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SOURCE: Arthur and Ella Martin Family History written and compiled by Ruth Martin Call in 2006.
Quote by Ruth Martin Call: “Most of the information I have on the Porter family came from Dad’s (Arthur Eugene Martin)
older sister Minnie Florence Martin Lutz. She gave me many old endowment and baptism sheets that she had taken to
the Logan temple to do baptisms and endowments for our Porter and Martin ancestors. Included with these sheets was
this partial history. I have not been able to verify all of this history that Aunt Minnie gave me, but is all we have. If Aunt
Minnie thought it was correct, then who are we to dispute Aunt Minnie. I will try to keep the tone or ambiance of the history
as it was written so many years ago.”
The Porter Family
The meaning of the Porter name is “Gate Keeper.”
David Porter, born February 1, 1880, had a family of several children from a previous marriage, according to the
old records, and what Newton, Clara, Abbie, and Maggie Porter remember their father telling them. David Porter and
Isabella Simmeral were married December 8, 1814 at Jefferson County, Ohio. The had four sons William, born, March
8, 1816; Milton, born April 21, 1818; Harvey , born November 9, 1819; and Newton, born April 8, 1821. These dates are
taken from the Bible of William Porter. William purchased the leather-bound Bible from Samuel Paul, Green Township,
Harrison County, Ohio.
David Porter died August 8, 1821, at Tuscarawas County, Ohio, age 41, leaving Isabella with four boys ages five,
three, two, and four months. If this wasn't bad enough, Isabella died August 1826 at the age of 37 leaving four boys ages
ten, eight, seven, and five. William at the age of ten was apprenticed and raised by an Uncle John Knisely (assumed to
be married to a sister of either David or Isabella) William's three brothers (Milton, Harvey and Newton Porter) were
raised by the Simmerals.
John Knisely owned and operated a carpenter shop in New Philidelphia, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where
William Porter was taught carpentry and cabinet making. John Knisely laid out the town site of New Philidelphia and a
cousin of Jacob Knisely is also mentioned. Harvey Porter lived in Wooster, Ohio; Newton lived in Gillispie, Illinois, and
later moved to Jerseyville Illinois; and Milton died in 1849 at Morgan County, Ohio. Daniel Porter was possibly a brother
or uncle of David Porter because William Porter often spoke of Uncle Daniel who lived in Mingo Township three miles
below Steubenville.
Susanna Cribbs was born June 22, 1820, in Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio. Susanna's mother Christina
Williams’s first marriage was to Jacob Kitch, a Dutchman. This must have been why Susanna Porter claimed Dutch
ancestry. Susanna's mother, Christina's people came from Wales. After Jacob's death Christina married Jacob Cribbs and
they had seven children with Susanna being the last child. She had four brothers and two sisters. Dan and Dave Cribbs
went to Alabama in 1834; George and Alexander Cribbs stayed in Ohio. Katherine Cribbs married a man named Myers
and Mary Ann Cribbs married a man named Swank. Christina had three uncles; Peter, John, and Able Williams. It is
possible that Christian’s grandfather was Samuel William of Steubenville, Ohio. Her own father was Daniel Williams.
Susanna's mother died about 1820 at the home of Susanna's uncle Peter Williams when Susanna was just a baby. Peter
Williams, the uncle who raised Susanna Cribbs, owned a store and tavern in New Philadelphia, Ohio, and was
Tuscarawas county Treasurer 1811-1823.
Susanna was seventeen years old when she and William Porter determined to get married but Susanna's
brothers objected and said she shouldn't marry. William and Susanna eloped. They took the state to Your, Pennsylvania,
and were married on October 27, 1837. William and Susanna made their home at New Philadelphia Tuscarawas, Ohio.
To this home came seven of their twelve children; Theresa born 1838, Newton born 1840, Daniel born 1842, Isabella born
1844, Albert born 1845, William born 1847, and Pricilla born 1849.
