James Glen Porter

Notes:

William Lindsey McDonald, A Walk Through the Past - People and Places of Florence and Lauderdale County, Alabama; Florence Alabama, Country Lane Printing, 1997

Chapter 35 Early East Lauderdale County Pg. 147-8 Lexington, Dugout, Porter Town, Belew and Cotton Gin

Porter Town was also north of Lexington and near Dugout. It was named for several Porter families who settled here from Abbeville, South Carolina, during the 1820s. Hugh and Sarah Bowie Porter were born in the early 1790s. Their son, James Gleen Porter, established a grist mill and blacksmith shop in this community. Hugh's nephew, Washington Porter, was also here as well as a widow, Rebecca Porter, who was born in 1790 in North Carolina. Her son, Andrew was a native of South Carolina.


From the 1850 Census:

#335/335 James G. Porter35 M BlacksmithS.C. Elizabeth "25 FTN John" 7 MAla Samuel " 5 MAla Dorcis Brown20 FAla

From the 1866 Tax List*:

Porter, James G.65.35


From the 1870 Lauderdale County Census:

#232-224 Porter,James,55,M,W, Farmer,400,275,North Carolina Porter, Bettie,43,F,Alabama Porter, Sam,20,M,Farm Hand, Alabama


Melinda,

I can account for one of the families listed on the 1850 Census you mentioned:

James Glen Porter married Elizabeth Johnston 2 Sept 1941 (sic--s/b 1841) in Lauderdale Co. They are the James G. and Elizabeth (Children John and Samuel) you found on the census. He was a Blacksmith. He contracted some disease of the eyes and was blind or nearly blind, as I understand, at his death. He was a son of Hugh and Sarah Porter of Union Co., SC. There is a picture of your husband's ancestor in a book called "I'm from Lexington; Alabama Reunion 1989" by Fred Johnson. The photo is a family group of the children of Hugh and Sarah taken in 1901. It was locally published and sold so I don't know who widely available it might be. If you cannot find it I can scan the already poor photo published therein and send a .jpg file of it to you.

I have not traced this family. She is an Aunt in my Johnston lineage. I do not know who Hugh's parent's were.

Dave Johnston [davensjohnston@sprintmail.com]


*1866 TAX LIST ? Copyright 1993, 1999, Pat M. Mahan This book is actually entitled "Assessment of Taxes on Real Estate and Personal Property In the County of Lauderdale for the Year 1866," and measures 17 inches by 23 inches CLOSED. It is in very bad shape. The front cover is missing, and so are some of the pages. It is also possible that some of the precincts are missing. The pages are not numbered, so it was not possible to determine if this were the case. The first two pages are torn, but there are no names on them. There are 83 columns, stretching across two sheets. Personal property is divided into several categories, which included libraries over $300; vehicles not exclusively used for agricultural purposes; jewelry plate and silverware; pianos and other musical instruments. Each Beat or Precinct is in alpha order. The A through G names in the Florence Beat are missing. And any "H" names, prior to Mrs. H. G. Hardy are missing. The remaining Beats or precincts that are listed appear to be complete. The initials "F. M." following a name appear to stand for Free Man. The four columns presented here are:
(1) - Lands, Number of acres
(2) - Town Properties, Number of lots
(3) - Total tax on Real Estate
(4) - Number of Male Inhabitants between 18 and 50 years of age
at $2.00 tax per number.

Porter, Chas. W.33.181 Porter, Andrew80.14 Porter, John F.68.351 Porter, James G.65.35 Porter, W. R.58.35 Porter, A. S.55012.80 Porter, Wm. D.1

James married Elizabeth Johnston on 2 Sep 1841 in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Elizabeth was born about 1825 in Tennessee; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married E.A "Bettie" Davis after 1843. E.A was born after 1815; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John F.M. Porter, whose father was James Glen, was killed in the Second Battle of Manassas on August 30, 1862. He was a member of Company I of the 9th Alabama Infantry Regiment.

(Research):He died during the battle of Manassas.