AR-SAWMILLS-L Archives

From: "Iras Smith" <>
Subject: [AR-SAWMILLS] Porter family in Helena, AR
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 16:58:53 -0600

Edward Porter --miller in 1850 census
lumber merchant in 1860 census
lumber merchant in 1870 census
owns sawmill in 1880 census

married 27 March 1846 Phillips County, AR

Elizabeth Putnam Rightor, born in Helena 26 April 1827, died in Live Oak, FL 19 July 1907, dau of Minerva Putnam Craig and Nicholas Rightor

He was born in Chester, Illinois 21 April 1824 and died in Helena 20 Feb. 1885

William Porter, born in Ohio 9 March 1818 according to Biogrphical and Historical Memoirs of Eastern Arkansas is possibly his brother. In the 1880 census they are next door neighbors and he has a son Edward. There is a connection to sawmills. William Porter's parents were from Massachusetts but Edward Porter's parent's birthplaces are not given in the census.

Elizabeth Putnam Rightor is the niece of Waldo Putnam Craig who had a sawmill in Helena around 1837. Her father, Nicholas Rightor, was one of the founders of Helena, AR. Her mother, Minerva Putnam Craig, was the daughter of Capt. Joel Craig and Elizabeth Putnam who came to AR before 1820. There is a steamboat/river connection through several generations of these families. Joel and Elizabeth Craig are buried in the Maple Hill cemetery as are numerous other Porters, Craigs and Rightors. Elizabeth's mother, Minerva, is buried there but Nicholas Rightor's burial is not given in the Turner cemetery book, possibly his grave is unmarked since he died young and Minerva was pregnant with her 8th child at the time and may not have been able to put a marker on his grave.

Elizabeth Putnam Craig is the granddaughter of General Israel Putnam of the Revolutionary War. Joel Craig's father was Elijah Craig who was a Baptist preacher from Virginia who migrated to Kentucky and is sometimes given credit for being the first to distill bourbon whiskey. It makes a good story!

I am interested in learning more about the Porter family's origins. I would like to hear from anyone with information on this family and will be glad to share what I have on them.

Iras Fearn Smith (Great-greatgrandaughter of Elizabeth and Edward Porter)
Mobile, AL

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• [AR-SAWMILLS] Porter family in Helena, AR by "Iras Smith" <>