William Porter followed his trade as a cabinet maker. All furniture was made by hand at this time. The family
resided a short time in Chesterfield, Ohio. But it wasn't long before William was determined to move to Illinois. They
The Porter Family History.docx
Arthur and Ella Martin Family History, By Ruth Martin Call
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boarded one of the steamboats as almost all travel was by boat in those days. It must have been quite an undertaking for
them with their seven children. In this time period, travel on the Ohio River cost $2.00 for 100 miles which included room
and board. William, Susanna, and family traveled up the Mississippi River to St. Louis, Illinois, then on to Honey or
Crooked Creek where they lived a short time. From Honey or Crocked creek, they moved to Gillispie, Macoupin, Illinois,
where George Porter, born 1851, and Mary Catherine Porter, born 1854, joined the family. After living in town a short
time, they moved to a farm about three miles away. The three younger children were born on the farm; Clara Ellen
Porter, born 1856, Laura Abigail Porter, born 1857, and Margaret Jane Porter, born 1862. It was in Gillispie, Macoupin,
Illinois, that Isabella Porter married John William Martin on May 19, 1863.
The Civil War was going on at this time, 1963. Newt Porter, the oldest son, was the first to go at twenty-three
years old; he served three years. Albert Porter at age eighteen was the next to go; he served one year. Clara says she
remembered seeing her mother cry when her sons left for the war Newt was wounded at Vicksburg and was very powder
burned. Both sons served their county and were brave and valiant soldiers. Of the twelve sons born to William and
Susanna only one, Mary Catharine, died in childhood. She is buried near Gillispie, Macoupin, Illinois.
The family lived a short time near Bunker Hill. Then hearing of land for sale by the Illinois Central Railroad, they
decided to make the country their home. They moved from Bunker Hill, Illinois, to Pana, Christian, Illinois, in a covered
wagon. Newt Porter was home from the Civil War, but was almost blind because of the powder burns. Newt Porter drove
one of the teams, and Susanna Porter was very much concerned if he was able to drive the wagon because he was
almost blind. They moved in November 1868. There was a perfect deluge of rain and when they got as far as Rosemond,
Illinois, they couldn't go any farther. The Station Master let them into the station where they spent the night. When they got
to Pana, Illinois, they were not able to take possession of the farm they had purchased, so for one year the family rented
the old "Thern" place, a short distance north of their place.
As Soon as they got possession of their own place, one and all got busy and a nice one story log house was
erected. The family of eleven children made quite a house full. Newton and Albert went to Kansas and worked doing
carpentry. After they returned home, the boys went to Pana, and Theres and Priscilla were visiting the Smith family who
lived at what is now known as the Walker place. On this day January 3, 1871, the house took fire and burned to the
ground. William Porter was convalescing from an attack of typhoid fever and was scarcely able to be up. Grandma Porter
(Isabella Simmeral) was very concerned about his welfare and about getting all the small children out of the house. The
section hands of the railroad came to their assistance and rendered all the help they could. Most of the furniture and
bedding were saved. Then they built the two story frame building which so many of us remember.
William Porter received a marvelous education for his day and time. I (this history’s author) William’s writings are
exemplary even today in composition, rhetoric, and penmanship. We think that when he was a boy few people in this
country could read and write and there were few schools of any kind, but he was able to write and express himself in
beautiful and cultured terms. It makes us still more proud of him. He was fortunate to have a former treasure of Yale
University as an uncle to rear him. William was a lover of good music, and he read music by notes. He played classical
music on the violin and calliope, (a musical instrument equipped with steam whistles, played from a keyboard), and he
sang and taught vocal lessons. Both accomplishments at that time were rare. He showed culture, refinement, and learning
far superior in that day. What a wonderful heritage to pass on to us. He was honored and revered by all who knew him.
William Porter was called to his heavenly home on July 7, 1899, (age 83) and was buried in the Oconne, Shelby, Illinois
Cemetery. Susanna Cribbs Porter passed away on December 14, 1910 (age 90) and she too is buried in the Oconne
Cemetery. (Note: both William and Susanna were reared in an uncle’s homes: William in John Knisely’s home and
Susanna in Peter William’s home.)
The Porter Family History.docx
Arthur and Ella Martin Family History, By Ruth Martin Call