John Piercel Porter

Notes:

Known as Uncle John by all. One of the early settlers of Missouri. Moved to Lewis county in 1839. Seven children born three of whom survived. Lived with his son, John, following his wife's death. His wife died four years before he did. Moved to Shelby county in 1870. Had been a member of the M. E. Church South for twenty-eight years. He leaves one sister. Abstracted from obituary.

Shown in LaGrange in 1850 where John was listed as a bricklayer. (Ralph Marshall, p 29).

Email dated 4 June 2007: I seem to have a very difficult time finding other descendants of my Porter line with whom to work on confirming the parents of James Porter who m. 1) Rebecca Chrisman, removed from Jessamine Co. KY to Marion Co. MO in 1829 and d. 1866 in Lewis Co., and who I believe may be the father of this John Piercel Porter. Finding the middle name of this John is, I believe, an important piece of the puzzle as Sarah Piersol is reported to be the mother of the Porter I think may be James' father. Certainly at the time of John's death only one child of James was still living, a daughter, Mary Love (Porter) Myers of Newark, Lewis, MO. John's obit said he had one sister living.

Two sons of James Porter also married Marshall women - Joseph Chrisman Porter m. 1844 Mary Ann E. Marshall (b. ca 1823 VA; d. ca 1867). James William Porter m. 1853 Elizabeth Columbia Marshall (b. ca 1835 MO; d. ca 1868) Reportedly they were sisters, but I don't know who their parents were. When I saw that John Piercel Porter also m. a Marshall I was intrigued.

[Note: Unfortunately, there is not information about either of these Marshall's on this website].

I had contacted you back in 2007 about the John Piercel Porter who is included in your Strong family tree, wondering if perhaps he was the son of my ancestors James and Rebecca (Chrisman) Porter of KY who settled in Lewis Co. MO in about 1828. It would appear that he was the nephew of James and the son of William and Mary (Runyan) Porter.

While researching last fall at the Kentucky Historical Society in Frankfort, KY, I came across a page in the Porter family file. It it dated 3 Oct 1981, but the name of the person who submitted it is not noted. The author wrote:

"FACT:
My gt-grandfather was William Pike Porter, b 10 Dec 1815 in Franklyn [sic] Co., Ky. d 1874 in Lewis Co., MO. His brothers and sisters as follows: John Piercel, Susan, Edward, Samuel, James, Anna and Thomas G. The parents of these children: (John) William Porter or William Porter Jr. m 1810 to Mary Runyon. They sold Frankfort property in 1820."

I would imagine that this person was close enough to the people with firsthand knowledge to be certain of the accuracy of the above statement.

He goes on to state that he has a copy of the will of Wiliam Porter b 1729 in Chester Co., PA, removed to Adams Co., PA and d 1802. His wife was Sarah Piercel (various spellings). Three of their sons (James, Nathaniel, and William) removed to KY. I will add here that James m. Margaret Patterson and d. 1830 in Woodford Co., KY. William m. Hannah Kennedy and then removed to TN. His family is well documented as he was the grandfather of Gov. James Davis Porter of TN. I have seen the work of a Porter researcher who says Nathaniel also removed to TN and d. 1813 in Bedford County.

The author then states that the James Porter who m. Rebecca Chrisman and the William Porter who m. Mary Runyon were brothers, his gt-grandfather William Pike Porter being the first cousin of Col. Joseph Chrisman Porter, b 1819 in Jessamine Co., KY (James and Rebecca's son.) [James and William appear on the same page of the 1850 Lewis Co., MO census.] His question is who was the father of these brothers, James and William? Was he either James or Nathaniel, sons of William Porter (1729-1802) of PA?

