Welcome to the FAMILY porter history web site

4 Grace Ella Porter

Grace Ella Porter was born February 20, 1894, in Marysville, Kansas, daughter of John Frank Porter and Lillie Mae Clark.  She was the second of 12 children.  Grace died January 30, 1959 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Grace married William Elmer Ventris on March 09, 1913.  William was born January 24, 1882 in Atchison, Kansas, and died December 28, 1954 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The children of Grace Ella Porter and William Elmer Ventris are:

John H. Ventris married Wanda Cornish.

Welcome to the FAMILY porter history web site

Porter Family Portrait—March 1918

1. Charlie        2. Minnie         3. Lillie Mae

4. Mary            5. Grace           6. Franklin

7. Pauline        8. Lucille          9. Clark

10. John Frank           11. Roy

Elmer in a motorcycle side car.

Circa 1920

Grace in side car with ?

Circa 1920

Grace

1920’s

Lillie Mae, Grace Ventris, John Frank Porter

1940’s

Grace

1940-50

(Left to Right)

Bill, Clara, Betty (in rear), Grace (seated), Mary Lucille, Johnny, Ella May.

Taken 1950’s

Elmer (?), Bill Ventris, Grace Ventris
1940’s

Grace, Anna Maude, ??? Lillie Mae, Lucille, George Grinter, John F. Porter

1940’s

Lucille, Grace, Anna Maude

1940s

Below from June 23, 1900 Census in Lincoln Township, Garfield County, Oklahoma Territory.

(Left to Right)

Bill V., Betty V., Johnny V., Pauline, Minnie (seated)

1970’s

1.  Mary Porter  2. Otis Clark Porter  3. Samuel Leroy Porter 
4.  Grace Porter  5. Minnie Porter  6. Charles Henry Porter

About 1905

About 1900

1. Charlie Porter,  2. Minnie Porter,
3. Grace Porter, 4. Roy Porter

About 1925

1.  Otis Clark Porter,  2. Grace Ventris,  3. Roy Porter
4.  John Frank Porter,  5. Charlie Porter,  6.  Anna Maude Porter
7.  Lillie Mae Porter,  8.  Minnie Porter,  9.  Franklin Porter

Following from April 2, 1930 Census, at 417 SW 10th Street, Oklahoma City.  They  have moved north away from the river, closer to Grace’s parents.  William lists his occupation as a laborer for a building moving company, though he is unemployed at the time.

WW1 Draft Card—William Elmer Ventris

Sept 12, 1918

Occupation: Pumper, Santa Fe Railway

Following from January 27, 1920 Census, at 400 West Ash Street, Oklahoma City.  Today, Ash Street is known as SW 15th, and this address would put them between Harvey and Walker streets. He lists his occupation as “Trucker” for a railroad freight company.

Image from 1930 Oklahoma City Zoning Map showing the Wheeler Park district south of downtown.
Two great floods swept down the North Canadian River in 1923, cutting a new channel. Wheeler park was literally cut in two when the river, over flood stage, overtook the Lake Overholser dam.  The park zoo was relocated at this time when most of the animals were killed in the flood.  Everything was flooded up to California Avenue.  15,000 people were left homeless.

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Obituary

William Elmer Ventris

December 31, 1954

The Oklahoman

(click to see large version)

Obituary

Grace Ella Ventris

January 31, 1959

The Oklahoman

(click to see large version)

Following from 1895 Kansas State Census in Mount Pleasant, Atchison County.

Elmer is 13.  Father William is a farmer from Connecticut.

Below from April 21, 1910 Census in Clear Creek Township, Payne County, Oklahoma.