11/01/2025
David Rittenhouse Porter was born October 31st 1788 in Norristown, Montgomery Co. Pa. David moved to Huntingdon Co. sometime after 1810 to pursue a career in iron. He first worked at Barree Forge as a clerk and within a year was the manager. By 1814, he had become a partner with Edward Patton in owning the upper and lower Sligo Forges on the Spruce Creek. After the War of 1812, the Forges failed and was bought by John Lyon and Robert Stewart. David continued to manage the forges under the firm Lyon and Stewart. These two forges along with the Marshall forge were renamed Colerain Forges. In 1821, Mr. Porter and his new bride, Josephine, lived in the house that was Samuel Marshall's. This house is the right front portion of today's Colerain Forges Mansion.
After a short stay in this house David moved to Huntingdon to begin his political career which eventually led him to becoming the 9th governor of Pennsylvania from 1839-1845.
Sources:
Dauphin Co. History, Huntingdon Co. Deeds, newspapers.com
Image: PHMC
