Stratton Family - Ourfolk
Geneva Grace Stratton (Porter) 17 AUG 1863 - 6 DEC 1924
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Geneva was born on 17 AUG 1863 in near Wabash, Indiana and died on 6 DEC 1924 (age: 61) in Los Angeles, Ca . She was the daughter of Mark Stratton and Mary (Stratton) . Geneva was married to Charles Dorwin Porter on 21 APR 1886. Charles was born on 3 APR 1850 in Decatur, Adams Co., Indiana and died on 15 DEC 1926 (age: 76) in Ft. Wayne, Allen Co., Indiana . He was the son of John Pomeroy Porter (21 APR 1822 - 1 NOV 1864) and Elizabeth Dorwin (Porter) (B: 4 OCT 1825). View Family Chart - - -
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is better known as Gene Stratton-Porter, the
well-know author of such famous books as 'Freckles', 'Girl of the Limberlost', 'Song of the Cardinal', 'Laddie', and 'The Harvester', to mention just a few.
Her parents were avid nature
enthusiasts who passed along a love of the
unspoiled outdoors to their daughter-a love
she kept close to her throughout her life as a
respected author, naturalist, photographer and
illustrator.
In 1886, Gene married
Charles Dorwin Porter, a pharmacist and
banker. The couple lived for a short
time in Decatur. After the birth of their
daughter, Jeannette, they built a
home in Geneva, Indiana near the
Limberlost Swamp in 1895. The Porters lived in
this home until the swamp was drained in 1913.
Architects describe the home, which
Stratton-Porter designed, as a 14-room Queen
Anne, rustic log cabin. The interior is finished in
both Victorian and Arts and Crafts style.
At that time, they moved to a new home in a
beautiful wooded area on the shores of Sylvan
Lake near Rome City. It is also a state historic
site called the Gene Stratton-Porter State
Historic Site.
During World War I Gene Stratton-Porter moved to California. She wrote editorials for McCall's magazine and founded, in 1922, the Stratton Porter film company to produce movies of her books. She also began building homes in Bel Air and on Catalina Island. Gene Stratton-Porter died on December 6, 1924, in Los Angeles, from injuries following a traffic accident - her limousine was hit by a trolley car.
Geneva: Author's remains coming home
well-know author of such famous books as 'Freckles', 'Girl of the Limberlost', 'Song of the Cardinal', 'Laddie', and 'The Harvester', to mention just a few.
Her parents were avid nature
enthusiasts who passed along a love of the
unspoiled outdoors to their daughter-a love
she kept close to her throughout her life as a
respected author, naturalist, photographer and
illustrator.
In 1886, Gene married
Charles Dorwin Porter, a pharmacist and
banker. The couple lived for a short
time in Decatur. After the birth of their
daughter, Jeannette, they built a
home in Geneva, Indiana near the
Limberlost Swamp in 1895. The Porters lived in
this home until the swamp was drained in 1913.
Architects describe the home, which
Stratton-Porter designed, as a 14-room Queen
Anne, rustic log cabin. The interior is finished in
both Victorian and Arts and Crafts style.
At that time, they moved to a new home in a
beautiful wooded area on the shores of Sylvan
Lake near Rome City. It is also a state historic
site called the Gene Stratton-Porter State
Historic Site.
During World War I Gene Stratton-Porter moved to California. She wrote editorials for McCall's magazine and founded, in 1922, the Stratton Porter film company to produce movies of her books. She also began building homes in Bel Air and on Catalina Island. Gene Stratton-Porter died on December 6, 1924, in Los Angeles, from injuries following a traffic accident - her limousine was hit by a trolley car.
ROME CITY -- When Gene Stratton Porter was killed in a car accident in California in 1924, her husband had her body put in a mausoleum. He hoped to bring her back for burial in Indiana later.
But her husband, Charles Porter, died within two years, before he was able to move her body from that temporary entombment.
Nearly 75 years after her death, the Hoosier author and naturalist born as Geneva Stratton, is finally coming home to her beloved Sylvan Lake near Rome City.
She is returning to the area known as the Limberlost, which was the setting for many of her books.
Mrs. Porter, hailed in her time as one of Indiana's top authors and a respected nature photographer, died at the age of 61 in collision between an automobile and a streetcar in Hollywood, Calif.
