1820
Elder Present- Nathaniel Porter - Cumberland Synod, October 17, 1820, Russellville, Kentucky.
[Minutes of the Cumberland Synod, October 17, 1820, page 17]

1833
Rev. Nathaniel Porter - Commissioner to General Assembly, May 1833, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Logan Presbytery - Green River Synod
Served on the Committee to Examine the Minutes of the Western District Synod.
Served on the Committee on the State of Religion.
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1833, pages 54, 55 & 58]

1835
Rev. Nathaniel Porter - Commissioner to General Assembly, May 19, 1835, in Princeton, Kentucky.
Logan Presbytery - Green River Synod
"Br. Nathaniel Porter, minister, appeared, presented his commission, and took his seat in the Assembly, as commissioner of Logan Presbytery ."
"Resolved, that a Committee be appointed, consisting of three members, to examine the minutes of the Mississippi Synod; and, that Brs. Silas N. Davis, Nathaniel Porter, and Robert Taylor be appointed said committee."
"On motion of Br. M. H. Bone, Resolved, that Br. Nathaniel Porter be, and he is hereby appointed assistant Clerk during the remainder of this Assembly."
"The Assembly met agreeably to adjournment. Constituted by prayer. Members present as on Saturday, except Brs. M. H. Bone and Nathaniel Porter, who obtained leave to be absent during the remainder of the session."

[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, May 20, 1835, pages 105, 110, 121, 132, 133]

1842
Rev. Nathaniel Porter - Commissioner to General Assembly, May 17, 1842, in Owensboro, Kentucky.
Logan Presbytery - Green River Synod
Chair of the Committee to Examine the Minutes of Mississippi Synod.
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1842, pages 45, 54]

1846
Rev. N. Porter - Commissioner to General Assembly, May 19, 1846, in Owensboro, Kentucky
Served on the Committee to Examine the Minutes of Green River Synod.
Served onthe Committee on the State of Religion and Statistics of the Church.
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1846, pages 191, 194, 196]

There are no presbyterial directories prior to 1854 in the General Assembly minutes.

1854
N. Porter, Sugar Grove, Ky.
Minister - Logan Presbytery - Kentucky Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1854, page 89]

1855
No presbyterial directories in the General Assembly minutes.

1856
N. Porter, Sugar Grove, Ky.
Minister - Logan Presbytery - Kentucky Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1856, page 60]

1857
N. Porter, Sugar Grove, Ky.
Minister - Logan Presbytery - Kentucky Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1857, page 70]

1858
No presbyterial directories in the General Assembly minutes.

1859
No presbyterial directories in the General Assembly minutes.

1860
N. Porter, Sugar Grove, Ky.
Minister - Logan Presbytery - Kentucky Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1860, page, 99]

1861
No presbyterial directories in the General Assembly minutes.

1862
N. Porter - Commissioner to General Assembly in Owensboro, Kentucky, May 15-20, 1862.
Minister - Logan Presbytery - Kentucky Synod
Served on Committee on Synodical Records - Illinois.
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1862, pages 26 & 29]

1863
No presbyterial directories in the General Assembly minutes.

1864
No presbyterial directories in the General Assembly minutes.

1865
No directory for Logan Presbytery in the General Assembly minutes.

1866
No presbyterial directories in the General Assembly minutes.

1867
No presbyterial directories in the General Assembly minutes.

1868
N. Porter, S. C., Sugar Grove, Ky.
Minister - Logan Presbytery - Green River Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1868, page 104]

1869
N. Porter, Stated Clerk, Sugar Grove, Ky.
Minister - Logan Presbytery - Green River Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1869, page 82]

1870
N. Porter, St.Clerk, Sugar Grove, Kentucky
Minister - Logan Presbytery - Green River Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1870, page 77]

1871
N. Porter, Stated Clerk, Sugar Grove, Ky.
Minister - Logan Presbytery - Green River Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1871, page 78]

1872
DECEASED MINISTERS
N. Porter of Logan Presbytery
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1872, pages 21 & 127]

Dear brethren of Sugar Grove Lodge, No 359 AF+AM,

Another Workman has been called from our number, by the Master of Assemblies, from labor below to refreshment above.

