Malinda Marlatt

Mrs. Malinda Marlatt, widow of the late George Marlatt, and daughter of Alexander and Betsy (Chatham) Porter, was born in Gallatin county, Ky., in 1817. At the age of seventeen she moved with her parents to Indiana, and the following year married George Marlatt. In 1838 she moved with him to Pittsburg and in 1S18 came with him to Illinois. Her father was born in Mercer Co., Pa., October 12,1806, and her mother in South Carolina. Alexander Porter moved with his father to South Carolina, where they engaged in weaving. There the son worked hard, studied at night, and at the age of eighteen years opened a school; afterward he studied engineering and became a good surveyor. He married Miss Chatham, removed to Kentucky, and' for several years they remained there in the wilds as the friends of Daniel Boone. In 1805 Mr. Porter enlisted in the exploratory party under Lewis and Clark, but owing to his wife's illness did not go. After several years he moved to Indiana and engaged in farming and teaching there until his death in 1838, his wife having preceded him to the grave several years before. Of their twelve children Mrs. Marlatt is the only survivor. As has been stated, Malinda Porter married Mr. Marlatt in 1835. In 1848 they came by river to Peru, but the following year settled in Stark county, where Mr. Marlatt refitted the Spoon river mill north of Wyoming, and found shelter in a log-cabin which had no floor and little roof. Meantime he built a house, sawing all the lumber, framing and erecting with his own hands. In 1850 the family moved into this house—with wolves as the most numerous neighbors and frequent visitors. There they resided for years; the father increased his original farm to 320 acres, built a new house, and when death came, October 15, 1886, the grim monster called on one who did a life's work well. George Marlatt was born October 12, 1806. In 1817 he moved with his parents to Adams county, Ohio, and worked with his father as millwright for two years, when he joined his brother at Pittsburg in shipping coal to the New Orleans sugar refineries. After his marriage he built a warehouse at the mouth of the Anderson river and conducted a general store therefor several years; returned and resumed coal-shipping at Pittsburg, and in June, 1848, set out for Illinois. Of their nine children two died in infancy; Druscilla married Edward Colgan, of Valley; James and Joseph M. are dead, the latter leaving a widow and two children; George O. died in the rebel prison at Belle Isle; Emeline is Mrs. Barrett, of Peoria; William, Homer J., F. M. and Myron P. All reside here. The boys have all grown to manhood here, and like their father, fill a place in the economy of the county completely. Myron P., who resides on the homestead with his mother, was born July 20, 1860, in the present home. On September 15, 1884, he married Miss Kate, daughter of James and Mary (Alyward) Walsh, of Peoria. To them a little girl, Malinda M., has been. born. Thus runs the history of a family who for almost forty years have added largely to the wealth of this district, while aiding themselves.