John C. Porterfield (1828-1894), the son of an iron furnace owner, began his career clerking in "The Iron Store," a merchandise and trade center established by the Kittanning Iron Works. Later, with John McCombs, he purchased the store. In the 1870s, his ornate mansion was constructed from local brick, and its third floor featured a full ballroom that was often the scene of gala social events. The building burned in 1986.