Westlake 250th Tuesday Fun Fact

In our 250th Tuesday fun fact, today we recognize one of the most well-known names of Westlake’s early settlers, Leonard G. Porter. He was the tenth born of eleven children, lived from 1806 to 1884 and arrived in the area of Dover at the age of 19.

Leonard married Catherine Stevens at the Dover Congregational Church in 1838 and had one child. He was a Township Trustee, Justice of the Peace, Sunday School Superintendent, donated land for and taught at Dover Academy, and was a leader of the Dover Literary Society. He bequeathed $1,000 and his collection of personal books to form Porter Public Library.

Leonard is buried at Evergreen Cemetery and was portrayed by local historian Mel Maurer on the recent Westlake Historical Society and Porter Public Library Cemetery Tour, held April 25.