The PORTERS !
The family crest "Vigilance & Virtue!"
Paul Wood Porter (Nov 07, 1893 - Mar 03, 1965) -Raised in Madison Wisconsin, Paul built sailboats with his two brothers, graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a B.A. in Forestry, enlisted serving honorably in WWI as a corporal in the U.S. Army's Wisconsin Red Arrow Division supply unit. He returned from France with memories, his compass, and undisclosed shrapnel in his stomach. He joked and shared stories from the trenches when both sides stopped shelling, singing Christmas Carol's to each other, then went back to fighting. Paul went on to gain an unparalleled reputation as a steady, trustworthy honest man. As a NSP Accountant, from the great depression until retirement, relatives gave him money to invest without formal paper work. Married to Gladys Middleton 41 years they raised two children, Ruth and Paul, took in foster children, invested in South West Minneapolis and Edina Minnesota properties, always ready to help others. On 35 acres in Edina, Minnesota he gardened, cut hay, raised chickens, turkeys and boxer dogs. He rests today in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery with his wife.
Paul's father, Lew F. Porter - Age 55
Carolyn Howe Porter
Relaxing on the Lake & State Street family home balcony, Madison, Wisconsin
about 1899. This home was sold to the University, used as the Registrar's office
and then replaced with today's structure.
Father: Joseph PORTER (1825-1895) Ohio
Mother: Maria KIRK (1834-1907) Ohio
Lew Forster PORTER was Born: July 8, 1862 in Peru Illinois. Lew moved
to Madison Wisconsin where he made major contributions to that growing capital
city. Lew was married in 1888 to Carolyn "Carrie" Lucretia Howe. Together they
raised three boys: Joseph, Paul, Phillip and their daughter Mary Elizabeth.
The family has gone on to contributed generations of engineers, lawyers, teachers
and many fine outstanding citizens.
Thought to be too young to attend the University Of Wisconsin, Lew was educated
at Beloit College as a Civil Engineer and Architect. Lew was a principal in
the firm of Conover & Porter from 1885-1891 where Frank Loyd Wright worked as
an apprentice. His family home was sold to the University of Wisconsin and he
moved the family to his new home "Bay View" on the north end of Lake Monona.
Lew designed numerous distinctive and historic buildings including the University
of Wisconsin Armory or "Old Red Gym", Science Hall, the President's home, Randal
School, etc.. His buildings clearly spoke their purpose for themselves, rarely
needing signs. Lew was Secretary of the Capitol Building Commission responsible
for the outstanding design and quality of the current Wisconsin State Capitol.
He cut through expensive brass rail to make certain it was solid for he vowed
that no tinge of fraud would touch that building. The railing proved not to
be solid and was all sent back.
Suffering from Bright's disease, Lew died at home April 16, 1918 3:00 pm at
age 55 9 mo 8 days and is buried with many of the Porter clan at Forest Hill
Cemetery in Dane County Wisconsin.
Lew's wife Carolyn "Carrie" Lucretia Howe was born May 9, 1860 in Monona,
Iowa. She died Jan 30, 1948 at age 88 in Madison, Wisconsin Her father was:
Henry Edwin HOWE (1810-1879) Massachusetts Her Mother was: Mary Ann WOOD (1825-1890)
New York
Their four children are :
1. Joseph PORTER - Male child
Born January 8, 1889 in Madison, Wisconsin. A Wisconsin state highway department
commission engineer, Joe retired in 1955 and died at age 74 December 2, 1963
with a Respiratory Problem originating from mineral oil he accidentally inhaled
as a youth. Joe was educated at the University of Wisconsin as a Civil Engineer
and also worked Chicago & Alton Railroad as Civil Engineer Joe married Mabel
PAULSON Jan 8, 1914 from Chicago, Illinois an active church and University woman.
They had one son who was named after his grandfather, Lew F. Porter II. Joe
is also buried at Forest Hill Cemetery, Dane County, Wisconsin ----------------------------------------
2. Philip Howe PORTER - Male child Born August 15, 1891 Educated at the
University Of Wisconsin, Philip was a prominent attorney, specializing in Interstate
Commerce May 5, 1917 he married Ruth Marie THOMAS. They had five children: John,
Elizabeth, Mary Leigh, Martha and Margaret "Peg". Active in the Audubon Society,
Ruth Thomas passed away Nov 8, 1976 in Madison, Wisconsin. ----------------------------------------
3. Paul Wood PORTER - Male child Birth: Nov 7, 1893 Place: Madison, Wisconsin
A kind, gentle and exceptionally honest man who looked a great deal like his
grandfather Joseph Porter, Paul was educated at the University Of Wisconsin
where he graduated in 1921 with a degree in Forestry. Paul married Gladys Martha
MIDDLETON June 28, 1924 in Rockford, Illinois. They had two children Ruth Oral
and Paul David. Paul Wood Porter was a WW-I soldier and accountant for Northern
States Power Company. He died March 3, 1965 at his Edina Minnesota home suffering
a heart attack after shoveling wet heavy spring snow and running down the hill
to help his young grand daughter. Paul who was then 72 years of age was buried
March 5, 1965 at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ----------------------------------------
4. Mary Elizabeth PORTER - Female child Born January 28, 1897 in Madison,
Wisconsin, she married Awrey Cohoe June 21, 1919 They had two children Caroline
and Dan. Mary died at 77 years of age January 1974 in Hibbing, Minnesota.
This often unheralded and quiet, somewhat understated Porter family, has more
than left its mark. The distinctive nature of Lew Porter's architecture may
be seen below:
Built in 1893, the Armory or old red gym
Madison Wisconsin's Capital!
(More Pictures soon!)
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Other links of interest:
The Red Gym
University of Wisconsin
Madison Wisconsin