Porter was born in about 1848, probably in Oregon.
Son, Harry Herbert Harden's death record gives his father's name as Porter Harden. The 1880 Census show Harry's mother as widowed and give the birth place of his father as Oregon. Census records for Harry as an adult give Kansas and Tennessee as his father's birthplace.
The California Great Register of Voters shows a James Porter Harden, born about 1848 in Oregon in Napa County around the time of Harry's birth. The last Great Register for James Porter Harden is in 1879 in Salt Point, Sonoma, California. There is a record at the Stockton State Hospital for a Jas P Harden, correct age, birth place, and married admitted 12 Feb 1885 after being committed by a Merced County Judge. He died of cerebral effusion on 10 Nov 1885. The summary describes his behavior as manic, disagreeable and that he will "appropriate" anything he can get his hands on. If this was the same person, its possible that either he had disappeared and was assumed dead, or that Harry did not know much about his father.
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