Week 25 - FAN - Porter

My 3x great grandfather Aaron Porter has been my brick wall for over five decades. Researching backwards, I discovered his name and his relationship to me using a variety of methods. 

I started with my dad, William N Porter born in 1917 in Flandreau, SD and raised in Sioux City, Iowa.  My grandfather was Harry Edward Porter (went by Edward) born in 1888 in Rochester, Cedar County, Iowa.  My great grandfather was William H Porter born in 1868 in Rochester Township, Cedar County, Iowa.  My 2x great grandfather was John J Porter born in 1818 in Jefferson County, Indiana. His father (my 3x) was Aaron/Arron Porter.

From a single page in a Barrick genealogy, I learned this information about Arron Porter:

WRITTEN BY AN UNIDENTIFIED BARRICK RELATIVE.

Our efforts to trace the Porter line have been unsuccessful, through various sources, principally through Uncle Amos, we learned that Arron Porter was a native of Vermont, and his wife was a native of New York, Lovina Chapman, born near Lake George, they settled in Indiana, do not know the location where their children were born and where Mr. Porter died.

We have names of five of their children – James (a bachelor) John Jay (I remember him and family living in Greenleaf, Minn. And his son, George now living at Junction City, Ore.) Nicholas, Hosea (a bachelor) and Minerva, born Oct. 28, 1820.

In religion Mr. Porter was Unitarian, a bible student that was very fond of arguing his doctrinal beliefs and proving his point by quoting scripture.

I find these statistics in my notes but do not remember by what authority:

Arron Porter died in Indiana

Lovina Chapman Porter died near Faribault, Minn. Aug. 7, 1871, age 84 years.

Exa Porter died at Spring Grove Jan 17, 1883

H. B. Porter died Mar. 18, 1890

Nicholas M. Porter died Feb. 28, 1890

John Jay Porter died Aug. 11, 1885

This information was instrumental in helping me to look, find and fill in the blanks to get where I am today in the completeness of my Porter tree. I started with the Barrick family as they were always near my ancestors and the families intermarried.

1. Uncle Amos was Amos Barrick son of Alpheus and Minerva (Porter) Barrick. He married Mary Todd, and they had a son Eldon Barrick and a daughter Mary E Barrick.

2. I was able to narrow it down to Madison, Jefferson County, Indiana where the Porter family settled for about 18 years.

3. a. James - I have never found any information on him.

    b. John Jay - b 3 Mar 1818 in Indiana and died 11 Aug 1885 in Rochester, Cedar                        County, Iowa. He married Margaret Matter, and they were the parents of six                            children. (my 2x great grandparents)

    c. Nicholas - b about 1827 married Juliana Dolan 7 Oct 1853 and she sadly died 26 Sept           1854 at the age of 17.

    d. Hosea - see week # 8.

    e. Minerva - b about 1820 married Alpheus C Barrick

Continued research found two more children: Exa Porter - who never married and in all records is listed as insane/foolish and Sarah Porter who married Emanuel Young and traveled across the prairies to Kansas where they settled and died.

Aaron Porter is stated to have died in Indiana, but his Probate in Iowa shows that a coffin was commissioned and build, but there is no record of his burial. Would the family have brought him back to Iowa for burial? If so, then where?

Lovina went to Minnesota along with daughter Exa and daughter Minerva and her family.  Lovina and Exa both died in Minnesota and Minerva and Alpheus Barrick continued along the Oregon Trail and settled in Mehama, Oregon.

Researching the Porter name in Indiana is difficult as there is a Porter County and also the Porter name is very numerous there. So, I began fanning out to include who was listed near Aaron and Lovina in census records.  I found an Israel Young (assuming father of Emanuel Young) in 1840 Indiana and then there was a Nathan How who is enumerated multiple times next to Aaron in records.  Doing some land research - I find Aaron Porter and Nathan How in Madison, Jefferson co, Indiana in 1820.  In 1830 I find them both in Edgar County, Illinois (just northwest of Terre Houte, Illinois).  In 1836 I find Aaron Porter in Cedar County, Iowa.  In 1841 Nathan How of Edgar Co, IL purchased land in Section 8 in Cedar co, Iowa near Aaron Porter. 

And when Aaron died, it was Alpheus Barrick and Nathan How who were Executors of his estate. Remember, in 1845 a woman did not own property, and so when her husband died, the courts would appoint a male friend/family member to represent her in court.

