Samuel Porter, son of John Porter and Nancy Mc Kenzie, was born probably in Carroll County, Maryland, about 1770; married c. 1790 Jane Anderson of Scotch descent. Children: Elizabeth, two other daughters, William, Benjamin, Michael, John of S. Authority for the above and also the following material on Samuel Porter and his family: Frank Porter's History of the Porters, in the possession of Edith Porter Beamer of Blissfield, Mich. Much of the following is in the exact words of the history. Samuel served in the War of 1812, died 1828.
Samuel Porter settled on Pine Mountain about 2 miles east of his father's Rose Meadow farm, and he was there located when married. There was already a small clearing with a cabin on it called "Play Place; 'One-half mile farther along the mountain tableland. Frank Porter says he has never seen a mountain similar." Instead of climbing into a ridge of peaks, part of that mountain top seems to have been cut off, or cut down in ages past, as if by a titanic scraper. That Pine Mountain tableland lies in an undulating strip less that one-fourth miles wide by about 3 miles long, from 2200 to 2600 ft. Elevation, with towering clifs at the eastern edge from which dropped the steep mountain declivity to the base of the broken foot hills. At least three animal trails converged to cross the mountain trail just where Samuel Porter built his first log cabin. Four converged in like manner to cross the same trail where the first hunter's cabin was built at Play Place. At these places were the bubbling springs of 'Soft Water', about four of them to a two-acre plot at each place. Samuel led many expeditions to help exterminate the wily but dangerous wolf packs. He had chosen land on these converging animal trails with possible intent that he might make some necessary money from pelts and scalps. The two freeport coal seams outcropped on land of Samuel Porter but he never knew it. Long years after when his son Michael had all his father's holdings, he sold all his coal rights under more that 300 acres for $600 in full belief that there was no coal on his lands. In turn Michael's sons John and William also burned wood until the youngest of all of them was a man before they knew that the old Play Place house sat on top of 6 ft. of coal and that it could have been mined on a level with the back door."
This was the place Samuel, the ancestor of the Michigan Porters, settled. He is said to have died fairly young. He had earned a reputation as a great hunter and as one of the best rifle-shots in the Allegheny Mountains. He was much more of ahunter and trapper than a farmer. It appears that his wife, Jane Anderson had lived neighbors with him on Pine Mountain before their marriage, one-half mile to the north of Samuel's cabin. Ellsworth Porter writes: "William Anderson lived on Piney Mountain, his place being known as Play Place. Samuel also lived on Piney Mountain Plateau, near the home of his wife's folks." Frank Porter writes "Samuel Porter had a still on his farm where he used up surplus grain and fruit. Most other farms had stills before the Civil War." Samuel's son Michael bought Play Place and Michael's two sons lived on Pine Mt. In 1902 everything was sold by Michael's grandchildren.
Children of Samuel Porter and Jane Anderson; All born on Pine Mt.:
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Samuel is 25 degrees from Herbert Adair, 21 degrees from Richard Adams, 18 degrees from Mel Blanc, 21 degrees from Dick Bruna, 20 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 30 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 20 degrees from Sam Edwards, 17 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 19 degrees from Marty Krofft, 16 degrees from Junius Matthews, 15 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 17 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
Categories: War of 1812