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Father Martin Port was born June 8, 1832 and entered the Society of Jesus as a Secular Priest on September 27, 1858 at Gorheim.
In 1861 he was teaching Rhetoric at Feldkirch and in 1869 assumed the duties of a Parish Priest while at the same time reviewing his Theology for the final examination. In 1874 he was appointed Prefect of Studies at Feldkirch and in 1876 came to Buffalo to serve as Teacher at Saint Michael's church.
On August 8, 1877 he was appointed Vice-Rector of Canisius College and held this office for six years. For one year, 1883, he served as a missionary, working out of Toledo, Ohio and the following year went to Prairie du Chien where, over a period of nine years, he served as Prefect of Studies, Teacher of Rhetoric and missionary. In 1893 he was transferred to Cleveland as Missionary, the following year to Prairie du Chien in the same capacity and in 1898 became Prefect of Studies in Toledo. In 1899 he returned to Prairie du Chien as Spiritual Father.
Some interesting notes on his time as President of Canisius:
1877: 108 students.
Frame addition made to the Villa House.
1879: 176 students.
The first Philosophy classes in the college.
1880: Additional property bought to the North on Washington Street. 1881: Easter Monday, first Mass in the new college chapel.
Old Saint Michael's Church demolished and new unit to
the college is built.
Debating Society organized.
1882: 238 students in the school.
1883: January 11 Charter received from the Regents of the
University of the State of New York.
In 1908 Father Port served as Operarius at Mankato, MN. In 1909 he was sent to Cleveland, Ohio to St. Stanislaus and in 1910 he went to Prairie du Chien.
He died at Florissant October 9, 1914.