Newspaper Obituary (probably Sheridan,Yamhill Co., OR
THE PASSING OF RUFUS A. PORTER
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Worthy Record of a Life
Well Spent--A Pioneer
and History Maker.
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Beautiful Tribute of His Mem-
ory by a Personal Friend.
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In the death of Rufus A. Porter there closed a life of sterling worth, one who honor was invincible, who allegiance to friends was never broken, and who adherence to principle could never be shaken by adversity. His was a life well spent in the cause of humanity; and as a modest maker of history he deserves to rank with others of renown who were, perhaps better known to the world, but none excelled him in performance of duty and pertinacity of purpose.
He was port in Danville, New York, July 28, 1834, and died at his home in Sheridan, Oregon, November 3, 1914, at the age of 80 years, 3 months and 6 days. He became a member of the Christian church more than forty years ago and held many important positions in the church organization, and at the time of his death was a senior elder. Although always interested in affairs of city, county and state he never sought political preferment but was content to perform his duties as a citizen with his vote and voice. The funeral was held in the Christian church on Tuesday, November 4, with Rev. Z. O. Doward, pastor, conducting the services. A mixed quartet furnished the music, and the floral offerings were beautiful and in rich profusion. The body was laid to rest in the Masonic cemetery at the edge of town.
He was married in 1862 to Sarah Rawlston and soon afterward they crossed the plain by ox team, coming as far as Montana, where they spent the winter of 1864-65. It was there they lost their baby girl, and left it buried by the roadside. On reaching Oregon they settled near Bethel, in Polk county, where they lived for nearly five years, and then bought the Moses Eads donation claim on Mill Creek, where they lived until the death of Mrs. Porter in 1881. To them were born seven children, three having passed on before, two having died in infancy, and Mrs. Ida Morris, who died April 18, 1900. In 1883 Mr. Porter was married to Miss Rachel Clark, who survives him. To this union two children were born, one dying in infancy. It was on his farm the Harmony church and school house were located, he donating the land for this purpose. On August 22, 1902, while delivering berries in Sheridan his team ran away and he was injured so severely that it left him crippled for life. Not being able to manage the farm any longer he sold it in 1903 and moved to Sheridan. In the fall of 1905 he moved to McMinnville where he resided for a year and then came back to Sheridan, where he has since lived. He was deeply interested in his family and nothing gave him greater pleasure than to have the children all at home, and the last family gathering was held on July 28 last on his 80th birthday when all were present and a family picture was taken. Beside the wife he is survived by five children, L.G. Porter, and Mrs. Ona Buchanan, of McMinnville; Mrs. Amy Thompson, of Portland, Mrs. Eva Dickey and Mrs. Etta Henderson of Sheridan; six grand-children, Floyd, Merl and Ferrell Dickey, Nile and Dale Porter and Wayne Buchanan; one sister Mrs. Martha Harris of Vancouver, Wash., one half brother and sister, Geo. Porter, of Sheridan and Mrs. Eunice Darling, of Dallas; two step sisters, Mrs. Jane Coy, of Dallas, and Mrs.Maria Butter, of Illinois.
Many incidents of his history making life might be told but only a brief mention can be made here. He was a scout with Kit Carson in the great undeveloped country between the Mississippi river and the Western Divide; was under John Brown in many of his activities in the cause of humanity in Kansas and adjoining territory and was a teamster during a portion of the civil war. He was a member of the surveying party that located the boundary line between Mexico and the United States. This party was made up of representatives of both governments, and the commanders on both sides were not abstainers of the mescal fluid. When the line was about half run party encountered some swampy, brushy country with snakes, lizzards and mosquitoes making life almost unbearable. Under these conditions and when the mescal was doing it finest work the commanders flipped coins to determine in which direction the rest of the line should be run. The Mexican won and that accounts for the diagonal jog of the line and why the United States did not secure 60 or more miles of Mexican territory on the west. For his participation in the war he was entitled to a pension but steadfastly refused to accept it, stating that it was not for money but for his country's good that he enlisted. He was always a staunch prohibitionist, and nearly thirty years to a day prior to the day of his death he began in Polk county the advocating of this principle, and in the election of 1884 was almost the sole voter for the prohibition ticket. After thirty years the principle for which he labored so faithfully was fully realized in this state on the day on which he died. -------------------------------------
TRIBUTE TO A TRUE TRIED FRIEND
I became acquainted with Rufus A. Porter in the fall of 1882 and have been a neighbor and intimate friend of his ever since. He has always been the same true and kindly friend and was always helpful to all. He was the leading spirit in his precinct in 1884 in organizing the prohibition party in Polk county and was a delegate to the convention at Dallas which nominated a ticket and adopted a platform. He voted for John P. St. John for president when it was very unpopular to do so. He has always been true to these principles to the time of his death, which occured on the election day while the great battle was going on, which perhaps, will be a triumph for the principles for which he has so long been fighting. A. Gwinn.
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Rusfus' parents were Stephen and Lovina Arnold Porter.
Rufus and Rachel A. Clark were married on Aug. 12, 1883 in Dallas, Polk County, OR at the residence of S.C. Stiles by J. James M.G. Witnesses were U. M. Stiles & Mr. H. Morrison.
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He was a teamster E. 3rd. Kansas in Oct. 1862 to March 1864 He enlisted in the Kansas 3rd and 8th and 10th. Info from Linda Patterson.