Porter, Augustus Seymour, 1798-1872

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.

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.

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)

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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)

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