Photo 2012 by Virginia Lawrence-Hope

1

(Photo 2012 by Virginia Lawrence-Hope)

Porter Parking Lot (53 North 3rd Street, with exit at 248 Spring Garden St.).

By Richard F. Hope, last updated 13 October 2018.

This property appears to occupy substantially the same frontage on North 3rd Street as original town Lot No.64, as surveyed by William Parsons for the founding of Easton in 1752.[1] Formal title to this Lot was obtained from the Penn Family in 1765 by blacksmith Christopher Bittenbender.[2] Opposite his house on Pomfret Street stood a “Water Well”, from which the neighbors had rights to draw their water as far down the street as Centre Square.[3] Bittenbender died c.1804-05 leaving a widow, Mary Elizabeth Bittenbender, who presumably occupied the property. The Lot was ultimately sold in 1816 to John Horn for $1765.[4]

Beginning in 1831,[5] a home on this site was the residence of Hon. James Madison Porter, continuinguntil his death in 1862.[6] In the 1850s street numbering scheme, Porter’s residence was No. 15 North 3rd Street, and his law office was at No.13.[7]

James Madison Porter[8]

James Madison Porter (1793 – 1862)[9] was the youngest of 13 children. His father, Andrew Porter, was Revolutionary War Colonel Andrew Porter, who served throughout the War at a number of battles, including with Lafayette at the Battle of Brandywine. James Madison Porter’s brother,David Rittenhouse Porter, was the Governor of Pennsylvania from 1839-45.[10] His grand niece, Mary Todd Lincoln, married President Abraham Lincoln.[11]

James Madison Porter became a lawyer in Philadelphia. During the War of 1812, he obtained a reputation by organizing the militia to defend the city.[12] He came to Easton in 1818 as a Deputy Attorney General for Northampton County.[13] He became Chief Burgess of Easton from 1826 until 1828.[14] He was later a Pennsylvania state court Judge from 1838-40 for Dauphin, Schuylkill and Lebanon Counties, where he invoked technicalities to dismiss charges filed by political opponents against the Governor’suse of the militia to quell a mob during the Philadelphia election dispute known as The Buckshot War. The Governor involved was Judge Porter’s brother. Judge Porter then resigned, to avoid being a political liability.[15] He was appointed the Interim U.S. Secretary of War by President Tyler in 1843, but resigned the following year when the Senate refused to confirm him.[16] In 1849, he served in the Pennsylvania state legislature, as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. From 1853-55, he served an additional term as a judge, this time for a district covering Wayne, Pike, Monroe and Carbon Counties. Back in Easton, he founded the Dime Savings Institute of Easton, organized the Northampton Quarry Company, and in 1847 became President of the Belvidere Delaware Railroad Company, which in 1853 was renamed the Lehigh Valley Railroad.[17]

Porter’s most notable contribution to Easton was as the principal founder and first President of Lafayette College.[18] His tenure was marked by frequent controversy with Rev. Junkin, the first President, among others.[19]

After his death in 1862,[20]Porter’s family continued own and occupy the homestead. Threedaughters resided in the Judge’s old house (previously No.15, assigned No.53 when the modern street numbering scheme was inaugurated in 1874).[21]

• While the Judge’s son, James Madison Porter, Jr. maintained the Porter & Swift law offices at 13 North 3rd Street[22] (re-numbered 49 North 3rd Street after 1874 [23]), he established his homeon the other (West) side of the street, at 28 North 3rd Street (renumbered 52 North 3rd Street after 1874).[24] James Madison Porter Jr. was a “trained lawyer”, who had served as a “Member of the diplomati staff at Vienna and Berlin in the early years of his manhood”.[25]

James Madison Porter III and James Madison Porter IV, among others, became Porter family owners of the house in due course.[26]

• James Madison Porter III was the Lafayette College engineering professor who designed the landmark “Free” Bridge over the Delaware River between Phillipsburg and Easton.[27]

The last Porter family owner died in 1947. The property was then sold to Leslie & Leslor Williams (developers of the Hotel Easton, etc.), who decided to raze the house for a parking lot.[28]

[1]Compare A.D. Chidsey, Jr., The Penn Patents in the Forks of the Delaware Plan of Easton, Map 2 (Vol. II of Publications of the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 1937) with Northampton County Tax Records map,

[2]Patent, Thomas Penn and Richard Penn to Christian Bittenbender, Patent Book A6 406 (17 July 1765)(Lot No.64); seeA.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village 234-35, 261 (Vol. III of Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1940)(Building No.64).

[3]Mortgage, John Spering to Peter Ealer, B1 360 (20 Nov. 1771). This mortgage concerned the house at the NW corner of Centre Square and Pomfret (now North 3rd) Street, and included the well rights. See also Deed, Philip Odenwelder Jr, et al., in Trust for German Evangelic Reformed Society and Congregation of Easton [Etc.] to John Craig, B3 266 (14 Apr. 1795)(Lot No.66, includes rights to use a “well of water erected in Pomfret Street . . . nearly opposite to the said Premises”).

