[p. 480] president
judge of the Fifty-third Judicial
District of Pennsylvania, has for many
years occupied a prominent position at the
bar of Lawrence County and is a distinguished
citizen of New Castle.
Judge Porter was born in Wilmington Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1867, and is a son of Thomas B. and Margaret J. Porter, his parents being of old and well known families of the community. After completing the prescribed course in the public schools, he matriculated at Westminster College, from which institution he was graduated in June, 1889. He then taught school in his native township one term, and a like period in the common schools of Neshannock Township, Lawrence County, after which he continued his preparation for the legal profession under the preceptorship of James A. Gardner and James M. Martin. After his admission to the bar of Lawrence County, January 23, 1893, he engaged in practice in New Castle with marked success. In 1900 he was called upon to serve the Third Ward of the City in the Select Council, filling the office from April 2 of that year until April, 1904, the last two years of which time he was president of that body. In 1894 he was elected secretary of the People's Mutual Building and Loan Association of New Castle, Pa., in which capacity he served efficiently until December, 1904, when he resigned upon being elevated to the bench. He was elected president judge of the Fifty-third Judicial District of Pennsylvania in November, 1904, and assumed the duties of office in January, 1905. A man of recognized ability and an able lawyer, in the discharge of his judicial duties he has added largely to the prestige he previously enjoyed.
March 28, 1893, Judge Porter was joined in marriage with Miss Ina H. Shoaff. In religious attachment they are members of the First United Presbyterian Church of New Castle.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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Updated: 27 Oct 2001