Edward Porter, Jr. was born in Great Bend, Kansas in 1893. His wife was Myrtle Porter and parents Edward Rupart Porter Sr., and Ada B. Meyers. Private Porter spent one year at Normal School at the age of 21. His occupation was a laborer for a railroad company on his father’s farm. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at Jefferson Barracks, in Missouri on April 12, 1917. Army records noted that he was “uniformly good character, industrious, and temperate.” Private Porter testified that he did not take any action during the Rebellion.

Private Porter was initially sentenced to hang but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment then reduced to 18 years. Private Edwards was granted parole in 1924.