Private, Company E, 39th Kentucky Infantry, United States Army

As researched by Stephen D. Bowling

Son of Joseph and Mary (Williamson) Porter

Born on March 19, 1835, in Lawrence County, Kentucky.

1850 Johnson County, Kentucky Federal Census
House #497-497
     Benjamin Porter, Sen.   52
     Mary Porter             47
          Joseph Porter      17
          Elijah Porter      15
          Samuel Porter      14
          Ann E. Porter      12
          Matilda Porter     9       

Married to Presilla Mutter (1838-1859) on December 14, 1852, in Pike County, Kentucky. Daughter of Adam and Elizabeth ( ) Mutter.

Death of Wife Presilla (Mutter) Porter died on December 7, 1859, after complications from the birth of their son, Adam Porter.

Married to Cynthia Mollett (1844-1864) on March 29, 1860, at Louisa in Lawrence County, Kentucky. Daughter of Hiram C. and _________ Mollett.

1860 Federal Census
     Not Located

Military Service
Company E, 39th Kentucky Infantry, United States Army
Enlistment- September 16, 1862 at Peach Orchard in Lawrence County, Kentucky.
Age- 35
Mustered In- 1863, February 16 at Peach Orchrd, Lawrence County, Kentucky.
Present For Duty:  1863, January and February
Absent With Leave:  1863, March and April
Present For Duty:  1863, May and June
                   1863, July and August
                   1863, September and October
                   1863, November and December
                   1864, January and February
                   1864, March and April
                   1864, May and June
Absent Without Leave:  1864, July and August
Absent Under Arrest:  1864, September and October
Absent Without Leave:  1864, November and December
Deserted about January 1865
Deserted:  Declared a deserter on 1864, February 1 with one Enfield Rifle and eqipment valued at $23.75.
Present For Duty:  1865, March and April
Desertion Overturned: 1865, April 15 under the provision of the Presidential Proclaimation by Abraham Lincoln.
Joined From Desertion:  1865, April 10 at Louisa in Lawrence County, Kentucky
Paid: 1865, June 30
Mustered Out- 1865, September 15 at Louisa in Lawrence County, Kentucky
Due at Muster Out: $ .40
Highest Rannk- Private

Death of Wife Cynthia (Mollett) Porter died in 1864 at Louisa in Lawrence County, Kentucky.

Married to Lucinda Johnson (1844-1916) on February 11, 1865, in Lawrence County, Kentucky. Daughter of George W. and Mary Ann (Damron) Johnson.

1870 Lawrence County, Kentucky Federal Census
Louisa Post Office, house #114-114
     Samuel Porter          36
     Lucinda Porter         24
          Susan Porter      15
          James Porter      12
          Valentine Porter  9
          Rosencrans Porter 4
          Samuel Porter     2
          Marion Porter     10 months

Moved his family to Long Prairie, Minnesota in 1872.

1875 Todd County, Minnesota Territorial Census
Gordon, House #52
     Samuel Porter          39
     Lucinda Porter         25
          Susan Porter      20
          Valentine Porter  14
          Rosencrans Porter 9
          Samuel Porter     7
          Marion Porter     5
          Andrew Porter     2

1880 Todd County, Minnesota Territorial Census
Leslie, House #125-139
     Samuel Porter          44
     Lucinda Porter         32
          Valentine Porter  19
          Rosencrans Porter 14
          Samuel Porter     12
          Marion Porter     10
          Andrew Porter     7
          Mary A. Porter    5
          Lucinda Porter    3
          George Porter     10 months

Union Invalid Pension
     Application Date- March 31, 1885
     Application #536344
     Approved Certificate #541610

1885 Todd County, Minnesota Territorial Census
Leslie, House #11
     Samuel Porter          51
     Lucinda Porter         38
          Valentine Porter  22
          Rosencrans Porter 19
          Salnal Porter     17
          Marian C. Porter  15
          Andrew Porter     12
          Maryon Porter     9
          Lucinda Porter    7
          Clista Porter     3
          Alexander Porter  0 

1890 Federal Census of Soldiers and Sailors
     Not Located

1900 Todd County, Minnesota Federal Census
Townhip of Wykeham, house #157-157
     Samuel Porter          68     March 1832
     Ludinda Porter         58
          Alexander Porter  15
          Lucrecia Porter   13
          Maggie Porter     11
          Clarissa Ayers    19     Widowed Daughter
          Arthur C. Ayers   1      Grandson

1905 Todd County, Minnesota Territorial Census
Wykeham Township, Line #32
     Samuel Porter          76
     Lucinda Porter         63
          Maria Porter      16
          Arthur Porter     6

Moved to Alexandria, Douglas County, Minnesota in 1906

Died on November 23, 1909, at Alexandria in Douglas County, Minnesota

Obituary
The Alexandria Post News
Alexandria, Minnesota
November 25, 1909, page 6

Samuel Porter
Death of a Veteran.
Samuel Porter, a veteran of the Civil War and a pioneer of Minnesota, died here Tuesday forenoon, after an operation. While Mr. Porter has been a resident of Alexandria only since 1906, he was known to many here, several of his children having resided in Alexandria for many years. 

Samuel Porter was born near Paintsville, Kentucky, March 19, 1835. He enlisted in the fall of 1862, in Co. E. Thirty-Ninth Kentucky Infantry, and served three years. He was honorably discharged in 1865.

He was last married in 1868 to Lucinda Johnson of Paintsville, Ky., who survives him. In 1872 Mr. Porter and his small family came to Minnesota settling near Long Prairie. He resided there until 3 years ago when the family came to Alexandria. Mr. Porter was the father of eighteen children, fifteen of whom were the children of the widow who survives him.

Of this large family there are thirteen living today. They are James Porter of Riverside, Col., Mrs. Susie McGuire of Seattle, Wash., Valentine Porter, Norcross, Minn; Rosencrans Porter, Eagle Bend; Samuel P. Porter, Andrew Porter and Alexander Porter of Alexandria; M. C. Porter of Akeley, Minn.; Mrs. Mary Showers, Morris, Minn.; Mrs. Lucinda Martin, Dickinson, N. D: Mrs. Clarissa Palmer, Nevis Minn; Mrs. Maggie Ellis of Alexandria and another daughter in Portland Ore. The funeral will be held this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the Adventists' church and the interment will be in Kinkead cemetery.

Buried in the Kinkead Cemetery at Alexandria in Douglas County, Minnesota.

Unions Widow's Pension
     Application Date- December 7, 1909
     Application #931841
     Approved Certificate #704401

Death of Wife Lucinda (Johnson) Porter died on April 12, 1916, at Alexandria in Douglas County, Minnesota.

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© 2023 Stephen D. Bowling