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Note: 1860 Census Living with children from first wife Sarah and living with wife Martha (sister of Sarah) and their children. William Porter was born in Lincoln County, Missouri, Dec. 14, 1821, one of a family of ten children. At age 18 (1831), he entered the college at Jacksonville, Illinois, remaining four years and preparing himself to teach. Going to Pike Co. ILL, he followed his chosen profession until 1846. Here he married Sarah Coffey, November 26, 1840. In the spring of 1848 he started for St. Joseph, Missouri, to join the wagon trains heading for Oregon. With him were his brother Stephen Porter, Nebuzaradan Coffey, his father in law and most of the Coffey family," Watt" and Samuel Tucker. and H.N.V. Holes ( Horatio Nelson Viscount Holmes). William Porter arrived in Oregon and spent the first winter with the Pringles near Aumsville. On November 20, 1848, his wife died. In 1849, on October 14, he married Martha "Patsy" Coffey, a sister of his first wife, and on October 9th he took a donation land claim near Aumsville, OR, Donation land claim number 2101. William Porter was chief clerk in the territorial legislature of 1849. He served four years as county assessor of Marion County, OR. He died March 30, 1899. Martha Coffey Porter died May 17, 1903. Inserts from the Dairy of William Porter. The original diary was in the possession of Kenneth Porter, a great-grandson through William Porter and Martha's son in Aumsville, Oregon. It is a 4"X6" with a light leather cover. The 44 pages are slightly discolored with age. Kenneth lent it to Darleen Wade to make photostat copies and she copied them for Marci Wahlquist who sent me a copy for this tree. They were traveling in Wyoming, heading into Idaho at the point on July 8th where William says " We are now in Oregon". The Oregon Territory at that time consisted of what is now Idaho as well as parts of Wyoming, Nevada, and Washington. Most of what was written in his diary are accounts. I have placed them here just as a curiosity First week: Wm. Porter 5+5=10= $40 W.G Porter 3+4=7= $28 W.H Porter 5+5=10= 20 W.H. Tucker 21/2 10 N. Coffey 3+2=5= 20 L. Wright 1+2=3= 12 Harvey Rudolph 4= 8 ____ 138 (Unreadable heading) W. Porter 3 do= 12.00 S. Porter 3 do= 12.00 A.C Reine 2. 8.00 L. Wright 1. 4.00 N. Coffey 2. 8.00 W.G. Porter 2. 4.00 ______ 48.00 Benj. Barney Dr. to W.P to 100lbs flour 10.00 to 160lbs. beef 11.20 to 114lbs flour 11.40 Cr By Stocking plow for N.C 5.00 By dressing chair frames 20.00 By dressing saw & t? repair .75 Dr to one load of Maple 3.00 W.H Tucker Dr on settlement 54.25 Letter written by William Porter to his family in Pike Co. Illinois Crossing of the North Fork of Platte June 24, 1848 Dear Father, Mother, Brothers and Sisters, I wrote a few lines to you a few days ago, but lest they should not reach you, I will write as though I had not written at all. We are all well, and getting on as well as common. Some of our company are a little discouraged on account of fatigues of the journey and the reports in reference to the Indians in Oregon. I have felt a little discouraged, sometimes, about the scarcity of grass, though our cattle look well. As a general thing, there is no difficulty in finding good camping places till you get to Laramie, thence to this place there is but one or two good camps. Grass is not good this season as it commonly is. I will make a few suggestions from experience, which you may profit by should you ever travel this road. In reference to wagons, oxen, etc. I would say: bring wagons made of the best materials and thoroughly seasoned and then have some black-smith's tongs and harness for setting tires. You can get tire cut and set Laramie but you will frequently have occasion to set them on the road. The most common way is to nail a thin hoop on the felloe or part of its circumference and heat the tire and put it on. Another way is to take off the tire, raise or open the felloe, take pieces of good firm sole leather, cut round holes in them, split into the hole, and slip it on the spoke, and two or three pieces, according to circumstances, between the felloes and put on the tire. I have put on several in this way, which seem to do well. Well made, stout active cattle, of the common kind of scrub stock should only be brought and about four yoke, or three at least for each wagon; and be sure to bring none except such as you work as you work in the teams. All in our company who have loose cattle regret having started with them, and some sold their loose cattle at Laramie. Be careful to get an industrious, careful hand to drive your team and one that will not leave his post at any time. I would advise to bring no horses. Mules for working or riding do well. Get a good Mexican saddle. A common saddle, whether rode or not, will be of little value, even after coming this far. Bring plenty of good strong rope, five or six hundred feet will not be too