This is the second of three articles written by Chariton Leader Editor Henry W. Gittinger during July and August of 1915 regarding mysterious disappearances in Lucas County. Based upon Darlene Arnold's index to vital statistics in Lucas County newspapers, it looks as if this case was reported upon in The Chariton Democrat during 1869, but I will have to look those references up later to make sure of that. I'll report back then.
The story-teller here was my uncle (actually my grandfather's uncle), Gerial "Rial" Trescott Miller. The fact the information is so detailed suggests that either Uncle Rial brought a newspaper clipping with him or Henry looked the case up in the back-issue files of the Leader (known at various times as The Democrat).
THE PORT OF MISSING MEN
Past Myersteris O'er Which the Veil Has Never Been Lifted
Recently the Leader has printed accounts of Lucas county men who went away and have never returned; who have never since been heard of. In speaking of this, Rial Miller, of English township, gives another incident, and while it happened before his time, yet in his boyhood days it formed a topic of conversation among the older people of the township and some yet will remember it though comparatively few know that such a man ever existed.
Near fifty years ago a man and his wife, by the name of Porter, they having no children, lived in a log cabin in the middle of a field east of what is now the Savage farm. He had sold a team of horses and that fund, added to some other, gave them a capital of $300. One day the husband concluded he would go out and buy another team, so took $230 with him, leaving $70 in an old tea pot hanging in the chimney corner at home. As he passed across the field in the direction of Chariton he stopped for a moment, turned about and saw his wife standing in the cabin door. He waved his hand at her and soon passed beyond the horizon. That was the last time she ever saw him.
Later in the day a settler by the name of Allison was driving his ox team along the trail leading to the south and overtook Porter, who had halted by the wayside to rest and perhaps pick a pebble from his shoe. He asked him to ride as their routes lay in the same direction for several miles, after which Porter went his way. This was the last account of him. The neighbors gathered from far and near and search was made but to no avail. No trace of the missing man was found.
Later people began to talk and suspicion was aroused, for it was known that Porter carried considerable money on his person. Allison, with whom he was last seen, was arrested but as no evidence against him could be produced he was released and in time the incident was but casually and occasionally discussed and dropped entirely. Mrs. Porter lost all hope and moved away, in after years, becoming the wife of a man by the name of Cunningham and they established thier home in Denver.
What a field for detective work Lucas county is. Should others know of similar cases please confer with our "Missing Men Department" immediately.
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