisher and Francis Gibson and any other grand children tat are called by the name of Francis or may be so called during my lifetime to be divided among them share and share alike

I hereby constitute and appoint my son Isaac Gibson and Thomas Pomeroy the Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and declaring null and void all other wills I do declare this to be my last Will and Testament.  In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 26th day of February A.D. 1856 

Francis his X mark Gibson seal

Francis Gibson was my 4xg-grandfather on my Dad's maternal side.  Research has yet to be done, but every indication is these Gibsons were related to the Gibsons behind my mother. 

Copyright © 2014 by Kevin W. Walker

Death Announcement for Martha Porter (nee. Scott, 1824-1909)

From The Leavenworth Echo, Leavenworth, Washington (9/10/1909) --

Death of Mrs. Porter 

Mrs. Martha Porter died Sunday, September 5, at the home of her grandson, Nelson Forsythe, in Leavenworth, aged 85 years. 

The funeral was held Tuesday, under the auspices of Rev. W. V. Davis, Mrs. A. J. Martin, director. Mrs. Porter had lived in Leavenworth for several years. She was of a kindly, gentle disposition, and leaves many friends to mourn her death, as well as three daughters a grandson and granddaughter.

Martha (Scott) Porter was my 2xg-grandmother behind my Dad's maternal (Needham) line.

Copyright © 2014 by Kevin W. Walker

Amanuensis Monday: Resignation Letter of Judge Alexander Wright (1746-1838)

Mahoning Creek Mercer Coun May 13, 1829. 

Dear Sir, 

I have served as associate judge for the county of Mercer ever since it was first organized.  I now feel the debilitating influence of old age: and as you are the organ of the Commonwealth to make or unmake her offices I pray your Excellency to accept my Resignation of the office of Judge for the County of Mercer. and you will confer a favour on your humble servant.

Alex Wright 

His Excellency J.A. Shulze
Governor of Pennsylvania

Alexander Wright was my 5xg-grandfather. (Alexander Wright -> Elizabeth Wright -> Alexander Porter -> Samuel Porter -> Camilla Porter -> Mattie Needham -> living father -> Kevin).



Copyright © 2014 by Kevin W. Walker

Happy St. Patrick's Day for Real

I am over fifty years old, and thanks to genealogy this is the first St. Patrick's Day that I know uncategorically I have some Irish ancestry.  The same is true for my wife.  For her, the link to the green is through her Baggotts.  For me it is through both my Porters and Cochrans.

Copyright © 2011 by Kevin W. Walker

Rev. Samuel Porter (1760-1825)

From the Stewart Family History, a personal family history written by William Flennikan Stewart, circa 1900 --

Samuel Porter b. 1760 Ireland. He came to the U.S. Samuel was a minister of the Gospel and did a good deal of pioneer work in Washington Co. Pa. His studies were under the direction of Mr. Smith & Dr. McMillen, the latter making no charge for board or tuition, while a friend provided for his family in the meantime. He was licenced Nov 12, 1789. In the following year he became pastor of the congregation of Poke Run & congruity. Of the former he was pastor until 1789, of the latter until his death Sept 23, 1825 in the 66th year of his age. He was a very able man. The above churches were in Washington Co. Pa.

 From History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania by John Boucher (Lewis Publishing Co., New York :1906).

Rev. Samuel Porter was an Irishman, born in 1760. He studied Greek and Latin and theology under Rev. McAlillen, and boarded with his family while doing so, all free of charge. He was licensed to preach in 1789, and the year following began preaching at Polk Run and Congruity. He died September 23, 1825, while pastor in charge of the latter congregation. . . .

The first pastor, Rev. Samuel Porter, was born in Ireland, June 11, 1760, and was of Covenanter parentage. He came to America in 1783, and spent some time in Mercersburg. In 1784 he went to Washington county, where he taught school. There he came under the notice of some of the renowned men of the Presbyterian Church, and he was induced to enter upon a course of study preparatory to entering the ministry. He studied under James Hughes, John Brice and Joseph Patterson and others. After three years he was licensed by the Red Stone Presbytery on November 12, 1789, and in April of the following year began his work at Congruity and Poke Run. The region embraced by his congregation was little less than a backwoods or frontier settlement at that time. Many of the people were as wild and uncultivated as the country in which they lived, and they were greatly in need of the refining influences of the gospel. It is said that on one occasion when Rev. Porter was preaching in the weeds, two young men withdrew from the congregation and ran a foot race in full view of the preacher and his hearers. Under his faithful work the congregation increased very rapidly, and in eight years they felt themselves able to support a pastor alone, so Poke Run was taken from Congruity in 1798. This was due in part to the fact that Mr. Porter did not regard himself as physically able to attend to the wants of both people. Congruity congregation promised him a salary of "one hundred and twenty pounds per year, to be paid one-half in merchantable wheat at five shillings per bushel, and the remainder in cash." To this Mr. Porter agreed, and continued his pastoral relations in that church until his death, September 10, 1825, in all a period of thirty-five years.