much. there is a great deal of windy weather and rains are generally accompanied with high winds. You should, therefore, have your wagon covers of very strong material. Good bed-ticking is good. Let the wagon bows be strong, and well turned; and the cover should be so fixed as to entirely shelter the hind and front ends of the wagons when necessary. The wagon bed should be fixed so rain could not drive in on the floor, either at the sides or ends. A good tent is very necessary. Common domestic is not fit for a tent. Tent poles should be ironed and the pins should be made of iron or buck horns. A light cook-stove will be found very convenient to set at the mouth of the tent. Have a stake to hold up the pipe. A small dog or two will be useful till you cross the Missouri river after which they are more than useless. They have caused one company to divide. They have caused Walker and Bristow's companies' teams to run away twice, and our once. It is remarkable thing that teams, especially on the Platte are apt to become frightened very easily and run off. Walker and Bristow's company had 24 teams to run at once, killing some oxen and crippling others, besides other damage. Our company had 19 teams ( all except Purvine's 5 wagons) to run. Issac Ball of St. Charles, Co. Mo. had his thigh broken. He is doing well. It is frightening, sight to see so many teams running. When you stop for dinner or any cause loose the cattle from the wagon. If there is about to be a general runaway turn your oxen from the road and give them a fair start and stick to the wagon; otherwise you will be liable to be run over and wrecked. The cattle will run about 200 yards and stop. Our company consists of 24 wagons, belonging to Hooker and Purvine of Scott and Morgan Counties: tucker, Holmes, Lewis and Stephen and William Porter of Pike Co. Illinois and J. Ball of St. Charles Co. Mo. We organized by selecting John Purvine Captain and William Porter Lieutenant. We divided our company in six messes or divisions, each of us takes a turn to lead. We have divided our men into seven guards or watches, three of which comes on each night to guard the cattle and wagons. This division operates equally upon all. We are also into nine divisions to herd the cattle morning and evenings. Every evening, we drive our wagons half to the right and half to the left forming a carel (corral). the form of a horse shoe makes a good carel. At night bring the mules and the horses if any into the carel and the cattle near its mouth and guard them. I thought I would give a particular account of the road to this point but will not have time nor space. procure Palmer's book and Freemont's map which will be very useful. If you have a man in the company who has been the route it will be well: otherwise you ought generally to send some two or three in advance to select camping places. For the first 200 miles you will generally have to camp off the road. Wood is very scarce on Platte better lay better lay in two or three day's supply. At Scott's Bluffs, lay in a few good whip stocks of hickory poles. Let all your nailing about the wagons be with wrought nails. This is the fourth day we have been here waiting to cross the Platte. A small company of Mormons from Salt Lake are here with a canoe boat to cross the immigrants. they charge $1.50 per wagon. It will be two days yet till we can cross. Yesterday a company of Mormons arrived here with there wagons and teams to assist their friends now on the Salt Lake. There is now a company in our camp from Oregon, just arrived. They say grass is very scarce on the route from this on,. and it will be very difficult getting there. They came the southern route in consequence of the war with the Indians, some seem to think it very dangerous to go either route. Andrew Rodgers was killed with Dr. Whitmans' family ( by Indians in Oregon). It is thought the war will be brought to a close this year. You will hear later news before next spring. We have been traveling with Walker and Bristow's Company for some time, but for convenience will separate here till necessity calls us to join again. If thought best, you may have this letter published, and I hope this may suffice for a letter to all whom I promised to write to, and all interested. I promised to write to Samuel Tucker today, but the company is in such hast to leave I shall not have time. He says to tell all his relations and friends that he is well, and all the family have been well and are in good spirits considering the circumstances. Mr. Coffey and wife, together with their family wish to be remembered. Give my regards to all my relations and friends, and tell all who may intend to take this trip to be sure to have a good wagon and team and plenty of provisions. One thing I forgot to mention in its proper place and which I consider of importance: make use of rosin and tallow to grease wagons. Black lead will do but is very inconvenient to houl. It will black