Memorial record of the counties of Faribault, Martin, Watonwan and Jackson, Minnesota
Publication date 1895, publisher Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, Library of Congress
Under record of son, Dr. William C. Portmann M.D. pg. 733

"The doctor's father was an only child and was born in the land of the Alps in 1818. A railroad builder and civil engineer, he was in the employ of the Swiss government for some time and was a man of considerable ability and force of character. In the latter part of 1865 he was sent to this country (US) to buy railroad iron for a German company, and in 1867 he again visited the United States. He made a permanent location here on the 29th of April, 1869 at which time he landed in New York. He was attracted by the privileges and advantages of the New World and resolved to try his fortune on this side of the Atlantic. Locating in Ohio. he was employed in the survey of the Tuscarawas Valley Railroad, and his death occurred in Canton, Ohio July 2, 1874 he having attained the age of fifty-six years. "
(DOD date differ from others records)

Was known as Urs, Ursus and Victor
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F: Petrus Portmann (From Escholzmatt, Luzern, Switzerland)
M: Elisabeth Messer
Letter written by Herbetswil mayor Joseph Allemann to Portmann family member described the Messer family as "highly respected". According to Portmann family biographical information with reference from Herbetswil town records, Petrus (Peter) and Elisabeth were never married by the Catholic Church and Ursus was "illegitimate". Shortly after birth of the twins*, Petrus disappeared from town records. Nevertheless, Ursus was baptized as Catholic on September 16, 1815. His mother Elisabeth married Urs Josef Flury a nail smith of Herbetswil, Switzerland when Ursus was 10 years old. He would join his stepfather in the nail smith trade prior to his work as a surveyor. (Portmann documentation of these events is available. If anyone is interested contact prmccoy. (His 3rd G/Grandson)

*Ursus had a twin brother .Joannes Jacobus Portmann who died in 1815 shortly after birth.