Judge E. Lee Porterfield
Judge E. Lee Porterfield was born in Oxford Township, Delaware County, Ohio, on the thirty-first day of May, 1867. His father's name was Jarvis L. and his mother's was Mary J. (Foust) Porterfield. The father was born near Westfield, while Westfield was yet a part of Delaware County, and his mother Mary J. Foust was born in Oxford Township, her father having been one of the pioneer settlers of that township. The subject of this sketch attended the public schools of his native township, and when sufficiently advanced, the graded schools. He also attended the Northwestern University at Ada. Ohio, and later the Ohio Wesleyan University. He became a teacher and taught in the public schools of Oxford township for six years. He then became principal of the high school at Ashley, where he taught for seven years. During the time he had charge of the high school he was granted a life certificate to teach. This was about the year 1897.
In the summer of the year 1899 he was nominated by the Republican party for probate judge of Delaware County, and he was duly elected in the autumn of the same year, and he assumed the responsibility of his office on the ninth day of February, 1900. He was re-nominated to succeed himself in the year 1902, and was re-elected to the same office, which he held until the close of his term, February 9, 1906.
During the years that he held this office he began the study of law under the tutorship of Judge N. F. Overturf and was admitted to the Bar in the month of December, A. D., 1905. Immediately upon his retirement from the probate judge's office he entered into a partnership for the practice of law with Fred McAlester, the style of the firm being Porterfield & McAlester. The new firm opened an office in the Reid and Powell Block with bright prospects for success. Fraternally, Mr. Porterfield is allied with Ashley Lodge, No. 457, K. of P., and with Delaware Lodge. No. 76, B. P. O. E.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens by James R. Lytle, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908