I have long suspected, though have been unable to prove, that my James Porter was the son of James and Margaret (Patterson) Porter. In the above-mentioned 1850 census, William is family 235, James is family 237 and family 238 is that of Osbourn McCrackin who m. Sally Porter, the daughter of James and Margaret, as proved by Osbourn's receiving a share of James' estate in Woodford Co. KY. (James d. intestate, but settlement of his estate is on file in Woodford Co. William Porter is also listed, but not James.) It seems to me too much of a coincidence that these three Porters are living right next to each other in Missouri if they weren't siblings.

I won't go into further details, I think this is already confusing enough, but if anyone would be interested in more information from me on this theory, they can contact me. Suffice it to say for now that it seems the father of John Piercel Porter was William Porter, b. 11 Oct 1780, m. 1810 in KY Mary Runyan, and who d. 3 Oct 1872 in Lewis Co., MO. Further, that John Piercel Porter was therefore the nephew of James Porter, b. 2 Aug 1789 in KY or PA, and who d. 22 Jan 1866 in Marion Co., MO.

Thanks,
Laurel Damon Steffes

Laurel Damon Steffes (steffes@indy.rr.com)

(Research):

Census Listings:

1860 Census
Missouri, Shelby County, Tiger Twp, PO West Springfield
Page 50
331-336
Porter, John P 38 M Farmer 6000 1000 Ky
Porter, Harriet C 32 F Ky
Porter, Mary Ida 4 F Mo
Porter, John Newton 6 M Mo
Brown, William 28 M Farm Laborer $--- $150 Va

1870 Census
Missouri, Lewis County, Twp 61 Rand 9, PO Monticello Mo
Enumerated 17 Jun 1870
Page 17 Stamped 769
120-120
Porter, John 49 M W Farmer $--- $800 Ky
Porter, Harriet 37 F W Keeping House Mo
Porter, John N 15 M W Works on Farm Mo
Porter, Riler 9 F W Mo
Porter, William 7 M W Mo

1880 Census
Missouri, Shelby County, Jefferson Twp
Enumerated 12 and 4 Day June 1880, by Geo. W. Porter
Page 24 SD 5 ED 66
187-285
Porter, John P W M 59 Farmer Ky Ky
Porter, H. C. W F 50 Wf Keepign House Ky Mo/Md Va
Porter, John W M 25 Son At Home Mo Ky Ky
Porter, Willie M W M 17 Son At home Mo Ky Ky
Porter, Charles W M 10 Son At home Mo Ky Ky
Bias, Matilda B F 16 Svt Servant mos Ky Ky

John married Harriet Catherine Marshall on 11 Jan 1849 in Lewis County, Missouri. Harriet (daughter of Samuel Marshall and Hannah S. Hicks) was born on 31 Jul 1828 in Hardinsburg, Breckinridge County, Kentucky; died on 9 Jun 1900 in Shelby County, Missouri; was buried in Maplewood Cemetery, Clarence, Shelby County, Missouri. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Melinda McLemore Strong in San Antonio has a 5 generation descendancy chart on file for Harriett and John Piercel Porter, as compiled by John Feisenberg (johnfeisenberg@juno.com). It was printed from the Palmyra, Missouri genealogy computer.

1. John Newton Porter was born on 7 Sep 1854 in Clarence, Shelby County, Missouri; died on 13 Apr 1923 in Shelbina, Shelby County, Missouri; was buried in Bacon Chapel Cemetery, Shelbyville, Shelby County, Missouri.
2. Mary Ida Porter was born on 14 Feb 1857 in Lagrange, Lewis County, Missouri; died on 27 Jul 1865 in Missouri.
3. Cinderella "Rilla" "Ella" Virginia Porter was born on 9 Dec 1860 in Lagrange, Lewis County, Missouri; died on 7 Aug 1885 in Missouri; was buried in Maplewood Cemetery, Clarence, Shelby County, Missouri.
4. William Marshall Porter was born on 13 Mar 1863 in Lagrange, Lewis County, Missouri; died on 12 Jan 1954 in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona.
5. Charles Marvin Porter was born on 16 Aug 1869 in Lagrange, Lewis County, Missouri; died on 4 Jun 1949 in Missouri.