Without using the FAN (friends, associates, neighbors) method, I would never have been able to find the correct Aaron Porter as he and his family traveled from New York to Indiana to Illinois to Iowa.

There are still a lot of blanks to fill in but that is why we enjoy the hunt. Now to see if Increase and Lydia Porter are Aaron's parents.

Barbie

Week 24 - Artistic - Sheridan

Being an artist or being artistic can be defined in so many ways. I am not an artist, but I am a crafter. But I don't think I would ever have an item be displayed in an art museum or a gallery. Tho' I have been highlighted in a genealogy magazine and also a cross-stitch magazine. But we do have many people in the family who are creative. 

We all grew up with the stories about Uncle Don (Gray) who was married to Grandpa Sheridan's sister Thresa Sheridan. He wasn't a 'blood relative' but was still an integral part of our family.

Uncle Don was born 18 May 1891 in Ashley, Gratiot County, Michigan. He was the oldest of two children of Guy and Josephine (Campbell) Gray. He enlisted in the Navy in 1908 and although he was a talented cartoonist, he served his country first and then spent a few years as the writer of the Ma Skinner cartoon promoting the sale of US Bonds to back the war. Those cartoons were a part of the Lansing State Journal newspaper.  Don also painted many barn signs around the area. He married Aunt Tressie 14 Sept 1914 in Carson City, Michigan. They were the parents of five children. Mom told me once that he was her favorite uncle because he always smiled, was always happy and she loved that he would play Little Brown Jug on the squeezebox.

Lansing State Journal 19 April 1919 Front page

Just outside our immediate family is a friend I made many years ago doing Sheridan research. His name is Christopher Sheridan, and he lives in Canada. Chris is who did the most work to uncover that our Sheridan's came from Clonkovid, Cavan, Ireland. (I connect with Chris about 5 generations back) He is also a sculptor and painter and sells his art creations. He's not immediate family, but he is still family to me.

Christopher Sheridan - Sheridan's Sculptures

My cousin Jenn is a developing artist, mainly using pencils. My sister Mickie was and is a remarkable sewer who has made many clothes and costumes for plays. Grandma Sheridan often dabbled in paint by number pictures, and my daughter Laura enjoys doing that also.  My niece Jenna has an artistic flair doing hair as a stylist, my cousin Katie is a published author and great-niece Sophia can create a meal or a dessert to rival the best. 

Many people are creative, inventive and original. All artists in their own right.

Barbie

Week 23 - Wedding Bells - Sheridan/Holland

Finding a minister to preside over a wedding in Fulton (Perrinton), Gratiot County, Michigan in 1875 would have been hard to come by. And a Catholic priest would have been virtually impossible.

Elizabeth Holland was born 22 Sept 1857 in Fremont, Sandusky, Ohio, the youngest of three children of Irish immigrants Thomas and Mary (Shevlen) Holland.

Michael Sheridan was born 2 Oct 1850 and baptized at St Mary's Church in Scottsville, Monroe County, New York. Michael was the oldest of nine children of Patrick and Margaret (Hughes) Sheridan. 

By 1860, the Sheridan family was living south of Fulton twp. (town of Perrinton today) in Gratiot County, Michigan. 

The Holland family does not show in records until the 1870 Fulton twp., Gratiot County, Michigan census, living next door to the Sheridan homestead.

Township of Fulton, Gratiot County, Michigan 1870 Census 
19 July 1870 Springbrook Post Office pg25 Ancestry.com

Michael was age 19 and Elizabeth was only 12.  He was obviously patient as he waited until she turned 19 to marry her. They were married 5 Nov 1877 in Owosso, Shiawassee County, Michigan.

At the time there was not a Catholic church in the area. The area would have been served by traveling priests and were often hosted in local homes or gathering places. St Mary's in Carson City (just nine miles west) was not organized until 1896. The next closest church was St Paul's Roman Catholic Church in Owosso. St Paul's was organized in 1872, and it was 37 miles away. 

There was a railroad line connecting Perrinton, MI to Owosso MI in 1877. This line had originally been the Toledo, Ann Arbor and North Michigan Railway. By 1880, it was a part of the Toledo, Saginaw and Muskegon Railway (TS&M).

It would have taken 2-3 hours by train depending on weather, stops, and if they had to transfer.  If they had taken a horse and buggy, it would have taken 6-8 hours depending on weather and road conditions. I have no proof, but I would like to think that they took the railroad as Michael's occupation at the time of marriage was 'railroader'. 

Daniel & Mary Fitzgerald were witnesses to their wedding. Is this Elizabeth's sister Mary Jane Holland? More research to do!

