Surname: Port, Canton, Vickery, Long, Baird, Teeter, Lamberson Compendium of Biography Of Henry County, Indiana B. F. Bowen 1920 DAVID PORT The present solid prosperity and the progressive spirit which is so characteristic of this great republic is in a very large measure due to the injection into our national life of the blood of Ireland in the person of her sons and daughters who have come here in the hope of escaping from conditions which were galling and oppressive. The qualities which have characterized the natives of the Emerald Isle have enabled these emigrants under the more favorable conditions in the United States to attain to the most exalted stations in business, learning and the arts and sciences, and they are considered among the most active and progressive of the citizens of this great country. The immediate subject of this sketch is a native of Ireland, having been born near Belfast. His parents were Samuel and Eliza A. (Canton) Port. The Port family is originally from France, but migrated from that country to Ireland and their descendants have made their homes in America. The subject’s grandfather on the maternal side was a surgeon in the noted Irish Rebellion and was descended from Lord 0’ Neal. Samuel Port, the father of the subject, emigrated from Ireland in 1839 and at once located in Fayette county, Indiana. When he had come as far as Cincinnati, Ohio, he found himself with but ten cents in his pocket and a family of eight children to care for. He had learned the weaver’s trade in Ireland, though upon settling in this country he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was industrious and saved his money and was subsequently able to buy a quarter section of land, situated one mine north of Waterloo, in Fayette County. Here he settled and resided a number of years, and being energetic and ambitious, lived to see this tract cleared up and improved. He also kept a hotel for a number of years, which is remembered as one of the pioneer institutions of that county, from which he received a source of income. The hotel was known as the Drovers’ and Movers’ home for many years during the early history of that country, and was very popular and liberally patronized. He subsequently disposed of his possessions near. Waterloo and purchased a farm two miles north of Bentonville, on which he settled, and afterward resided until death, which occurred in 1859. He was highly respected and was known far and wide. He was the father of nine children, eight of whom were born in Ireland, and of this family the subject is the only survivor. He had been fairly prosperous and at his death was worth about twelve thousand dollars. Politically he was a Democrat and in religion was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. David Port was reared upon his father’s farm and had but little opportunity to secure an education. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. After his marriage he resided upon his father’s farm near Bentonville for three years and in 1867 came to Henry County, locating upon a farm. He now possessed one hundred and ten acres of land and was successful in the operation of the farm. Besides the operation of the farm Mr. Port also engaged in the buying and shipping of livestock and found this a very profitable source of income. During the fall of 1902, Mr. Port and wife moved to Dublin, Indiana, where they now reside in retirement, enjoying the fruits of their many years’ toil. On the 10th of October 1858, David Port was united in the holy bonds of wedlock with Miss Martha J. Vickery. She was born in Rush County, this state, April 19, 1837, and is the daughter of Salathiel and Sarah (Long) Vickery. She is of Irish Welsh extraction. Her grandfather Long was a native of Virginia, and removed from that state to Ohio, thence to Indiana in 1820. He was an extensive contractor and constructed about three miles of the National road from Lewisville westward. He was a well-known and prominent man and was elected to the Indiana legislature. He was the father of nine children. To the marriage of the subject and his wife there have been born four children, as follows: Lenna A., married Clemment Baird and is now deceased; Samuel R. married Meda Teeter and lives near Centerville, Wayne county, Indiana; Lizzie L. married Lagrove Lamberson and lives in Dudley township, this county, and Maggie E., the second in order of birth, died when about two years old. Politically the subject is an ardent Democrat and has done much to advance the interests of his party. Religiously the families are affiliated with the Christian church and are active and earnest in their support of the same. Mr. Port enjoys a splendid reputation as a successful farmer and an entrprising businessman, being familiar with 17 the methods of agriculture such as the most scientific and progressive farmers have adopted to make their living financially remunerative. As a neighbor and citizen he occupies a desirable and conspicuous place and all who know him honor him for his many sterling qualities of manhood