PORTER, JOSIAH, was born April 10, 1802, in Chester District, South Carolina. Mr. Porter attended Bourbon Academy and Centre College, Ky., and completed his literary course by graduating at the Indiana State University, at Bloomington, in Sept., 1832. He received his theological education at Lane Seminary, Cincinnati, and was licensed to preach, by Shiloh Presbytery, at Murfreesboro, Tenn., Oct. 3, 1835. After a few months' missionary labor, in Tennessee, he came to Chatham, Sangamon county, Ill., arriving Oct. 1, 1836. After spending one year with the Chatham and Sugar Creek churches, he went within the bounds of Crawfordsville Presbytery, and was ordained by that Presbytery, at Waveland, in April, 1838. In Nov., 1838, he took charge of the church at Wayneville, Dewitt county, Ill., and solemnized the first marriage in that county. In the spring of 1845 he returned to Sangamon county, and acted as colporteur, until Jan. 1, 1846, when he entered upon the missionary work of supplying the vacant churches of Illinois Presbytery, which was then New School. In the fall of 1846 he became stated supply to Winchester Presbyterian church. In the spring of 1849 he took charge of the Presbyterian church at Chatham, and this has been his home to the present time. In 1851 he took charge of the Spring creek Presbyterian church, for two years, and served the church at Virden one year. He is now without charge--1874. Rev. Josiah Porter was married at Chatham, July 18, 1837, to Martha W. Thornton. They have two children--

MARY L. and

MARTHA A. They both reside with their parents, on a farm adjoining Chatham, Sangamon county, Ill., on the west. For Mr. Porter's recollection of events connected with the "sudden change," ...

Other evidences of the suddenness and intensity of the cold are numerous. Rev. Josiah Porter, of Chatham--see his name--remembers that the cold wave reached Chatham about half past twelve o'clock, noon; that he consulted his watch at the time, and knows he is correct. His recollection of the suddenness and intensity of the cold corroborates the account given by Mr. Crowder. Although Mr. Porter was in Chatham at the time of the sudden change, and resides there now, he was then doing the work of an evangelist, which led to his traveling over a large portion of Illinois and Indiana. In the discharge of his duties he became acquainted with a remarkable circumstance that occurred in what is now the west part of Douglas county, near the corner of Piatt and Moultrie counties. Two brothers by the name of Deeds had gone out to cut a bee tree, and were overtaken by the cold and frozen to death. Their bodies were found ten days later, about three miles from home.

The extent of that cold wave may not be generally known. That it first touched the earth west or north-west of here is highly probable, from the fact that it reached here at half past twelve, noon, according to the time noted by Mr. Porter. He also learned that it was nearly sundown when the cold reached the point in Douglas county where the two brothers perished.