Benjamin F. Porter, a member of the Board of Selectmen of Plainfield, was born in this town, August 28, 1852, son of Jabez and Eliza F. (Green) Porter. The Rev. Micah Porter, the father of Jabez, was a Congregational minister, who, after preaching in Connecticut, his native State, for some years, was called to Plainfield, where he passed the rest of his life. He was also a cancer doctor. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Gallup, and his children were: Isaac, Benjamin, William, John, Jabez, Martha, and Phœbe. The five sons studied medicine, and four of them became practitioners. Isaac located in Wisconsin, where he died; and his children are residing there still. Benjamin, who was a physician in Northfield, Vt., is now deceased. William was studying medicine at the time of his death, which occurred when he was thirty years old. John settled in Duxbury, Mass., where he resided for the rest of his life, and was one of the prominent physicians of Plymouth County. He married Ann Thomas, and reared a family. Martha, who married a Mr. Walker and had two children, settled in a Western State. Phœbe died at about the age of twenty-nine.
Jabez Porter, father of Benjamin F., was born in Connecticut, December 22, 1796. He attended the Kimball Union Academy and also studied medicine. He settled upon a farm in Plainfield, where for many years he made a specialty of treating cancers, having a sanitarium in which to board and attend to his patients. In this connection he was known throughout the New England States as a successful specialist. He was a Republican in politics, and he served for a number of years in the capacity of Collector of Taxes. Jabez Porter died in August, 1886. His wife, Eliza, was born in Cavendish, Vt., June 4, 1815, daughter of Isaac Green, of Plymouth, Vt., who was a prominent farmer of that locality. She bore him five children-Amos P., Jabez A., Benjamin F., Sophia E., and John. Amos P. died at the age of three years, and Jabez A. when twenty months old. Sophia E., who, born August 24, 1854, died December 2, 1887, was the wife of the late Harrison Jordan, a well-to do resident of Plainfield. John, born February 23, 1856, who completed his education at the Kimball Union Academy, and is now occupying the old Porter homestead in this town, married Annette Z. Rogers, daughter of Daniel Rogers, an industrious farmer of Hartland, Vt., and has four children-George B., John D., Edwin M., and Harland E. Mrs. Jabez Porter died September 7, 1872.
Benjamin F. Porter acquired his education in a public school and in a private school of his native town. He assisted upon the farm until the death of his father. After managing the property for some time in company with his brother John, he bought the Spencer farm, Plainfield. Politically, he acts with the Republican party; and for a number of years he has served the town ably and faithfully as a member of the Board of Selectmen. He possesses the valuable remedies used by his father, and is frequently called upon to treat patients in this vicinity.
Mr. Porter married for his first wife Eliza L. Whittaker, who was born in Plainfield, March 3, 1856. She died October 21, 1877, leaving no children. His present wife, who was before marriage Jennie F. Spaulding, was born in this town January 26, 1867, daughter of Alfred Spaulding. Mr. Porter is connected with the Patrons of Husbandry, and is a member of the Congregational church.