Thomas F. Porter

Thomas F. Porter
32nd Mayor of Lynn, Massachusetts
In office 1908–1909
Preceded by	Charles Neal Barney
Succeeded by	James E. Rich
Member of the Massachusetts Senate 1st Essex District[1]
In office 1902 – 1903[2]
Preceded by	Henry Converse Atwill[3]
Succeeded by	William F. Craig[4]
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives 12th Essex District[5]
Member of the Lynn, Massachusetts Board of Aldermen[5]
In office 1896–1897
Member of the Lynn, Massachusetts Common Council[5]
In office 1885–1888
Personal details
Born	October 30, 1847[5] Paradise, Nova Scotia[5]
Died	July 12, 1927 (aged 79) North Conway, New Hampshire
Political party	Republican[5]

Thomas Freeman Porter (October 30, 1847 – July 12, 1927) was a Massachusetts politician who served as the 32nd Mayor of Lynn, Massachusetts.^[6]

Porter was born in Paradise, Nova Scotia. Freeman worked for a time at the Danbury News before he settled in Massachusetts. He was considered "a fine literary talent" by an early reviewer, as evidenced by his contributions to The Judge, the Boston Journal, the Yankee Blade, and the Waverley Magazine. He was an Odd Fellow and a member of the Masons.^[7]

Selected Verse

Courage

What if the morn no joy to you shall bring,

No gleam of sunbeam shine across your way;

What if no bird one joyous note shall sing

Into your listening ear through all the day!

.

What if no word of comfort you shall hear

As though the hours long you toil and strive;

What if to you no vision bright appear

To keep your hungry heart and soul alive!

.

What if the blest companionship men crave

Come not to you through all the day's long length,

But, bound and fettered even as a slave,

Within yourself you have to find your strength!

.

And if, when you have toiled and wrought alone,

The sweet reward you sought you do not gain,

And find the hoped-for bread is but stone,

In that sad hour for grief, should you complain?

.

Ah no! It matters not if shade or sun,

Or good or ill, your efforts shall attend;

In doing you have but your duty done

As best you knew - and should do to the end.

Notes

1. Bridgman, Arthur Milnor (1902), A Souvenir of Massachusetts legislators, Volume XI, Stoughton, MA: A. M. Bridgman, p. 134.
2. Bridgman, Arthur Milnor (1903), A Souvenir of Massachusetts legislators, Volume XII, Stoughton, MA: A. M. Bridgman, p. 135.
3. Who's who in State Politics, 1917, Boston, MA: Practical Politics, 1917, p. 39.
4. Bridgman, Arthur Milnor (1904), A Souvenir of Massachusetts legislators, Volume XIII, Stoughton, MA: A. M. Bridgman, p. 127.
5. Bridgman, Arthur Milnor (1900), A Souvenir of Massachusetts legislators, Volume IX, Stoughton, MA: A. M. Bridgman, p. 153.
6. findagrave.com: Thomas Freeman Porter
7. Thomas William Herringshaw: "Local and National Poets of America with Interesting Biographical Sketches", p.506