Silas Wright Porter

Silas Wright Porter (January 1, 1857 – May 17, 1937) was a justice of the Kansas Supreme Court from July 1, 1905, to January 8, 1923.

Life and education He was born January 1, 1857, in Warren County, Illinois on a farm near Monmouth, Illinois the son of Judge John Porter and Mary Ellen (Robbert) Porter. Raised and educated in Monmouth he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Monmouth College in 1879. He also made a run for congress in 1902 but again was unsuccessful. Hoch reasoned that because Smith was from Wyandotte County, his successor should be appointed from the same county. Porter found out about his appointment to the court by reading about it in the morning paper on June 29, 1905.

In 1922, Porter lost in the primary for the republican ticket for another term on the supreme court to Richard Joseph Hopkins, the then current attorney general who achieved over 52% of the vote.

After his supreme court service he went on to be appointed the referee of bankruptcy in March 1923, and at the same time moved to Topeka, Kansas officially even though he has been residing there for many years.

Death He died May 17, 1937, in the Kansas state hospital after a long illness, and he was survived by his wife, four sons and a daughter.