Hon. Porter J. McCumber is one of the most distinguished and honored citizens of Wahpeton and is now serving as United States senator from North Dakota. He is a prominent lawyer and belongs to that class whose ability and character are making, a deep impression upon the public life of this rapidly developing community in which he resides. In this broad state, with its abundant room for individual enterprise, with its hearty appreciation of personal worth and its splendid opportunities for individual achievement, the man of ability finds the very largest sphere for usefulness and gratification for personal ambition. His abilities will be discovered; his integrity will find appreciation; his public spirit will meet with recognition, and he will be forced into prominence. Senator McCumber is an illustration of this fact.
He was born in Crete, Will County, Illinois, February 3, 1856, and spent his boyhood upon a farm near Rochester, Minnesota. After attending the district schools for some time, he entered the high school of that city, where he completed his literary education. He then taught school for a few years, and while thus employed took up the study of law. He graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan in 1890, and the following year opened an office at Wahpeton, North Dakota, where he has since successfully engaged in practice. In January, 1882, he formed a partnership with B. L. Bogart, and under the firm name of McCumber & Bogart they are still carrying on business.
On the 29th of May, 1899, at Wahpeton, Mr. McCumber was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Schorning, a native of Minnesota, and to then, have been born two children, Helen and Donald. Socially Mr. McCumber is a member of Wahpeton Lodge, No. 56, F. & A. M., and politically is a stanch Republican. While in the line of his profession he has won distinction and success, he has always been ready to respond to any call for public duty, for years working on political lines for the advancement of the interests of the city, state and country. In 1884 he was elected to the lower house of the territorial legislature, and after serving in that body for one term was elected to the upper house in 1886 for the same length of time. He also filled the office of state's attorney for Richland County for one term, and in the winter of 1899 was chosen United States senator for a term of six years. With the broad spirit of Americanism shaping his views and prompting his actions, he has won the respect of all classes and the confidence of the great public. Men with minds that are as alert and broad as his are never narrow; and men who, like him, view public questions, the social organization, politics and all the relations of life comprehensively and philosophically are magnificent supporters of the best interests of humanity.
Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota 1900 Page 166