The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-08-30

N OAl " ~ OVs hOOts
life, as dictated by him to New York re-
porter on Saturday:
al was born In Erie county, New York.
Ny fathers name was Wills III. Morton.
he was born IN Greenbush, New York, and
be was q civil engineer. Ny mother was
Eliza Jsne Silsbee, ana she was born In the
vicinity OF Greenbush. When was aboEt
seven years OF age our family removed 10
Chautsuqus county, and | lived there until
! was eighteen years OF age. In my four
teenth year / was sent 10 Heidelberg. Ger
many, TO the school OF civil and military
enRiueers. or. ia other words, the old gym.
nasium Of Heidelberg, where graduated,
after about four years OF extraordinary
bard study, as an engineer, military
and civil. After returning to this coun-
try / engaged with Colonel Hezekiah
G. Seymour. He was at one time
State Engineer OF New York, and
was then located at 4 place called
Drew's Gulf, on the western division OF the
Erie railroad, In the construction OF the
western division. After leaving that work,
and The road was opened. was employed
as sn assistant in the Typographical en-
queer corps OF The army. In the summer
OF 1854 I went to the Pacific coast and
served for time 10 the Typographical corps
under General Clarke, the commandant OF
the department at that time. After serving
there until 1S57--falI OF 1851 was selected
by Mr.. English, then chief OF the Bureau OF
Engineering for the English Government.
IN take charge Of the survey for the Inter-
oceanic railway
IA HONDURAS. CENTRAL AMERICA.
After completing that work returned TO
the States in 1859. Soon afterward l was
married. l engaged then in bridge-build-
ing.
"When the war broke out ] entered the
service as a private. | was one OF the
tbree.months' men. | served my time and
then reeoisted. Soon after our fight at
Wilson's cEeek was transferred from the
line to detached duty as an engineer OF mil
itsry railroads. When General Mcpherson
was appointed general superintendent OF
military railroads in the Valley OF the Mis-
sissippi-the Army Of the West-McPher-
son selected me as one OF the superntend-
ents. remained in that capacity until
alter the war elosed-iOur years and three
months.
AFTER THE WAR CLOSED
/ was in 1865, 1867, aud part OF 1868
disabled from any active occupation win
rheumatism. After | recoy-
cred enough to attend to business some
what | went into the bridge business in
Chiesgo. In the fire OF 1871 | was burned
out. In 1871 my wife died. Subsequent to
her death my little boy died, but five years
old. In the spring OF 1873 went TO Europe
and engaged again in the engineering de-
psrtment OF the Government OF Great
Britain as an engineer OF bridges and via
ducts. | remained there until the fall OF
1875. returned 10 the States. Soon after
ward | buried my eldest daughter. She
wss then thirteen years old. In the follow
ing April-the lst OF the MONTH went to
Chicago TO assist in the construction OF the
Chicago custom-house and pOst-ofiice, but
declined to take the position for the reason
that didn't like to associate myself with
the management that seemed to characterize
that work. | went there at the instance
and solicitation OF Senator Oliver p. Nor
ton, since deceased.
REMAINED IN CHICAGO UNTIL JULY.
In June, 1876, ny two remaining children
two little girls) were drowned while out
sailing. The 1st OF July, or about the 1st
OF July, was summoned 10 Washington
before the United States Senate, sitting as
q High Court Of Impeachment on the trial
Of General Belknap. After that trial closed
| returned TO Chicago, from thence to Da-
venport, Iowa, and on the 24th OF July
was married to my present wife; think II
was the 24th. IL was the anniversary OF
her birth, aud that is either the 29d or 24lh.
Pye forgotten which. A few days after our
we came East, and attended the
Exhibition at Philadelphia, and
then went to New Haven, where have re-
sided ever since.
q was connected while there with the
Of what was then known as
the Rochester, Oil City and Pittsburgh rail-
road. subsequently sold TO the company
which re0rganiZed il under the pane OF the
Rochester and State Line railroad. The
most OF the time after | was
EMPLOYED AS CONSULTING EkGTSEER
and as the expert. | received large COM
pensation for nv services, particularly as
An expert, from the Lake Shore and Michl-
gan Southern Company aud the Canada
Southern Railroad Company; from the
Lake Shore company in the Ashtabula DIS
aster investigation aud the subsequent trials
growing out OF it; in the Canada Southern
company in their suits in chancery IN To-
ronto, and In the United States District
Court, before Judge Wallace, at Syracuse.
was employed By number OF contractors
to make estimates for their work 10 the
mean time, sometimes in one part OF the
country and sometimes in another.
II have boarded
POUR YEARS OF THE LAST SIX YEARS
with Mrs. s. II. JilIson, with my family,
No. 9l Olive street, New Haven, Conn, aud
during the present year, so far, have
boarded with Mrs. Anne VI. Kennedy, No.
sl2 York street, New Haven. have been
confined 10 my room in her house, with the
exception OF a very few days in May, from
the 17th of January last up 10 the l0.h OF
June last, with rheumatism, partial paraly-
sis, and periclrditls.
"On the 9th Of June engaged to make
q profile Of a railroad survey in Kentucky.
/ was engaged on that work at the house OF
Mr.. T.. l.. Cook, in Troy, n. Y, with the
exception OF two or three days, until the
23d Of July. On that date we left Troy and
went 10
HUNTINGTON, IN WEST VIRGINIA,
reaching that place on the 25'b. The field
notes Of the survey were made with pen
ell. and so obliterated in portion OF the
work that il was necessary for me to go TO
that portion Of the line and make re-sur-
yey. which did. AT the time was arrest.
ed had a steamboat ticket, issued on the
steamer General Lytle, from Louisville TO
The ticket was dated August
%, and was about TO 20 thither.
"The question may come up in your
mind how | came TO be seemisgly identified
with this difisulty. Ny greatest surprise
is that am not accused OF the murder OF
poor Jennie Cramer, for ] don't suppose
there has been a crime committed within
4. 600 mile. OF New York but that there has
been vigorous effort made, either on the