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Indiana Authors and their books, 1816-1980.
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PORTER, GENE STRATTON (MRS. CHARLES DARWIN): 1868-1924.

Gene Stratton , popular novelist of the first quarter of the Twentieth century, whose books are still widely read, was born on a farm in Wabash County, Ind., in 1868. She was the youngest of twelve children of Mark and Mary Shellenbarger Stratton and developed an interest in nature during her early life on the farm.

In 1886 she married Charles Darwin Porter. The couple lived in a cabin adjoining the Limberlost swamp –later made famous by Mrs. Porter in her books–and she continued her studies of wild life. For two years she edited the camera department of RECREATION, for another two years was on the natural history staff of OUTING, and for four years served as a specialist in natural history photography on PHOTOGRAPHIC TIMES ANNUAL ALMANAC.

While criticism can be made of her literary skill and her sugary sentiment, no one can deny her thorough-going knowledge of nature and wild life, particularly of birds. She died in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1924.

Information from Who Was Who in America and Twentieth Century Authors.

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