John Wilson Porterfield1

b. 8 March 1828, d. 1 January 1888
FatherJames Porterfield2,3,1,4 b. 1791, d. 13 Mar 1847
MotherJeannette Clark3,1,4 b. 29 May 1794, d. 7 May 1873
Birth8 Mar 1828 John Wilson Porterfield was born on 8 Mar 1828 in Washington County, Virginia.5 
Cens-18509 Aug 1850  John lived in Washington County at the time of the 1850 census. Following his father's death in 1847 he continued to provide a home for his mother and three younger siblings, as well as a cousin, William Snodgrass, whose parents were both deceased.6 
Migration John migrated to Missouri shortly after the 1850 enumeration.7 
  His mother's sister Nancy (Clark) Beattie, and her husband David Beattie, settled in Andrew County, Missouri in the mid 1840s. 
Marriage3 Nov 1852 He married first Frances Rhea on 3 Nov 1852 in Andrew County, Missouri.1 
Widowed29 Aug 1853  Frances died following the birth of a daughter in August 1853. 
Marriage He married Martha Campbell date and location unknown.1 
Cens-186010 Jul 1860  John and Martha also lived in in Andrew County. There they were recorded in 1860 with 5 girls, all born in Missouri: Frances (6), Sarah (4), Harriet (2), Nancy (1) and Elizabeth (2/12). John's occupation was listed as farmer; he owned land valued at $2,700 and personal property of $630. Several other individuals were also recorded in the home, including 70 year old Sarah Cammell [Campbell?].8 
  The household included what appears to be a family unit with the last name Greber: Leonidas, 31 (b. VA), Sarah, 22 (b. VA), William, 6 (b. OH) and James, 3 (b. MO). This appears to be John's sister Sarah and her husband George Griever and their two children. 
  John and Martha's young family appears to have fallen prey to the numerous epidemics that swept across the frontier. Their daughters Harriet and Nancy died within four days of each other in 1862 before reaching the age of five. An infant was also born [and died] in 1863. 
1868  John's sister Sarah Griever and her husband George moved on to Wyandotte County, Kansas after the Civil War, following the migration pattern of their aunt Nancy (Clark) Beattie and her daughter Elizabeth (Beattie) Strock. 
Cens-187011 Aug 1870  However John and Martha remained in Missouri. By 1870 John's land was valued at $7,200 and his personal property at $1,200. The enumeration for that year included John (42), Martha (42), Frances (17), Sarah (14), Elizabeth (8), Josephine (7), James (4), John (2) and Carson (5/12). Josephine was indicated as blind.9 
  Daughters Sarah and Elizabeth died in late 1874. 
Cens-188014 Jun 1880  In 1880 5 of the couple's 10 children were still living. They were all recorded as members of John and Martha's household: Josephine (again noted as blind), James (14), Campbell (12) David (10) and Clark (8).10 
Death1 Jan 1888 John died on 1 Jan 1888 in Andrew County at age 59.11,5 
  Martha died 6 days later. 
Burial They are both buried at Lower Neely Cemetery in Andrew County.11 

Research Comment:

Prior to Nov. 2010 this memo field held comments (see link for full text) about an entry in The Porterfields which reported the name of John's first wife as Mary Ellen Rhea and which stated that John and Mary Ellen had a daughter Mary Ellen who married George Gauger. Further research revealed that John's first wife was Frances Rea and their only child was also named Frances. She married George Gauger but died a few years after giving birth to a daughter Mary Ellen Gauger.1,12,13,14

Related Links and Images:

The 1850 Washington Co., Virginia census listed John as the head of household number 360. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.
John lived in Andrew County Missouri. See the Missouri map to locate other families who left Virginia for Missouri (also accessible via the Misc. Locations link in the menu bar at the top of any page).
See the Andrew Co. page for additional information.

Family 1

Frances Rhea b. abt 1 Nov 1835, d. 29 Aug 1853
Child

Family 2

Martha Campbell b. 7 Jan 1828, d. 7 Jan 1888
Children
ChartsDescendants of James Clark and Isabella Breckenridge
Last Edited5 Apr 2013

