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Porter Allen Mullinix
Porter Alien Mullinix was born on Allred Mountain in the Boatland area of Fentress
County on May 27, 1882. As was very common then and now, Porter met a young girl of the
immediate area. Her name was Helen Wright, whom he married on December 10, 1905. On March
15th, 1920 Porter and Helen acquired 300 acre tract of property in Glenoby where nearly
all their children would be born. Porter and Helen had seven children. They were by age
(1) Fred married to Hazel Linder, (2) Zola who died in 1953 before marriage, (3) Vergie
who married Sheldon Compton, (4) Beulah who died at age 12 in 1926, (5) Frank who married
Lillie Edna Hood, (6) Grace who married William Matthews, (7) Blanche who married ELmo
Wright.
Porter was well known and well liked by many in Fentress County. He was especially known
for his ability to drive right down the middle of the road. This gave other motorists the
opportunity to pass on either side.
Porter and family lived in Overton County for a year or two before moving back to Lick
Skillet. They later moved to the Jane Beaty place in Glenoby. The kids would help with
crops since most of their food was grown on the farm. The family would raise chickens and
sell eggs for things they needed. In the spring Mn. Mullinix would sell several chickens
and all the children would get a brand new pair of slippers and cloth for a new dress. In
the fall after "Taters" were dug and holed up, the sweet "Taters" put
in the loft, the fodder was pulled and put in the shed, they would sit around after supper
and pick seeds out of the cotton. Mrs. Mullinix always made her own batting for quilts,
and Porter would work on rafting pins he would later use to hold the logs together as they
were floated down river to Celina to the mill. The logging would be done in the winter,
and the logs would be snaked to the river or run down a log chute. When the Obey River
flooded in Spring from heavy rains, Porter and his crew of men would assemble the logs
into rafts and begin their journey to the mill. They usually walled back. Porter always
brought the kids hack candy on his way back home. Life was hard, times were tough, but
love for one another and a good sense of humor gave their life many good memories and
enjoyable times.
Porter was once involved in a minor fender bender on the square of Jamestown. The other
vehicle belonged to a preacher of the area. After assessing the damage, Porter began going
around town literally passing the hat to repair the preacher's car because
"Someone" had run into the preacher's car. The Life and times of Porter and
Helen Mullinix are still remembered and enjoyed by many today. Frank Edward Mullinix will
continue this line.
Porter Mullinix died on December 19, 1955 and Helen Mullinix died on June 20, 1961.
by Bruoe F. Mullinix
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