In 1839 Mr. Porter moved to Missouri with his parents, settling at Jefferson City. He lived there at home till grown, and then went into the telegraph construction business. He superintended the building of the first telegraph line from St. Louis to Leavenworth, Kansas.
In 1853 the family moved to this county, where Mr. Porter has since made his home. After coming her e he was engaged in farming for a time. Then in 1858 his brother, W. T. Porter, was elected Circuit Clerk and Recorder, and Mr. Porter served as deputy under him six years, excepting the time he was in the service of Uncle Sam. He served about a year in the enrolled Missouri Militia, and was also Provost Marshal of Northeast Missouri for five months. Mr. Porter was deputy Circuit Clerk at the time of the burning of the court house, and it was through his efforts that most of the books of that office were saved, an account of which is given in the historical part of this book. He also served some years as Probate Judge by appointment.
In the meantime he read law and was admitted to the bar here in 1860, though he never engaged in the active practice. Shortly after this the test oath law was passed and he refused to subscribe to it, and consequently was not permitted to practice.
Just prior to the war Mr. Porter and his brother went into the real estate business here, having the first agency of that kind in the county. Mr. Porter was also the first man in the county to be granted a commission as notary.
After the war Mr. Porter was again engaged in the real estate business here, and from 1864 to 1866, freighted from Atchison, Kansas, to Denver, Colorado. He was for a few years in the clothing business, and also in the grocery business, at Kirksville. In recent years he has retired from mercantile pursuits and has devoted his time to the real estate business, and looking after his various interests.
When the coal fields began to be opened up here he took an active part in it. He helped to organize the Porter Coal and Mining Company and the Pennsylvania and Missouri Coal and Mining Company, being made president of both companies.
Mr. Porter is still actively engaged in business and has many interests in the county; owns several tracts of farm land and a large number of business and dwelling houses in Kirksville . He is a stockholder in the Kirksville Trust Company and Citizens National Bank.
He is a staunch Democrat, and has always taken an active part in politics. He is a member of the Masonic order, belonging to the Blue Lodge Chapter, Commandery and Shriners. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and Elks.
(from E.M. Violette's History of Adair County)
Additional notes: John L. Porter was a founding member of a society of spiritualists formed locally in in 1875. Surprisngly, for such a popular fellow, he was defeated in his 1892 bid for mayor. He died February 7, 1924.