Citations

  1. [S9] Frank B. Porterfield, The Porterfields, p. 152-160.
  2. [S668] James Porterfield will (1847), Washington Co., VA Will Book 10: 285. The will was dated 10 March 1847 and recorded in court 22 March 1847; son James C. Porterfield executor; John Clark Sr., Robert Clark and Tobias Smyth witnesses.
  3. [S537] Hutton Family Data, authored by Dr. J. B. Hutton. J.B. Hutton was a first cousin, once removed, to the children of James Porterfield and Jeannette (Clark) Porterfield.
  4. [S11] "Family notes of Mrs. Lizzie Ryburn."
  5. [S623] David B Trimble, Kincannon and McDonald, p. 196.
  6. [S367] John Porterfield household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 92 (stamped), dwelling 360, family 360, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2003, image 49 of 289. John Porterfield 22, farmer, owns real estate valued at $3,240; Lilbourn 20; Sarah 17; Isabella 13; William Snodgrass 9; Jane [Snodgrass or Porterfield not specificed] 56; all b. VA.
  7. [S537] Hutton Family Data, authored by Dr. J. B. Hutton. J. B. Hutton and John Porterfield were first cousins, once removed.
  8. [S977] Jno Porterfield household, 1860 U.S. census, Andrew Co., MO, pop. sched., Jackson township, p. 100 (original script), dwelling 723, family 707, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2006, image 2 of 38. Enumeration includes: Jno Porterfield, 32, farmer, owns land val: $2,700 and pers. prop. of $630, b. VA; Martha, 32, b. TN; Frances, 6; Sarah, 4; Harriet 2; Nancy 1; Elizabeth 2/12; all children b. MO; William Burn 24, farmer, b. IN; Marion Dylis, 20, farmer, b. MO; Sarah Cammell, 70, b. VA; Leonidas Greber, 31, farmer, b. VA; Sarah Greber, 22, b. VA; William Greber, 6, b. O; James Greber, 3, b. MO.
  9. [S966] John W. Porterfield household, 1870 U.S. census, Andrew Co., MO, pop. sched., Jackson township, p. 16 (original script), dwelling 153, family 158, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2006, image 16 of 61. Enumeration includes: John W. Porterfield, 42, farmer, owns land val: $7,200 and pers. prop. of $1,200, b. VA; Martha, 42, b. TN; Frances, 17; Sarah B., 14; Elizabeth 8; Josephine 7, blind; James 4; John 2; Carson 5/12; all children b. MO.
  10. [S974] John Porterfield household, 1880 U.S. cens., Andrew Co., MO, pop. sched., Benton Township, ED 35, page 18B, dwelling 167, family 174, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2006, image 18 of 20. Enumeration includes: John Porterfield, 52, farmer, b. VA, parents b. VA; Martha, wife, 52, b. TN, parents b. VA; Josephine, 18, dau, blind; James, son, 14; Campbell, son, 12; cont. next page: Porterfield, David, son, 10; Clark, son, 8; all children b. MO.
  11. [S2530] Photograph Andrew County Tombstones (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~moacc/ : viewed Nov. 2010), John W. Porterfield headstone (digital image), Lower Neely Cemetery: John W. Porterfield, died Jan. 1, 1888, aged 59 years.
  12. [S623] David B Trimble, Kincannon and McDonald, p. 196. Mr. Trimble cites Frank Porterfield as his source for information on the the children of John W. Porterfield.
  13. [S977] Jno Porterfield household, 1860 U.S. census, Andrew Co., MO, pop. sched., Jackson township, p. 100 (original script), dwelling 723, family 707, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2006, image 2 of 38. Enumeration includes: Jno Porterfield, 32, farmer, owns land val: $2,700 and pers. prop. of $630, b. VA; Martha, 32, b. TN; Frances, 6; Sarah, 4; Harriet 2; Nancy 1; Elizabeth 2/12; all children b. MO; William Burn 24, farmer, b. IN; Marion Dylis, 20, farmer, b. MO; Sarah Cammell, 70, b. VA; Leonidas Garber, 31, farmer, b. VA; Sarah Garber, 22, b. VA; also 2 Garber children.
  14. [S1624] "Andrew County Marriage Records 1870-1871", USGenWeb: Missouri, Andrew County (http://www.rootsweb.com/~moandrew/wed/1870_71.html : viewed Dec. 2006).
  15. [S2530] Photograph Andrew County Tombstones (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~moacc/ : viewed Nov. 2010), Sarah Bell Porterfield headstone (digital image), Lower Neely Cemetery: Sarah Bell died Nov. 19, 1874, aged 18y 10m 15d (on monument that says Children of J.W. & M. Porterfield).
  16. [S2530] Photograph Andrew County Tombstones (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~moacc/ : viewed Nov. 2010), Harriet E. [Porterfield] headstone (digital image), Lower Neely Cemetery: Harriet E. died Feb. 24, 1862 aged 4y 9m, 3d (on monument that reads: Children of J.W. & M. Porterfield).
  17. [S2530] Photograph Andrew County Tombstones (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~moacc/ : viewed Nov. 2010), Nancy A. Porterfield headstone (digital image), Lower Neely Cemetery: Nancy A., died Feb. 28, 1862, aged 3y 1m 13d (on monument that says Children of J.W. & M. Porterfield).
  18. [S2530] Photograph Andrew County Tombstones (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~moacc/ : viewed Nov. 2010), Elizabeth Porterfield headstone (digital image), Lower Neely Cemetery: Elizabeth, died Oct. [not clear in photo that the stone reads Oct.; it may be Dec.] 26, 1874, aged 14y 3m 3d, children of J.W. & Martha Porterfield.
  19. [S2530] Photograph Andrew County Tombstones (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~moacc/ : viewed Nov. 2010), infant dau Porterfield headstone (digital image), Lower Neely Cemetery: Infant dau, died June 8, 1863 (on monument that states: Children of J.W. & M. Porterfield).