Born free in 1828 in Charleston, SC, to Martha Porter, James Ward Porter established a secret school for Black education before the Civil War. He came to Savannah in 1856 as a music director for an A.M.E church and established a music school where he gave lessons to both black and white students while also working as a tailor. Porter also kept a secret school for educating Black pupils, many of whom did their studies in the privacy of their homes. In 1865 Porter opened a school and published English Language for Beginners. He also preached at the Savannah Protestant Episcopal Church. James Ward Porter was elected a state representative in Georgia, representing Chatham County along with fellow Black assemblyman James M. Sims. Porter was the owner of a tailor’s shop in Savannah and was the wealthiest Black political leader in the state. He married Elizabeth. In the 1870 census, he is listed as owning $3,000 in real estate and $400 in personal property and living in Savannah with 4 children: John A. (15), Laura F. (13), James R.(11), Elizabeth M.(7.) In the 1870s Porter led a campaign against the segregation of Savannah streetcars and worked as an inspector of customers in Savannah. He was the first Black principal in Thomasville, GA, and a school principal in Yazoo, Mississippi.