While Mr. Porter was pastor there, a new stone tavern was built on the pike, scarcely a mile from the church, and was opened by the owner, a very clever and ingenious landlord, who invited the young folks to have a housewarming and dance in his new tavern. Tickets were distributed and guests invited, many of whom were members of Congruity Church. On the Sunday previous to the intended ball, Mr. Porter, after preaching one of his customary eloquent sermons, before dismissing the congregation, said that the Presbytery would meet the following Tuesday in Greensburg, and also said that on Thursday evening at early candle-light a ball would be held about three-fourths of a mile from that place. He said it was to be hoped that all polite young ladies and gentlemen would attend, for it was a place where politeness and manners could be learned and cultivated, and that many other things could be said in favor of such places which it was not necessary for him to mention at the time. For his own part, if he did not attend, the young' folks, he hoped, would excuse him, as it was likely he might be detained by the Presbytery, but if he should return in time and nothing else prevented him, he would be present and would open the exercises of the night by reading a text of scripture, singing a psalm, etc. Then, with full and solemn voice and in his most impressive manner, he read the 9th verse of the 11th chapter of Ecclesiastes; next he announced and read the 73rd Psalm, and then offered prayer. He prayed for the thoughtless and gay, and asked the Great Spirit to guard them from the vices which might lead the youthful minds astray, after which, with a most solemn benediction, he dismissed his congregation. The evening set for the ball arrived and passed away, but no ball was held, the whole community having been awakened by the venerable pastor's words. During his last years he was enfeebled and unable to stand, and therefore preached while sitting in a split-bottom chair which stood in the pulpit.

From Banners in the Wilderness: Early Years of Washington and Jefferson College by Helen Turnbull Waite Coleman (University of Pittsburgh, 1956) --

Samuel Porter (1760-1825) had come from Ireland in his twenties with a wife, and with his trade as a weaver. McMillan gave him free board and instruction; a neighbor (possibly John McDowell) provided for his family. He spent his subsequent life in the expanding border country; as did also John Brice (1754-1811), William Swan (1764-1827), Thomas Marquis (1757-1827), and John McPherrin (1757-1822), whose ministerial studies were directed by John Clark.

Every one of them, except McGready, participated in the local schools which grew into W. and J. Swan succeeded James Rossas assistant to McMillan in his log cabin school; Patterson and Marquis served as trustees of Canonsburg Academy and Jefferson College; Hughes, Swan, Porter, and McPherrin as trustees of Jefferson College; Patterson and Brice as trustees of Washington College.

There were other contemporary ministers and teachers who came a little later and therefore are not named by McMillan among this second set.

Reverend Samuel Porter was my g-g-g-g-granduncle, through my great-grandmother Camilla (Porter) Needham.   

Copyright © 2011 by Kevin W. Walker

Amanuensis Monday: The Biography of Frank E. Needham (1866-1932)

(Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.  "Amanuensis Monday" is a blogging theme hosted by John Newmark at the Transylvanian Dutch Genealogy Blog.)

 The following is a biography of my great-uncle taken from HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA: A NARRATIVE OF THE PAST, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS UPON THE PIONEER PERIOD OF THE COUNTY'S HISTORY, ITS SOCIAL, COMMERCIAL. EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, AND CIVIC DEVELOPMENT FROM THE EARLY DAYS TO THE PRESENT TIME by W. L. GASTON AND A. R. HUMPHREY (Western Publishing and Engraving Company, Lincoln, NE, 1919). --

FRANK E. NEEDHAM is a substantial
citizen of Custer county, where he owns valuable
farm lands and also a business building
and a cream station in the town of Arnold.
He has spent almost his entire life thus far
in Nebraska and hence considers himself almost
in the light of a native son. He was
born at Princeton, Iowa, August 3. 1866, one
of the four children of Arthur H. and Camelia
(Porter) Needham, the others being: Leroy,
who married Grace Chappie : Bertha, who is
the wife of Grant Mills : and Mattie M., who
is the wife of Keith Walker. The mother of
Mr. Needham died February 20, 1900, but his
father survives and makes his home with his
daughter Bertha (Mrs. Mills), at Forest
Grove, Oregon.

Frank E. Needham was two years old when
his parents brought him to Nebraska and settled
twelve miles east of Lincoln. In 1882 removal
was made to Custer county and a preemption
claim was secured, situated five miles
south of Arnold. There Frank E. Needham
grew up, having as many advantages as the
ordinary farmer boy at that time, as to schooling
and recreation. He remembers that the
Fourth of July was about the greatest day in
the year's calendar, and to celebrate it seemed
almost a patriotic duty. He found, one year,
that he would have to earn the money in order
to enjoy celebrating, and therefore he engaged
to plow a neighbor's corn field. He was only
ten years old at the time, the task was pretty
heavy, and along toward noon he mentioned
to his employer that he thought it was a very
long forenoon. All the satisfaction he received
was a benevolent look from the old farmer
and the consoling remark: "Son, don't you
know while man makes the forenoon, God
makes the afternoon?"

Mr. Needham was united in marriage August
7, 1893, at Broken Bow, to Miss Hattie
Burk, a daughter of James and Martha
(Crabb) Burk. He and Mrs. Needham have
one daughter, Ruth, who has prepared herself
to be a teacher and was graduated in 1918
from the Nebraska Wesleyan University, at
University Place, near Lincoln. Mrs. Needham
has three brothers and two sisters, namely:
John, William, Albert, Mrs. Laura
Rodgers, and Mrs. Emma Beltz. Mr. Needham
owns several properties that he has under
rental, and he is also the owner of twenty-two
acres of land and a substantial business
building in the town of Arnold, where also,
as mentioned above, he conducts a cream station,
in which town he is an influential citizen
in many ways.

Copyright © 2010 by Kevin W. Walker