In the 1880 census of Gratiot County, Michael is listed as a farmer and was living on the Sheridan homestead just south of Perrinton. He and Elizabeth would go on to establish the M E Sheridan Poultry Hall. They were the parents of nine children, seven of them living to adulthood.

Elizabeth would die 9 Feb 1908 at age 48 from pneumonia and Michael would live another 16 years and died 6 Sept 1924 at age 73.

Some additional information that I have collected over the years:

His headstone states his middle initial as H.  But his first name is spelled incorrectly on his headstone - spelled Micheal, not Michael.  On the business name, in 2 newspaper articles, and on his death certificate it says 'E'.

Owned the Farm at 'Sheridan's Grove', ME Sheridan Poultry Hall & Elizabeth also ran a boarding house for railroad men.

They fought a lot - "A big woman, but a handsome woman" said by John O. Sheridan about Elizabeth.

 

Barbie

Week 22 - Reunion - Sheridan

Growing up we all went to the Sheridan family reunion. It was always the 2nd Saturday of August.  We all knew where we would be on that day. Rain or shine, warm or cold.  Mom would make potato salad and tuna macaroni salad. Pack the car and we were off by noon.

We gathered at Uncle Don and Aunt Tressie's in Chesaning, Michigan for a few years. Mom always talked about Uncle Don playing the squeeze box...I don't remember ever hearing it. How about you? Aunt Edythe would hide candy in the front yard while we were all in the backyard waiting for her to say 'go'! Uncle Mike always had a new-fangled camera, and we would have to pose for pictures. If you got too close to Uncle Fay, he would pinch you. Or was that Uncle Kahl? 

John always had a new car...a real car buff.  Uncle Fay had a transistor radio next to him, and we listened to Ernie Harwell announce the Detroit Tigers baseball game. Aunt Aggie always brought homemade butterscotch pie and fried chicken. 

We gathered at Aunt Al and Uncle Kahl's some years. Don't run in her house, the floors were so slippery you would fall on your bottom. But there was a tire swing in the tree, and we all took turns swinging. We had a number of years of meeting at the Thomas cabin in West Branch. All weekend campouts. Great memories of pancake breakfasts and horseshoe tournaments and games for the kids.

Then we went to the park at North Star. We played lots of games, ate very well, went swimming and shared stories of the past year and back 'when we were young'....

I have a couple of pictures from Prince reunions held in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. Those were before my time, so only a few people are familiar to me.

Prince reunion - 1937 

(l-r back row )Mike holding Pauline, Kate holding Rexie, Pauline Sheridan, 

Gpa Frank Prince holding Sally, Gma Prince (Callie 2nd wife), unk

(l-r front row) Rexford, Agnes, unk, Alice, unk

(Behind Alice) unk, unk, John Sheridan

John Sheridan, unk, Lorraine, Frank T Prince, Kahl, Alice, Pauline (gma) Mike, Agnes, unk, Rexie, Pauline, Sally, Lois, 8 unk, Beulah I think w purse, Carolyn, Cathy, Judi, 4 boys unk

Today, we are lucky to get our own families all together at the Holidays, let alone for a reunion. Unless it is a marriage, a death or a graduation we often go years without seeing extended family. 

Here is a look back on some photos from family gatherings over the years. How many people can you name? 

             1940 going away party for Aunt Mayme (Sheridan) and Uncle Rollie Lewis as they moved to California. 

I hope you have enjoyed this walk down memory lane. It's always good to remember everyone and all the stories.

**I also have been honored to have found a sibling that had been adopted out by the system and be a witness to the reunion between a brother and a sister that had not seen each other for over 60 years. He was age six and she was age three the last time they had been together. That made my heart swell and my eyes water.

Another time, I was able to bring about a reunion between a brother and six new half-brothers. He went from being an only child his whole life to one of a large welcoming family. 

 Reunion - an instance of two or more people coming together again after a period of separation.

Barbie

Week 21 - Military - Porter family

This picture has always made me wonder about my dad's brother Harry Edward Porter, Jr and his role in WWII. Was he a courier? Was he just sitting on a random motorcycle? What an awesome picture of him, even if it was wartime. Where was he stationed? I finally am doing the research needed and attempting to disprove or collaborate the stories that I remember and try and solve the mystery of the motorcycle. 