Although she had wished to be buried near her home overlooking northeastern Indiana's Sylvan Lake, she was entombed in Hollywood Cemetery, where her daughter, Jeannette Porter Meehan, was buried after her 1977 death.
Mrs. Porter's grandchildren eventually decided to move both bodies to Indiana, but had to overcome numerous legal roadblocks.
The final step in that quest came recently when an Indiana Department of Natural Resources commission approved the entombment of the bodies at the Gene Stratton Porter State Historic Site in Rome City.
Surrounded by gardens and woods, the site includes the lakeside residence where Mrs. Porter once lived. The mother and daughter will be buried in a private family service before the end of April.
South Bend Tribune -- March 27, 1999 -- By LINDA MULLEN - Tribune Staff Writer
But her husband, Charles Porter, died within two years, before he was able to move her body from that temporary entombment.
Nearly 75 years after her death, the Hoosier author and naturalist born as Geneva Stratton, is finally coming home to her beloved Sylvan Lake near Rome City.
She is returning to the area known as the Limberlost, which was the setting for many of her books.
Mrs. Porter, hailed in her time as one of Indiana's top authors and a respected nature photographer, died at the age of 61 in collision between an automobile and a streetcar in Hollywood, Calif.
Although she had wished to be buried near her home overlooking northeastern Indiana's Sylvan Lake, she was entombed in Hollywood Cemetery, where her daughter, Jeannette Porter Meehan, was buried after her 1977 death.
Mrs. Porter's grandchildren eventually decided to move both bodies to Indiana, but had to overcome numerous legal roadblocks.
The final step in that quest came recently when an Indiana Department of Natural Resources commission approved the entombment of the bodies at the Gene Stratton Porter State Historic Site in Rome City.
Surrounded by gardens and woods, the site includes the lakeside residence where Mrs. Porter once lived. The mother and daughter will be buried in a private family service before the end of April.
South Bend Tribune -- March 27, 1999 -- By LINDA MULLEN - Tribune Staff Writer
CHARLES DORWIN PORTER, druggist, Geneva, was born in Decatur, this county, April 3, 1850, the eldest
son of Dr. John Pomeroy Porter. He remained at home and attended the common school until sixteen years of
age, then engaged in the drug trade at Fort Wayne, remaining in the business a few months, and removed to
Decatur, where he remained until 1872. He then came to Geneva and established the first drug store in the
place. He started with limited means, but by good management and economy he is able to carry a stock of
$6,000. Mr. Porter is a staunch Republican, and has been a member of the county central committee six years;
has also served as treasurer of Geneva three years; is a member of the Masonic order, and of the Sons of
Veterans, being a member of McPherson Camp, No. 11, Geneva, the G. A. R. post being named for his father,
who was killed in the war. Mr. Porter was married April 21, 1886, to Geneva Stratton, a daughter of Mark
and Mary Stratton, of Wabash, Indiana. She was born on a farm near North Manchester, in August, 1863; is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
(Adams and Wells Co. Indiana Lewis Publishing Co. Chicago, IL 1887)
son of Dr. John Pomeroy Porter. He remained at home and attended the common school until sixteen years of
age, then engaged in the drug trade at Fort Wayne, remaining in the business a few months, and removed to
Decatur, where he remained until 1872. He then came to Geneva and established the first drug store in the
place. He started with limited means, but by good management and economy he is able to carry a stock of
$6,000. Mr. Porter is a staunch Republican, and has been a member of the county central committee six years;
has also served as treasurer of Geneva three years; is a member of the Masonic order, and of the Sons of
Veterans, being a member of McPherson Camp, No. 11, Geneva, the G. A. R. post being named for his father,
who was killed in the war. Mr. Porter was married April 21, 1886, to Geneva Stratton, a daughter of Mark
and Mary Stratton, of Wabash, Indiana. She was born on a farm near North Manchester, in August, 1863; is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
(Adams and Wells Co. Indiana Lewis Publishing Co. Chicago, IL 1887)
Lived in the household ot Lawrence W. Watson in the 1880 Census of Wabash, Adams Co., Indiana. Listed as a druggist. Father and mother born in Ohio.
Last change (on this page): 15 OCT 2018