On Oct. 9th, 1871, after an illness, protracted by two months, our dearly beloved brother, Rev. Nathaniel Porter died at his late residence in Butler County, Kentucky and is gathered home in a ripe old age, full of memories dear and precious to his family, friends and brethren, both of the Church and the Mystic Tie.

Rev. Nathaniel Porter was born in Prince Edward County, Va., Feb. 8, 1797. He removed with his parents to Ky in the year 1800 and settled in Butler County, where he was reared and educated. He professed faith in Jesus Christ in early life and united with the Cumberland Church. He was twice married and leaves a dear companion deeply bereaved, having lost the council and support of a model husband; also seven children deprived of the kind, gentle, and loving guidance of a beloved father.
[Source: Banner of Peace, 11 November 1871, Nashville, Tennessee]

My own dear father Rev. Nathaniel PORTER, b 8 Feb 1797 PECoVA; d 9 Oct 1871 BCoKY; m1 3 Oct 1826 Butler Co KY Martha "Patsey" Ann Chapman; daughter of CPC Rev Alexander Chapman; m2 10 Feb 1836 Butler Co KY Sarah Helm; was born in Prince Edward County Virginia, February 8th. A.D. 1797. His father removed from that County to Kentucky about the year 1800, and settled on the waters of Little Muddy Creek, as I have said on page --, the same place on which my brother Frank lives, at this date, 1872. Here my father was raised, and here he grew to manhood. My information is that my grand father's family and perhaps most, if not all the connections were in their religious views, Presbyterians. My grand father and grand mother Porter were both members of that Church. About the time of my father's arrival at mature years the great revival of religion called the revival of 1800 was sweeping over the Western Country--Kentucky and Tennessee being then Western States truly; for beyond them in the West emigration had not gone to any extent. This revival although begun perhaps in 1800 continued for some years. In the year 1810 the Cumberland Presbyterian Church took its origin and my grand father's family favored that Church, but did not, I think, unite with it for prudential reasons likely, which cannot now be known.

They, the second generation, however were friendly to the revival party and my information is several of their children professed religion, and joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church -- Pa was one of the number, he having professed religion at Mount Moriah Church in Logan Co. Kentucky in the year 1819, under the preaching of Rev. Robert Donnell. In the year 1820 he preached himself under care of Logan Presbytery, as a Candidate for the Ministry. This was at Red River Church in Logan County Kentucky. He was licensed to preach at Little Muddy in 1823, and ordained at the same place in 1829. Thus it will be seen he was more than fifty years a minister of the gospel of the Son of God.

About the year 1844, Pa began mechanizing at his residence, Sugar Grove. This is about as far back as I can remember. He caused to be built in his yard, a store house, which still stands and for a long time, till 1856 sold goods in it, and was successful at the business. In 1855 and 1856 he built a new dwelling [P*] at Sugar Grove, and about the same time he in connection with brother Frank and Uncle Owen Helm, built the new store house, at a cost I think of about $1,800. They did business together for some years, until the war came on. After the war had begun, they were unable, on account of being Southern in their sentiments to obtain goods by purchase, in as much as most merchants before being allowed to buy goods were required to make proof of loyalty and obtain permits to do so. After the war was over, goods were sold at Sugar Grove either by Pa. alone or by a firm of which he was a member, up to his death.

