My Genealogy Hound

PORTER, WILLIAM A. farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 26, P.O. White Hall. Mr. Porter was born in New Jersey, Feb. 14, 1822; he was the oldest of a family of seven children; at the early age of fourteen he became apprenticed to the trade of a stone mason and plasterer; on completing his trade, for a while he worked at White Hall, and then proceeding to Jacksonville, Morgan County; he there became employed on the State insane asylum, female seminary, and many other buildings of note; removing to Greene County, he was married to Miss Rachel Ann Auten in 1850; in 1846, when war was declared between Mexico and the United States, he enlisted as a soldier in Capt. Fry’s company at Carrollton, a participant in the famous battle of Buena Vista; honorably discharged the following year, he returned to Greene County, working at his trade at White Hall, until his location above; on returning from the war, he made his way to Tazewell County, where he entered 160 acres by means of a land warrant for services rendered during the war; he also bought an 80 acre tract, remaining a resident of Tazewell County seventeen years, following the occupation of farming successfully; in 1867, removing to Greene County, he purchased a tract of valuable land near White Hall; at the present writing owns 240 acres, 160 lying within the corporation of White Hall.