[4]Deed, Conrad Bittebender, Executor of the Estate of Christopher Bittenbender, to John Horn, B4 330 (6 Feb. 1816)(sale price $1,990 for Lot No.64 measuring 60’ on Pomfret Street X 220’ deep); seeA.D. Chidsey, Jr., A Frontier Village 234-35, 261 (Vol. III of Publications of The Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society 1940)(Building No.64).

[5]Article, “Porter Residence On N. 3rd St. Is Being Razed, Historic Property Was Held By Same Family For 120 Years”, Easton Express, Tuesday, 8 March 1949, p.5. Porter had purchased it from a relative, Harriet Porter, in that year; she had purchased it two years earlier from William Ricker, a carpenter. Id.

[6]Article, “Porter Residence on N. 3rd St. Is Being Razed”, supra; Article, “Interesting Reminiscence, North 3rd Street a 3rd of a Century Ago”, Easton Daily Free Press, Thursday, 20 Aug. 1885, p.3.

The house was ultimately 3 ½ stories high, with a peaked roof and dormers,, with three window bays. The front entrance was asymmetrical, with a fan light over the door. Picture, James Madison Porter Homestead, Marx Room Folder 3 1901 00328 7820 (Dwellings – Pennsylvania – Easton (Folder 1)) DocNo 13 (Easton Area Public Library Photographs Files, undated).

[7]C[harles] Kitchen, A General Directory of the Borough of Easton PA (Cole & Eichman’s Office, 1855)(alphabetical listing).

[8]M.S. Henry, History of the Lehigh Valley facing 72 (Bixler & Corwin 1860).

[9]E.g., Frank B. Copp, Biographical Sketches of Some of Easton’s Prominent Citizens 18-30 (Hillburn & West 1879).

[10]Frank Whelan, “Avoiding Tragedy, He Became Lawyer and Pettifogger James Madison Porter”, Morning Call, Sunday, 7 June 1992, Easton Sunday Section p.M-3; see Montgomery County Pennsylvania Genealogy, “James Madison Porter”, montgomery.pa-roots.com/Biographies/JamesMadisonPorter.html (accessed 13 June 2009); Article, “James Porter Society recognizes generous donors”, Lafayette Alumni News 7 (Jan. 1997)(available in “Porter” file, Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society); Article, “A founding father who made his mark”, The Express-Times, Tuesday, 30 Sept. 1997, p.10.

Andrew Porter’s rank is occasionally listed as a General. See, e.g., Pennsylvania Historical Marker to “General Andrew Porter” in Norristown at W. Main and Selma Streets, pictured at This is apparently in reference to the fact that Andrew Porter served as Pennsylvania Surveyor-General from 1808-13. Id.

[11]Mary Todd Lincoln was the granddaughter of Porter’s older sister, Eliza Ann (Porter) Parker. See Michigan Regimental Round Table, Newsletter, Vol. XLII, No.1 (Jan.2002) at (accessed 20 Feb. 2008)(Mary Todd Lincoln’s “beloved grandmother, Elizabeth Porter Parker”); Donna McCreary as Mary Lincoln/Todd Family Genealogy Information, the Family of Mary Lincoln, members.aol.com/beaufait/biography/geneology.htm (accessed 20 Feb. 2008)(Mary Ann Todd Lincoln was the daughter of Robert Smith Todd [1791 – 1849] and Eliza Parker, who in turn was the daughter of Robert Parker and Elizabeth (Porter) Parker); see also The Lincoln Institute, Mr. Lincoln’s White House: Mary Todd Lincoln (1818 – 1882), subjected=2 (accessed 20 Feb. 2008)(“Mary Todd was the fourth child of Robert and Eliza Parker Todd”).

But seetwo local sources, which indicate that Eliza Ann (Porter) Todd was Lincoln’s mother-in-law. Booklet, Welcome to Easton Cemetery 9 [2006]; Frank Whelan, “Avoiding Tragedy, He Became Lawyer and Pettifogger James Madison Porter”, Morning Call, Sunday, 7 June 1992, Easton Sunday Section p.M-3.

[12]E.g., Frank B. Copp, Biographical Sketches of Some of Easton’s Prominent Citizens 18-30 (Hillburn & West 1879).

[13]See Frank Whelan, “Avoiding Tragedy, He Became Lawyer and Pettifogger James Madison Porter”, Morning Call, Sunday, 7 June 1992, Easton Sunday Section p.M-3.

[14]Article, Chief Executives of Easton Since 1789”, Easton Express, Sun., 12 June 1937, Jubilee Section a, p.5, cols. 1-2.

[15]See Frank Whelan, “Avoiding Tragedy, He Became Lawyer and Pettifogger James Madison Porter”, Morning Call, Sunday, 7 June 1992, Easton Sunday Section p.M-3.

[16]E.g., Frank B. Copp, Biographical Sketches of Some of Easton’s Prominent Citizens 18-30 (Hillburn & West 1879); John W. Jordan, Edgar Moore Green & George T. Ettinger, Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania 455-57 (The Lewis Publishing Co. 1905, reprint by Higginson Book Co.); Booklet, Welcome to Easton Cemetery 8-9 [2006]; Richard F. Hope, Easton PA: A History 96 (AuthorHouse 2006)(and authorities cited therein).