His ministry began as I have said in the year 1820, and continued to the close of his life in 1871, for more than fifty years. The first years of his ministry were devoted to a great extent to riding, what was called a "Circuit". This work embraced several counties, such as Ohio, Daviess, Breckenridge, Grayson, Hancock, and others bordering on the Ohio river. He also preached extensively in the counties of upper Green River. He was for a long time the stated preacher at Little Muddy, Old Union in Warren County, Concord, Harmony, Red River Logan Co., Mt. Olivet, Morgantown, Point Pleasant, and perhaps other churches at different times, and we have reason to believe, and know that his labors resulted in great good to the Honor and glory of God. His preaching contained the purity of the Gospel delivered in its simplicity such a gospel as reached the Wants of the people. Some "diarys" kept by him during the early years of his ministry are very interesting, containing the text from which he preached, and in some instances an epitome of his sermons.

My father was punctual in attending the Judications of the Church, such as Presbyteries, Synods, and upon several occasions the General Assembly.--- Sometimes as a delegate from Logan Presbytery, and sometimes as a mere visitor. He loved the Church meetings.

He attended the meeting of Logan Presbytery at Pleasant Hill Warren County, Kentucky in August 1871, and went home unwell. He was soon after taken seriously sick, and died on Monday morning October 9th. 1871, about 10 o'clock. He died of inflammation of the stomach and bowels. He suffered a great deal in his sickness, yet bore it with Christian fortitude, and died in possession of his faculties unimpaired, almost Seventy-five years old. There never was a better father, nor better man and Christian. He was medium stature, about 5 feet 10 inches high. And weighed 130 pounds when in health. He was Kind to his servants, to the poor and suffering, and to all. He was successful in business, and but for his liberality would have been in possession of a handsome estate. He left what is far better than worldly wealth, namely a good name. He owned a large body of land (JMP 31) embracing near 1200 acres at and around Sugar Grove, the name given by himself to his homestead many years before his death.
[Source: "The History of Our Family Connection", John M Porter, 1872]

My grandfather, Rev Nathaniel Porter, I perhaps regard with more love and esteem than any soul on earth. To my youthful mind he was the embodiment of all that was good, pure and great.

I often listened with the deepest affection to him in the pulpit and the good man forgave me all my shortcomings of good behavior and could readily see good excuse for restlessness in a child who did not comprehend any necessity for sitting on a bench in church while the sun was shining warm and bright out doors and all the woods around the big country church alive with neighing horses, pretty colts, buggies, servants, etc.

My grandfather's store only 1/4 mile distant from home was a place of much interest to me and I only regretted that the mail did not come oftener than Tuesdays and Fridays to enable me to have excuse for receiving candies, sugar and above all in its season maple sugar, molded in saucers and cups and taken in exchange for goods. The profits must indeed have been small for no child could look wistfully at the shelves loaded in stacks that Grandpa did not cheerfully take the (?) and (?) cake.

My father's mother, the first wife of Rev Nathaniel Porter died when her second child - father's only sister - was born and Grandpa married again Sarah Helm. I remember her as a large fleshy woman of a quiet disposition - devoted to her grandchildren and always ready to humor and spoil them.

Grandpa Porter never allowed the question of pay to interfere with his pastorate over his churches his remuneration was very small indeed. In one case he preached for three years and all that he received was a pair of yarn socks - given him by an old mother in (?) - who presented them merely as a present.

One can hardly help smiling at the idea of such pay. Rain or shine this earnest pastor met his flock and taught them the way of truth. The idea of pay never entering into his mind perhaps during all that time. What would our preachers now do with a people who were so forgetful (?) as never to mention pay. But Grandpa had no necessity to depend upon his churches for his support as his large farm comprising some 900 acres of poor land, his Negroes and 1/3 interest in the store at Sugar Grove were sufficient for his modest wants.

When he began to grow old he became somewhat involved and upon final settlement of his estate his children received little besides a small farm each - mostly uncultivated and covered with scrub post oak. (This was after the Civil War)

Though but 8 years old, I can never forget the funeral and burial of my grandfather. The long line of buggies, wagons, horseback riders, negros afoot - they all worshiped him - the crowded church and finally the Masonic burial service made an impression never to be erased from my memory.
[Source: From a letter of John A Porter dated 26 April 1894, pages 6-9]