This is a biography of Jefferson Greene Porterfield. Included in the biography is a personal reminiscence of his participation in the Civil War. Porterfield was born in Pulaski County, Kentucky, on February 11, 1838, the son of Milton and Eliza Ann Collier Porterfield. The family moved west to Missouri and later Iowa and back to Missouri. In the winter of 1855-1856, Jefferson's father went to Kansas Territory and located claims near Holton in Jackson County. The family built a lob cabin and began farming the land. On August 23, 1862, he enlisted in the 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, Company B at Holton, Kansas. Porterfield describes the skirmishes the 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry encountered including Prices' Raid, Battle of the Blue, and Mine Creek. In February, 1865, the 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry was sent to Wyoming to Fort Bridger where they fought in the Battle of Platte River bridge. He was honorably discharged on August 30, 1865. Porterfield returned to Jackson County where he resumed farming and teaching. The biography also contains marriage and family information.
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