[17]CompareFrank Whelan, “Avoiding Tragedy, He Became Lawyer and Pettifogger James Madison Porter”, Morning Call, Sunday, 7 June 1992, Easton Sunday Section p.M-3 with Article, “Easton Cemetery Notables”, Easton Irregular 5 (May 2016).

[18]E.g., Frank B. Copp, Biographical Sketches of Some of Easton’s Prominent Citizens 18-30 (Hillburn & West 1879); John W. Jordan, Edgar Moore Green & George T. Ettinger, Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania 455-57 (The Lewis Publishing Co. 1905, reprint by Higginson Book Co.); Booklet, Welcome to Easton Cemetery 8-9 [2006]; Richard F. Hope, Easton PA: A History 96 (AuthorHouse 2006)(and authorities cited therein).

[19]See David B. Skillman, The Biography of a College: Being the History of the First Century of the Life of Lafayette College 130-34, 145-46, 152-53, 168-70, 173-74, 181-93 (Lafayette College 1932).

[20]E.g., Frank B. Copp, Biographical Sketches of Some of Easton’s Prominent Citizens 18-30 (Hillburn & West 1879).

[21]See1870 Census, Series M593, Roll 1382, p.20A (E.P. Porter, with Harriett and Mary “A.” Porter); Webb Bros. & Co., Webb’s Easton and Phillipsburg Directory 1875-6 96 (M.J. Riegel 1875)(Elizabeth P. and Harriet Porter at 53 N. 3rd St.); Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 105 (1873)(alphabetical listing for Miss E.P. Porter); D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874)(Miss Porter). But see Article, “The New Numbers”, Easton Daily Free Press, Monday, 24 Nov. 1873, p.3 (No.53 assigned to the residence of William H. Davis).

See Article, “Interesting Reminiscence, North 3rd Street a 3rd of a Century Ago”, Easton Daily Free Press, Thursday, 20 Aug. 1885, p.3 (two daughters of James M. Porter reside in North 3rd Street house); 1880 Census, Series T9, Roll 1161, p.383A (Elizabeth and “Harret” Porter listed at 47 N. 3rd St.); George W. West, West’s Guide to Easton [Etc.] 32 (West & Everett, Job Printers 1883)(alphabetical listing for Miss E.P. Porter); Rev. Uzal W. Condit, The History of Easton, Penn’a 475 (George W. West 1885 / 1889).

Article, “Porter Residence on N. 3rd St. Is Being Razed”, supra states that the property was owned successively by three sisters of Judge Porter. However, the 1860 Census, Series M653, Roll 1147, p.250, was recorded when the old Judge was still alive (age 64), showing as members of his household James Madison Porter Jr. (age 23), Elizabeth (age 37 – apparently “E.P.” of later years’ listings), Harriett (age 35) and Mary (age 22) as well as two other children. The ages tend to confirm that the three girls were sisters of James Jr., not of the old Judge.

[22]Jeremiah H. Lant, The Northampton County Directory for 1873 105 (1873)(alphabetical listing for James M. Porter).

[23]Webb Bros. & Co., Webb’s Easton and Phillipsburg Directory 1875-6 96 (M.J. Riegel 1875).

[24]D.G. Beers, Atlas of Northampton County Pennsylvania, Plan of Easton (A. Pomeroy & Co. 1874).

[25]Obituary, “Prof. Porter’s Career Ended – Distinguished Son of Lafayette Dead at Home In This City”, Easton Express, Mon., 4 June 1928, p.1, col.4 (comments about James Madison Porter Jr., the father of the deceased).

[26]Article, “Porter Residence on N. 3rd St. Is Being Razed”, supra (property owned by James Madison Porter III; then by James Madison Porter IV in 1928, who deeded it to his mother). See also1900 Census, Series T623, Roll 1447, p.63B; 1910 Census, Series T624, Roll 1381, p.24A; 1920 Census, Series T625, R.1609, p.68; cf. Obituary, “Prof. Porter’s Career Ended – Distinguished Son of Lafayette Dead at Home In This City”, Easton Express, Mon., 4 June 1928, p.1, col.4 (lead states that James Madison Porter III died at 52 North 3rd Street, but body of article indicates that his home had been in his grandfather’s house at 53 North 3rd Street).

[27]Frank T. Dale, Bridges Over the Delaware River: A History of Crossings 73 (Rutgers University Press 2003); Frank Dale, Delaware Diary: Episodes in the Life of a River 106-07 (Rutgers University Press 1996); see also separate entry for the Easton “Free” Bridge filed as 0 Northampton Street. See generally Obituary, “Prof. Porter’s Career Ended – Distinguished Son of Lafayette Dead at Home In This City”, Easton Express, Mon., 4 June 1928, p.1, col.4 (Lafayette Professor of Engineering, associated with the firm of Tippett & Wood).

[28]Article, “Porter Residence On N. 3rd St. Is Being Razed”, supra.