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Born 1836, Vermilion county
From Biographical review of Henry County, Iowa, containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past .. (1906)
WATSON BRAZELTON PORTER.
Watson Brazelton Porter, the eldest son of Col. A. B. Porter, and grandson of Gen. Samuel Brazelton, two of the pioneers of Iowa, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, in 1836, and was brought when six months old by his parents and grandparents to Henry county.
He has spent his life here and was educated at Howe's Academy and Knox College, of Galesburg, Illinois. He was appointed a cadet to the Military Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and took the examination, but on account of a defect in the sight of one eye could not finish the course to fit him for naval service. He was afterward employed in his father's dry goods store. When the Civil War broke out he was one of the first to enlist as a private in Company F, First Regiment of Iowa Infantry, and was elected color bearer; was in the memorable battle of Wilson's Creek, where General Nathaniel Lyon fell, and said to be one of the most hard-fought battles of the Civil war. In this engagement "Wat," as he was called by his comrades, showed undaunted bravery and won the praise of the regiment by his fearlessness and courage, inspiring others to deeds as loyal in support of the Stars and Stripes that he held aloft through the thickest of that hard-fought battle, and glorying in their well won victory. The old flag he carried is now among the trophies at Des Moines. On the return home the Fourth Regiment of Iowa Cavalry was formed and he was elected first lieutenant of Company C, of that regiment, and afterward was made captain. He was with the regiment until 1863, when his health failed and he resigned. In 1880 he married Harriet Mc- Donald, who died in 1897. Two daughters are living, — Longenia, who is a teacher in the public schools of Mt. Pleasant; and Julia, a journalist, employed in the office of the Republican.
As printed in Biographical review of Henry County, Iowa, containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past .. (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
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