I was told that Uncle Harry was in WWII, but because of an affliction (flat feet?) he tried to enlist and was rejected. He finally went through the same 147th National Guard Unit in Flandreau, SD that his younger brother Bill (my dad) had enlisted with.  But because of being denied, he was late to military service. My dad had served from November 1940 -1946.  Harry had been in Europe whereas my dad had been in the South Pacific.

Harry was born 31 Mar 1916 in Manning, Carroll County, Iowa the oldest son, but the middle of three children of Harry Sr and Nellie (Dillingham) Porter. His younger years were spent in Flandreau, South Dakota and then the family moved back to Sioux City, Iowa. 

I found a marriage license dated 4 April 1950 in Thurston, Washington for Harry Edward Porter, Jr (with all of his correct information) and a Thelma Jean Murray. Both were from Iowa, and the marriage occurred on 5 April 1950. I have not been able to find a divorce nor a death for Thelma.

On 8 Feb 1956 Harry Edward Porter and Effie Viola (Robbins) Kieler were married in Sioux City, Iowa. Effie had two young sons Thomas and Edmund. I remember meeting Aunt Effie once, but I don't recall ever meeting her sons.  

Harry enlisted in the Army National Guard Aug 26, 1942, and was sent to Engineer Replacement Training Center (ERTC) in Ft Leonard Wood, Missouri and was discharged on March 31, 1943. That same day, he was reinstated. How and why would he have left and came back on the same day?

He was assigned to the 29th Division. The 29th American Infantry Division brought together men belonging to the National Guard and was comprised of four battalions and was based in Fort Meade (Maryland, USA). Based on records and historical accounts, he was discharged and then reinstated and sent to the 29th as that unit was being sent to Europe and they needed additional manpower. 

On May 27, 1943, he left the US headed to Europe. and served overseas until December 15, 1945.  He was honorably discharged March 9, 1946.

The 29th's headquarters during World War II in England were located at Abbots Field Hall in Tavistock, Devon. This division was part of preparing for the invasion of Europe. The unit was known as the 'Blue and Gray'.

The 29th Infantry Division was one of the most illustrious US Army outfits of the Second World War. It was in combat almost continuously for eleven months from D-Day to VE-Day, and during this period suffered 20,111 battle casualties including 3,720 killed. It gained four campaign ribbons for service in the European Theatre and was awarded the prestigious 'Croix de Guerr Avec Palme' by the French government for its exemplary service at Omaha Beach on D-Day. Today the 29th Division exists as a reserve division made up of National Guard troops.

I have this in my program notes, it is a newspaper article, but no source, unfortunately -  Note:  Lt. Harry E. Porter formerly of Sioux City, recently was promoted to his present rank, according to a letter received by his parents, Mr. & Mrs. HE Porter who now reside at Midland, Mich.  Lt. Porter left Sioux City for the army in September 1942. He received his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO and then went to an officer candidate school at Fort Belvoir, VA where he was commissioned second lieutenant on March 31, 1943.  Before entering the army, he was employed by a Sioux City wholesale house.  His brother, Sgt William N Porter, now is at Fort Ord, Cal having returned to the States after 38 months overseas in the southwest Pacific area.

Harry was recalled to active duty for the Korean conflict and retired as a Captain in the Reserves in 1958. He was a US Postal Service Clerk for 33 years in Sioux City, Iowa. 

Uncle Harry passed 11 June 1992, in Sioux City. Effie had died 18 Dec 1984, and they are buried in Calvary Cemetery in Sioux City, Iowa. 

I still haven't solved the mystery of the motorcycle. I believe it to be a Harley Davidson as that was the motorcycle of choice during the war, and it matches a few pictures that I have compared it to.

Uncle Harry was a true hero in my book, and I wish more conversations had included him.

Barbie

Week 20 - Wheels - Conner family

Wheels......

Dating my (future) husband in High School he drove a 1965 Plymouth Satellite. A true hot-rod. Jacked up, glass packs, 4 on the floor. A nice rumble. I saw the car driving down Saginaw Road one time and thinking it was him I chased him down! To discover it wasn't him in the car but his mother! I was so embarrassed. And impressed that she could drive it.

My first car that I bought was a used 1970 Pontiac Firebird back in 1973. A super-chicken! I loved that car. It was blue with blue interior. Bucket seats and an automatic on the floor. Couldn't hardly put a jacket in the back seat but was sure comfortable in the front. It cost me $1,100.00 and the payments were $64.00 a month. That was a week's pay from working 40 hours at Dawn Donuts. 

I don't remember what the mileage was, but after we married in 1974, my husband drove it for a year, and then we traded it in for a 1973 Dodge Challenger.