everything. In hopes of seeing you again, I am William Porter. William Porter was born in Lincoln County, Missouri, Dec. 14, 1821, one of a family of ten children. At age 18 (1831), he entered the college at Jacksonville, Illinois, remaining four years and preparing himself to teach. Going to Pike Co. ILL, he followed his chosen profession until 1846. Here he married Sarah Coffey, November 26, 1840. In the spring of 1848 he started for St. Joseph, Missouri, to join the wagon trains heading for Oregon. With him were his brother Stephen Porter, Nebuzaradan Coffey, his father in law and most of the Coffey family," Watt" and Samuel Tucker. and H.N.V. Holes ( Horatio Nelson Viscount Holmes). William Porter arrived in Oregon and spent the first winter with the Pringles near Aumsville. On November 20, 1848, his wife died. In 1849, on October 14, he married Martha "Patsy" Coffey, a sister of his first wife, and on October 9th he took a donation land claim near Aumsville, OR, Donation land claim number 2101. William Porter was chief clerk in the territorial legislature of 1849. He served four years as county assessor of Marion County, OR. He died March 30, 1899. Martha Coffey Porter died May 17, 1903. Inserts from the Dairy of William Porter. The original diary was in the possession of Kenneth Porter, a great-grandson through William Porter and Martha's son in Aumsville, Oregon. It is a 4"X6" with a light leather cover. The 44 pages are slightly discolored with age. Kenneth lent it to Darleen Wade to make photostat copies and she copied them for Marci Wahlquist who sent me a copy for this tree. They were traveling in Wyoming, heading into Idaho at the point on July 8th where William says " We are now in Oregon". The Oregon Territory at that time consisted of what is now Idaho as well as parts of Wyoming, Nevada, and Washington. Most of what was written in his diary are accounts. I have placed them here just as a curiosity First week: Wm. Porter 5+5=10= $40 W.G Porter 3+4=7= $28 W.H Porter 5+5=10= 20 W.H. Tucker 21/2 10 N. Coffey 3+2=5= 20 L. Wright 1+2=3= 12 Harvey Rudolph 4= 8 ____ 138 (Unreadable heading) W. Porter 3 do= 12.00 S. Porter 3 do= 12.00 A.C Reine 2. 8.00 L. Wright 1. 4.00 N. Coffey 2. 8.00 W.G. Porter 2. 4.00 ______ 48.00 Benj. Barney Dr. to W.P to 100lbs flour 10.00 to 160lbs. beef 11.20 to 114lbs flour 11.40 Cr By Stocking plow for N.C 5.00 By dressing chair frames 20.00 By dressing saw & t? repair .75 Dr to one load of Maple 3.00 W.H Tucker Dr on settlement 54.25 Letter written by William Porter to his family in Pike Co. Illinois Crossing of the North Fork of Platte June 24, 1848 Dear Father, Mother, Brothers and Sisters, I wrote a few lines to you a few days ago, but lest they should not reach you, I will write as though I had not written at all. We are all well, and getting on as well as common. Some of our company are a little discouraged on account of fatigues of the journey and the reports in reference to the Indians in Oregon. I have felt a little discouraged, sometimes, about the scarcity of grass, though our cattle look well. As a general thing, there is no difficulty in finding good camping places till you get to Laramie, thence to this place there is but one or two good camps. Grass is not good this season as it commonly is. I will make a few suggestions from experience, which you may profit by should you ever travel this road. In reference to wagons, oxen, etc. I would say: bring wagons made of the best materials and thoroughly seasoned and then have some black-smith's tongs and harness for setting tires. You can get tire cut and set Laramie but you will frequently have occasion to set them on the road. The most common way is to nail a thin hoop on the felloe or part of its circumference and heat the tire and put it on. Another way is to take off the tire, raise or open the felloe, take pieces of good firm sole leather, cut round holes in them, split into the hole, and slip it on the spoke, and two or three pieces, according to circumstances, between the felloes and put on the tire. I have put on several in this way, which seem to do well. Well made, stout active cattle, of the common kind of scrub stock should only be brought and about four yoke, or three at least for each wagon; and be sure to bring none except such as you work as you work in the teams. All in our company who have loose cattle regret having started with them, and some sold their loose cattle at Laramie. Be careful to get an industrious, careful hand to drive your team and one that will not leave his post at any time. I would advise to bring no horses. Mules for working or riding do well. Get a good Mexican saddle. A common saddle, whether rode or not, will be of little value, even after coming this far. Bring plenty of good strong rope, five or six hundred feet will not be too much. there is a great deal of windy weather and rains are generally accompanied with high winds. You should, therefore, have