Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers. "An Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties") Spokane, WA: Western Historical Publishing Co., 1905. p. 528.
ADELBERT PORTER
more familiarly known as Dell, a large land-owner and progressive, enterprising farmer of Sherman county, living three and one-half miles northwest of Wasco, is a native of the Empire State. He was born in New York, February 19, 1855. His parents, also born in New York state, were Derrick and Jane (Shephard) Porter. The father of Derrick was a Pennsylvanian ; his mother was born in Vermont, the former being a member of the old American family of Porters, early settlers of the Mohawk valley. Derrick Porter died in Livingstone county, New York, in 1894.
In the state of New York our subject lived until he was twenty years of age. Thence he Migrated to California where he remained five years in Solano county and the Sacramento valley. Here he joined an uncle and was with him until 1882, coming thence to Sherman county where he secured some land, a portion of his present holdings. At present he owns one thousand and sixty acres, all joining. He has a fine orchard of two hundred trees, and rears stock for his own use, having several graded Clyde and Percheron horses.
At Livonia Center, Livingstone county, New York, December 25, 1875, Mr. Porter was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Proctor, a native of Kingston, Canada. Her father, William Procter, also born in Canada, was a hardware merchant and a tin and copper smith by trade and well and favorably known. He died in Canada .about 1869. Her mother was Ann McGorman, whose death occurred in New York, in 1873. Mrs. Porter's great-grandfather, General John Proctor, was a general in the English army. His son, James Proctor, was captain in the Royal Artillery, and married Miss Sarah Marion, the grand niece of General Marion, of Revolutionary fame. Mrs. Porter's great uncle, Alexander Proctor, was an admiral in the English navy. The Proctors were a strong and prominent family.
Our subject has two brothers and four sisters ; Albert, foreman in the flour mill at Wasco; James, a farmer in Pennsylvania ; Jennie, wife of M. A. VanGilder, mentioned in another portion of this work ; Inez, wife of J. M. Nash, of Wasco ; Athalia, wife of George W. Knox, for twenty years a prominent attorney in Los Angeles, California; and Julia, wife of William Clark, a millwright at Mount Morris, Livingstone county, New York. Mrs. Porter has one sister living, Maggie J., wife of John Carty, a farmer near Livonia Center, New York.
Mr. Porter is a member of Aurora Lodge, No. 54, K. of P. Although formerly a Republican he is, at present, a Prohibitionist and has been elected delegate to county conventions but has never acted. He has frequently served as delegate to Republican conventions ; and has been school director for fifteen years and is such at present. Mrs. Porter is a devout and consistent member of the Roman Catholic church. They have three children : George, born May 31, 1879, near Dixon, Solano county, California, and who was married at The Dalles, in 1901, to Alice Frazier, daughter of William Frazier, of Hood River ; Albert R., born in California, April 7, 1881, and married March 3, 1905, to Maud Hearing of Sweet Home, Oregon ; Laverne, born in Sherman county, May 3, 1889.
Mr. Porter is a gentleman of culture and refinement, and one of the enterprising and influential citizens of the county.
Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in May 2009 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.