Pages 320 – 321

FREDERICK E. PORTER - Among the representative citizens of Shawano county, none is more worthy of mention than the gentleman whose name here appears, and who holds a prominent place both in public and private life in the county, and in the village of Birnamwood where he makes his home.
 
Mr. Porter was born March 9, 1854, in Stockway Hollow, Allegany Co., N.Y., and is the son of William and Persis (Crittenden) Porter, natives of New York and of Scotch descent.  They were the parents of eight children, namely: Pliny A., Elery E., William A., Milo M., Claria T., Henry F., Charles A., and Frederick E. The family removed to Michigan in the fall of 1854, and settled in Flowerfield township, St. Joseph county, where the father carried on farming and lumbering. In the fall of 186l they came to Wisconsin and located in Waushara county where the father died in 1862. He was a man of excellent character, and was respected by all who knew him. The mother married again and died in 1890.  The daughter Claria T. married Edward Benjamin, and resides in Waushara county.

The subject of this sketch secured his education in the public schools, his opportunities being limited, as his father died when he was eight years old, and when he was fourteen years of age his elder brother left home, the care of his mother thereby devolving upon him. He remained at home devoting himself to this work, which he did faithfully and well until he reached the age of twenty-five. At this time he was married, September 26, 1878, to Miss Susan Fuller, who was born in Waushara county, Wis., in 1858, the daughter of Amos and Rachel (Barlow) Fuller, and one of a family of eleven children. Her parents were natives of New York and came to Wisconsin in an early day. Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have two children, Lenora and Emery E. 

In the spring of 1881 Mr. Porter came to Birnamwood, which was then the home of only four families. Here he homesteaded a piece of land which he commenced clearing, while in the winter he carried on lumbering. On this place he remained thirteen years, working his farm and lumbering every winter except one. In the spring of 1894 he removed to the village and bought his present property, where he operates a hotel and has a delightful home.  Mr. Porter is a Republican in politics, and has always been a leader in his party. He is a popular man as may be seen by the positions of trust he has held—such as chairman of the town board four years; treasurer one year; assessor two years; while at present he is supervisor and marshal of the village and deputy sheriff of the county. He is a member of the order of Modern Woodmen.  He is a man of intelligence, enterprise and integrity, and is well-liked in his community as a genial whole-souled citizen. His devotion to his mother was a beautiful trait in his character, and she returned to his house in her old age, passing the last seven years of her life with him.