your wagon covers of very strong material. Good bed-ticking is good. Let the wagon bows be strong, and well turned; and the cover should be so fixed as to entirely shelter the hind and front ends of the wagons when necessary. The wagon bed should be fixed so rain could not drive in on the floor, either at the sides or ends. A good tent is very necessary. Common domestic is not fit for a tent. Tent poles should be ironed and the pins should be made of iron or buck horns. A light cook-stove will be found very convenient to set at the mouth of the tent. Have a stake to hold up the pipe. A small dog or two will be useful till you cross the Missouri river after which they are more than useless. They have caused one company to divide. They have caused Walker and Bristow's companies' teams to run away twice, and our once. It is remarkable thing that teams, especially on the Platte are apt to become frightened very easily and run off. Walker and Bristow's company had 24 teams to run at once, killing some oxen and crippling others, besides other damage. Our company had 19 teams ( all except Purvine's 5 wagons) to run. Issac Ball of St. Charles, Co. Mo. had his thigh broken. He is doing well. It is frightening, sight to see so many teams running. When you stop for dinner or any cause loose the cattle from the wagon. If there is about to be a general runaway turn your oxen from the road and give them a fair start and stick to the wagon; otherwise you will be liable to be run over and wrecked. The cattle will run about 200 yards and stop. Our company consists of 24 wagons, belonging to Hooker and Purvine of Scott and Morgan Counties: tucker, Holmes, Lewis and Stephen and William Porter of Pike Co. Illinois and J. Ball of St. Charles Co. Mo. We organized by selecting John Purvine Captain and William Porter Lieutenant. We divided our company in six messes or divisions, each of us takes a turn to lead. We have divided our men into seven guards or watches, three of which comes on each night to guard the cattle and wagons. This division operates equally upon all. We are also into nine divisions to herd the cattle morning and evenings. Every evening, we drive our wagons half to the right and half to the left forming a carel (corral). the form of a horse shoe makes a good carel. At night bring the mules and the horses if any into the carel and the cattle near its mouth and guard them. I thought I would give a particular account of the road to this point but will not have time nor space. procure Palmer's book and Freemont's map which will be very useful. If you have a man in the company who has been the route it will be well: otherwise you ought generally to send some two or three in advance to select camping places. For the first 200 miles you will generally have to camp off the road. Wood is very scarce on Platte better lay better lay in two or three day's supply. At Scott's Bluffs, lay in a few good whip stocks of hickory poles. Let all your nailing about the wagons be with wrought nails. This is the fourth day we have been here waiting to cross the Platte. A small company of Mormons from Salt Lake are here with a canoe boat to cross the immigrants. they charge $1.50 per wagon. It will be two days yet till we can cross. Yesterday a company of Mormons arrived here with there wagons and teams to assist their friends now on the Salt Lake. There is now a company in our camp from Oregon, just arrived. They say grass is very scarce on the route from this on,. and it will be very difficult getting there. They came the southern route in consequence of the war with the Indians, some seem to think it very dangerous to go either route. Andrew Rodgers was killed with Dr. Whitmans' family ( by Indians in Oregon). It is thought the war will be brought to a close this year. You will hear later news before next spring. We have been traveling with Walker and Bristow's Company for some time, but for convenience will separate here till necessity calls us to join again. If thought best, you may have this letter published, and I hope this may suffice for a letter to all whom I promised to write to, and all interested. I promised to write to Samuel Tucker today, but the company is in such hast to leave I shall not have time. He says to tell all his relations and friends that he is well, and all the family have been well and are in good spirits considering the circumstances. Mr. Coffey and wife, together with their family wish to be remembered. Give my regards to all my relations and friends, and tell all who may intend to take this trip to be sure to have a good wagon and team and plenty of provisions. One thing I forgot to mention in its proper place and which I consider of importance: make use of rosin and tallow to grease wagons. Black lead will do but is very inconvenient to houl. It will black everything. In hopes of seeing you again, I am William Porter.
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