McDonough ILGenWeb

PORTER, E. E. — A thrifty and successful demonstrator of the best methods of central western farming and stock-raising is found in E. E. Porter, since 1892 the owner of 160 acres of land on Section 33, Sciota Township. Mr. Porter, who is the present Highway Commissioner of his township, was born on a farm in New Salem Township, McDonough County, in 1864, and was reared by his grandfather, Joseph E. Porter, who came in 1856 from his native State of Massachusetts, and settled upon unimproved land on Section 4, New Salem Township. The descendant of hardy New England ancestors he patiently bent his energies to conquering the wilderness in which he located his rude home, and his reward for diligence and good judgment was long life, a competence, and the good will of his fellowmen.

The average advantages of his time and place accompanied the growth to maturity of E. E. Porter. He has always been studiously inclined, and has added continually to the small store of knowledge acquired during the winter months in the township school. He lived with his grandfather until 1885, when he was married at Good Hope to Elizabeth Jane Balls, a native of New Salem Township, and daughter of J. and Mary Ann (Moore) Balls, the former of whom was born in England and the latter in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Porter are the parents of two children; a son, A. D., aged seventeen, and a daughter, Isola, aged ten years.

After his marriage Mr. Porter lived for a time on the farm of Frank Crabb, north of Macomb, and later bought a farm on Section 21, Mound Township, east of Macomb, where he lived three years. Disposing of this property, he moved to Sciota Township, and in 1892 bought his first eighty acres on Section 33, of Clint Moninger and John Tate, on Section 35, a little later purchasing an adjoining eighty acres. The improvements on the place at the time of purchase have many of them been substituted by more modern facilities, special attention having been given to accommodations for high grade stock, than which no farm in the township has a better showing. Mr. Porter is a stock enthusiast, and has devoted many hours of practical research to the subject. Nothing but the finest of their kind are to be found on his farm, and his Poland-China hogs, Aberdeen Angus cattle and Norman horses, yield a large yearly income.

Fraternally, Mr. Porter is connected with the Modern Woodmen and Royal Neighbors, and in religion, is a Methodist. He is a promoter of schools, churches, charities and wholesome diversions, and in sympathy with all movements which tend to the betterment and enlightenment of his prosperous community.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, pages 983-984, extracted 17 Mar 2020 by Norma Hass.