William Sidney Porter, this short stories writer is much better known under his pen name "O. Henry." He was born September 11, 1862 in North Carolina. He spent his whole childhood in North Carolina. He went to school taught by his aunt Linda where he fell in love with books. At age 20 he moved to Texas and lived with Richard M. Hall.  In 1884, Porter moved to Austin. For the next three years, where he lived in the home of the Joseph Harrell family and had a lot of jobs. 1884, Porter moved to Austin. For the next three years, where he roomed in the home of the Joseph Harrell family and held several a lot jobs. In 1897 his wife died. In 1898 he was sent to jail for five years for banking charges. From this struggle in Porter's life, he began a incredible comeback.   He moved New York City, where over the next ten years before his death in 1910. He published over 300 stories. Porter died on June 5, 1910 in New York City at age forty seven.

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