Porter, Augustus Seymour, 1798-1872

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Augustus Porter was born in Salisbury, Connecticut, in January 1769, and moved to Canandaigua, New York, in 1800. He visited the Niagara Falls area in 1795 and soon returned with his brother, Peter B. Porter. The Porter brothers were two of the area's first settlers, and they later owned several boats that traveled on the Great Lakes, as well as a saw mill that they built in 1803. Augustus Porter served on the New York state legislature, and in 1807 founded the firm Porter, Barton & Co., becoming a successful businessman until his death in 1849. He had five children with his second wife, Jane Howell: Albert H., Peter B., Augustus Seymour (1798-1872), Lavinia E., and Jane S. Augustus Seymour Porter represented Michigan in the United States Senate.

From the guide to the Augustus Porter papers, Porter, Augustus papers, 1811-1888, 1948, 1811-1888, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)

Son of Augustus Porter and brother of Peter B. and E.H. Porter. Practiced law in Detroit for 20 years, was mayor of Detroit in 1838, and represented Michigan in the U.S. Senate from 1840-1845. He moved to Niagara Falls, N.Y. in 1848.

From the description of Bridge scrapbook, 1851-1871. (Buffalo History Museum). WorldCat record id: 33228586

PORTER, Augustus Seymour, 1798-1872 (nephew of Peter Buell Porter), a Senator from Michigan; born in Canandaigua, N.Y., January 18, 1798; attended Canandaigua Academy, Canandaigua, N.Y.; graduated from Union College, Schenectady, N.Y., in 1818; studied law; admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Detroit, Mich.; recorder of Detroit 1830; mayor of Detroit 1838; elected as a Whig to the United States Senate on January 20, 1840, for the term beginning March 4, 1839, and served until March 3, 1845; was not a candidate for renomination; chairman, Committee on Roads and Canals (Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Congresses), Committee on Enrolled Bills (Twenty-seventh Congress); moved to his father's residence in Niagara Falls, N.Y., in 1848; died at Niagara Falls, N.Y., September 18, 1872; interment in Oakwood Cemetery. (from Biographical Directory of the United States Congress)

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=P000437

PORTER, Augustus, 1769-1849, Son of Joshua (1730-1825) and Abigail (Buell) Porter of Lakeville, Conn.; studied surveying, and in 1789 went to Ontario Co., N.Y.. In 1796, married Lavinia Steele of Hartford; was surveyor for Conn. Land Co., Robert Morris, Phelps & Gorham, and many others. After death of his wife in 1801, married Jane Howell. He had the mail contract between Utica and Ft. Niagara; was elected to State legislature; and in 1806 removed to Niagara. With his brother, Peter, Benj. Barton, and Jos. Annin, had vessels and was govt. contractor thru War of 1812. In 1818, bought Goat Island where he died in 1849. (from Buffalo Hist. Soc., Pubs., VII. 1904. p. 229-330.) (blue index cards)

http://books.google.com/books?id=od8TAAAAYAAJ&dq=intitle%3Apublications%20inauthor%3Abuffalo%20inauthor%3Ahistorical%20inauthor%3Asociety&pg=PA279#v=onepage&q&f=false

From the description of Augustus S. Porter papers, 1803-1854 (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 652681988

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Porter, Peter B. (Peter Buell), 1773-1844. Papers, 1802-1868. American Periodical Series I
referencedIn Ayres, Sidney, 1900-1960. Sidney Ayres papers, 1779-1955. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Lanman, Charles, 1819-1895. Charles Lanman papers, 1839-1869. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Augustus Porter papers 1811-1888, 1948 1811-1888 Porter, Augustus papers William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Lewis Cass papers (1774-1924) William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Lewis Cass papers (1774-1924) William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Porter, Augustus Seymour, 1798-1872. Augustus S. Porter papers, 1803-1854 Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Niagara River Steam Boat Company. Articles of association and minutes, 1824 Dec. 9-1835 Sept. 15. Buffalo History Museum, Research Library
creatorOf Porter, Peter B. (Peter Buell), 1773-1844. Letters recieved, 1827 July 31-1839 July 19. Buffalo History Museum, Research Library
creatorOf Porter, Augustus. Letter, 1793 April 25. American Periodical Series I
creatorOf Porter, Augustus. Augustus Porter daybook, 1818-1822. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Porter, Augustus S., 1798-1872. Bridge scrapbook, 1851-1871. Buffalo History Museum, Research Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Ayres, Sidney, 1900-1960. person
associatedWith Canandaigua and Niagara Falls Railroad. corporateBody
associatedWith Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845. person
associatedWith Lanman, Charles, 1819-1895. person
associatedWith Lewiston Railroad Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Niagara Railway Suspension Bridge (Lewiston, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Niagara River Steam Boat Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Niagara (Ship) corporateBody
associatedWith Porter, Augustus, 1769-1849. person
associatedWith Porter, Jane Howell. person
associatedWith Porter, Peter B. (Peter Buell), 1773-1844. person
associatedWith Wadsworth, James, 1768-1844. person
associatedWith William L. Clements Library. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (State)--Niagara (Town)
Michigan--Deroit
United States
New York (State) History 1775-1865.
New York (State)
Niagara Falls (N.Y.)
Main Street (Buffalo, N.Y.)
Michigan--Detroit
Subject
Accounts
Discoveries in geography
General stores
Land settlement
Lawyers
Legislators
Mayor
Merchants
Prices
Real property
Surveyors
Suspension bridges
Trees
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1798-01-18

Death 1872-09-18

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