Porter S. Whitmer carries on not only a successful business at
Lanark in painting and paper hanging, but also owns a small fruit farm which
is very profitable. he is well known all through Carroll county, his family
being one of the old pioneer ones of this part of Illinois. He was born on
his parents place, October 11, 1869, and his a son of Abraham and Catherine
(Zuck) Whitmer.
Both parents of Mr. Whitmer were born in Franklin county, Pa., about
1836, and came to Carroll county, Ill., in 1864, living at Lanark until
1866, when Abraham Whitmer moved to the place now owned by his son, Porter
S. Here both he and his wife died, her death occurring in 1871, and his in
1903. To this union were born the following children: Emmert C., Belle,
Emma, Albert, and Porter S. In 1872 Abraham Whitmer was married (second) to
Julia A. Snyder, and to this union were born the following children:
William O., Anna, Mary, Charles, Harry, Ira, and Ida.
Porter S. Whitmer obtained his education in the public schools and
for some three years afterward taught school and proved very acceptable as
an instructor. As his father was a carpenter by trade he learned quite a
great deal along that line and later took up painting and paper hanging.
Since coming into possession of his valuable little fruit farm of six acres,
he has greatly improved the place and has made it one of the most attractive
in this section. In 1911 he erected his handsome eight-room residence and
hopes to make this his permanent home and in this hope he is joined by his
fellow citizens by whom he is universally respected.
On January 28, 1893, Mr. Whitmer was married to Miss Ida Frey, who
was born in Washington county, Md., January 23, 1870, a daughter of John and
Anna M. (Reynolds) Frey, natives of Maryland, who came to Illinois in 1902.
Mr. and Mrs. Whitmer have five children, namely: Mabel, who lives with her
parents, was born March 7, 1894; Kathryn, who was born July 10, 1895; Fred
E., who was born April 22, 1897; Edna G., who was born May 10, 1899; and
Lucile Marie, who was born January 15, 1904. Mr. Whitmer and family are
members of the Brethren Church. In politics he is a Republican and from
1902 until 1906 he served in the office of town clerk of Cherry Grove
township
Contributed by Carol Parrish from the
Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and the History of Carroll County, pg.
923 -
