My Genealogy Hound

OSCAR L. PORTER, proprietor of one of the leading general merchandise stores in Brocton, is a son of John N. and Nancy M. (La Bar) Porter, and was born in the town of Portland, Chautauqua county, New York, August 26, 1853. His grandfather, Roland Porter, was a native of Oneida county, but came to Chautauqua county in 1819, and began to farm in the town of Pomfret. He was of Plymouth Rock extraction, (the first of his name coming to America and settling in Connecticut about 1785). He died in 1818, aged eighty-five years. He married Eliza Shepard and had four children, one of whom was John N. Porter (father), who was born in Chautauqua county in 1825. When his father came to this county in 1819, he with him worked upon the farm for a while. In 1852 he removed to the town of Portland, where he still lives, and engaged in farming and the growing of grapes. In 1851, he married Nancy M. La Bar, a native of Oneida county, who is still living, aged sixty-one years. They had three children. Mr. Porter is a Jacksonian democrat and is held in high esteem in his community, by his own party as well as the republicans, and has filled the offices of justice of the peace and auditor of the town board.

Oscar L. Porter was reared in Portland and received his education at the public schools and at the Fredonia Normal school and Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He secured a position as clerk with several firms, in general merchandising at Fredonia, where he remained four years. From Fredonia he came to Brocton and re-engaged as a clerk, this time with C. S. Ogden, in the same line of business, where he remained until 1887, when he saw that there was an opening in Brocton for another first-class general store, and embarked in that business on his own account. Mr. Porter is a sagacious business man and endeavors to keep everything that his patrons may desire. He carries a large stock of the best goods and enjoys a good trade. A matter, too, in which he takes pardonable pride is that he has the confidence of his patrons. He carries everything usually found in a general store. Groceries, dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, hats, wall-paper and carpets.

In 1877, Mr. Porter married Lilian C. Ogden, of Brocton, and has three children: Edna A., Nettie A. and Ada M.

He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and belongs to the Royal Templars of Temperance. Politically Mr. Porter is a republican and takes deep interest in the politics of his section.