and has ever been the poor man's friend. His charitable deeds are well known by those with whom he is acquainted. He emigrated to Story County in 1855, when the State was in a very unsettled condition, and he has seen the full development of the country. He is a close student, in fact a perfect book-worm, and has one of the finest libraries in the township. He is the owner of 480 acres of land in Story County, but will pass the remainder of his days with Mr. and Mrs. Pettenger.
Thomas Porch, retired farmer and stock-raiser, Ames, Iowa. It is a recognized fact that, among those who have made their home in this county, the men of foreign birth have contributed their full share to the development and prosperity of a community known as one of the best in this portion of the State; and it is also apparent that those of English nativity have occupied no inferior portion in all matters tending to the improvement and continued progress of Story County. Mr. Porch was born in England in 1818, and was the youngest of a family of six children born to John and Ann (Clark) Porch, both natives of England. Thomas Porch came to America in 1847, located near Kenosha, Wis., and was there married to Miss Mary Selway. In May, 1868, he came to Story County, Iowa, where he 'has since made his home, located where he now resides and is the owner of 200 acres of land. He is one of the first-class citizens of the county, and his true worth is fully recognized by an enterprising and substantial community. To his marriage were born four children: Thomas F., Henry, Annie (now Mrs.. C. Giddings, on the home place), and Edwin. Mr. Porch has been a life-long Republican, though never an aspirant for political advancement. He settled on Section 34, when he first came to the county, made many and vast improvements, and has 200 acres of as good land as is to be found in the community. He had the misfortune to lose his wife in December, 1888.
Judiah Ray is fully deserving of mention in the pages of this volume, for he is one of the pioneers of Story County, Iowa, and has ever identified himself with its progress and development. In 1852 he settled one mile north of Iowa Centre, and in February of the following year he brought his family thither. He was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, October 1, 1823, being the eldest of four children, three of whom are now living, born to the marriage of Samuel Ray and Maria R. Davy, natives of Ohio and New York State, respectively. In 1825 they removed to Marion County, Ind., and settled eight miles north of Indianapolis on White River, where Mr. Ray died when the subject of this sketch was about eight years of age. His widow, who was born June 9, 1803, on Long Island, N. Y., afterward came to Story County, Iowa, and here she quietly breathed her last, February 23, 1878, at the age of seventy-four years, eight months and twenty-three days. Judiah Ray began his farming operations in this county in 1853, and by the sweat of his brow and many years of earnest and persistent endeavor he has become the owner of 1,200 acres of land, the most of which is improved, all lying in Story County. Besides this he has given each of his eight children a good farm. He also owns a half interest in the First National Bank of Nevada, in which he is a stockholder, and a half interest in the foundry. In 1884 he removed to the town of Nevada, and the same year built the Ray business block, which is forty-six feet wide by eighty feet long, the building and the land on which it is erected costing about $11,500. In 1889 he built his store almost opposite the same at a cost of $4,000, it being 24x80 feet. Mr. Ray has made his own way in life, and