Dan enjoyed the mantra, 'the faster, the better' and that worked great until we started a family. Then it was a 1979 Chrysler Cordoba. A family car.

Before that, he raced. Yes, circle track...dirt and asphalt. He and his racing buddy 'Crash' started with a 1969 Chevelle, then a 1965 Chevelle and then a 1968 Buick.  They didn't take a lot of checkered flags in #96, but they loved the roar of the crowd, the rev of the engines and the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

Way before he started to race, he helped his Uncle Doc race. And Doc's brother Charlie. A true family affair. Doc drove dirt. Lots of dirt. A 1936 Plymouth Coupe and then a 1963 Plymouth Fury - "Petty blue" in color.

Before cars, Dan cut his teeth on airplanes. With his dad Ken, and Uncle George, Doc, Norm, John...old school and awesome times. That generation flew airplanes, like we use cars today. Instead of a Sunday afternoon drive, they did a 'Dawn Patrol' to another town to an airport for a pancake breakfast. 

             Ken's J3 Cub

Wheels and speed.... it's in his DNA.

...but no matter the reason why,
we develop a sentimental tie.
to the metal and gears that we drive,
a connection that will forever thrive......Jarred Feign

Barbie

Week 19 - In the Library - Dillingham and others

Libraries are the world's greatest invention. They have been around since the beginning of time almost. If there is more than one book, then it is a collection. Libraries have educated us, fed our minds, increased our socialization skills and given us a safe sanctuary.

We all used our school libraries and our local town libraries growing up. And as a person of genealogy pursuits, that is my first go to whenever researching a family or an area.  We can't just go next door to one in another location without a lot of cost and travel expenses, so we all utilize the internet. Each town's library has a special collection - usually pertinent to the citizens of the area. Yearbooks, directories, special history books. And if you are lucky, they have a special room or area just for those types of genealogy research items.  

Billings, Montana's library has ALL the Civil War regiments and battles in book form  -Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (128 Volumes including index).  All those campaigns are typed out showing how each regiment traveled, who was injured in battle, where they got into position for the next battle. A veritable gold mine if you are researching a family member from that era. My Great-Grandfather Nathaniel G Dillingham's unit is well documented leading up to and during the march on Atlanta. He was a part of Captain Alpheus M. Blakeley's Company E, 74th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry.

Billings, MT also has two.... TWO Family History centers and for about eight years, I traveled to both of them weekly doing research. While living in Montana, I did a trip to Salt Lake City to the main Family Search library. An amazing repository freely available to all.

Appleton, Wisconsin has a great public library. It has a Memory Page link that you can type in, for example, Houdini Museum (Harry Houdini was raised in Appleton) and there are pictures of the museum.  It has a wonderful genealogy learning section with many links to other resources in the area.

Every library I have ever utilized has an 'Ask a Librarian' feature. If you need to know about special collections, books, history of the area - just ask. Need an obituary from their area and they have their newspapers available - just ask. They are a wealth of knowledge and always willing to help. Many libraries have a local genealogy society that volunteers to find the answer to your questions and the librarian will pass on your request.

I volunteer in the genealogy room of the Alice & Jack Wirt Public Library in Bay City, Michigan. From city directories, transcribed birth and marriages from Bay County to local funeral home records there is always something new and interesting if you are researching in the area. They also have the local Bay City Times newspaper online and fully searchable. 

Back in 2016 I wanted to research in the Perry, Dallas County, Iowa area. The local newspapers were digitized, but not available for public pursual. They were only available in the local public library. So, I planned a research trip to Iowa. Spent five days traveling from one end of Iowa to the other, stopping at courthouses and libraries. I was lucky enough to spend a day at the library in Perry and was able to fully search their digitized newspaper archives. 

Doing this missive, I decided to check their website and today they have the 1874 - 2001 newspapers fully available to search online from your home. And you don't have to be a card-carrying resident!

Lapeer, Michigan has an amazing library and genealogy room. They have many locally written family histories and county histories on their shelfs. Also, yearbooks and city directories and other books are available.

Those local genealogy groups that are affiliated with the library? Many of their members are savvy in where to look, how to look, and full of knowledge of where they and their ancestors lived. Check into joining one - in person is great and most now have Zoom options for their monthly meetings. Myself? I belong to seven groups across the state of Michigan and the nation. And even a couple overseas.

As my granddaughter informed me one time - I'm just using my resources wisely.

Remember that the next time you need an answer.

Barbie