The Kelsay Porter Case, Union County, Oregon It was while the
county seat was located at Union that Union County had its first
and only legal execution of a condemned man. On Friday, 19
November 1897 at Union. Sheriff J. F. Phy officiated at the
hanging of Kelsay Porter. The crime for which Porter was hanged
was committed on 1 January 18966 in Pine Valley a recital
southeast of Union and now a part of Baker County. For some time
Porter a young homesteader had trouble with Ben Maches Sr. his
wife and Ben Mache Jr. This family had made a practice of taking
down Porter's fences and letting his stock run loose, and no
amount of remonstrance on his part could make them desist from
this practice. The Maches family endeavored to terrorize Porter
at every opportunity being generally an ugly-natured crew, and
threatened his life many limes. Finally goaded into desperation
Porter threatened retaliation if his gates were left open again
and when on the fatal New Year's day the Mathes family again
repeated the offense an