The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-03-04
OBITUARY.

Dr.. Benjamin A. Morton, died At
bic regedsace in Maryville 1t 10 q.
%, February 9th, 1891. He was
one ofour noblest men, and will be
missed. He was born in
this county December II, 1880, and
he early days were spent on the
farm. His parents were pt,or, but
lndustrious and worthy citizens,
raising nine sons and ak daughters
fifteen children In oil. The some
were al born hrst, and the deceas.
ed was sixth In ago. He was .
cripple, and from this reason was
kept In the house great portion Of
hts time, doing house work. He 1t.
tended the common schools, and
passed through the studies required
10 those days; then, in his twenty.
hrst year, he was sent to Maryville
College, where he took partial col.
legixts course.
He was tho poor to afford candles,
snd hauled pine, by the light Of
which 10 studied his lessons. Dur
Ing The time, his food was mostly
corn bread and swsetened water,
with an occasional Interchange for
mash by way Of variety. Between
sessions Of college he taught school,
and by this rigid economy and close
Study 10 advanced rapidly, and soon
began the study Of medicine. He
tnAk his course IN what IL now the
medical department in the Univer.
sity Of Tennessee, At Nashville; and
began practice at CANDLES Store,
10 this county. He applied himself
closely and studicusly, and very
soon commanded an Immense coun.
try practice. He married Miss
NJ 'rtha McCamy, made his home in
the same nesghborhooa where he
began his professional work, and
had accumulated until he was In
easy circumstances when the war
broke out. He was intensely loyal
and was forced to leave the state.
The war left him with but little
save his home. He again resumed
the practice of his profession 1T the
old stand, and was getting comfort.
ably situated. when the waters II
Little River arose during The fl,Nd
Of 1868, and carried off his office Will,
his library, implements, medicines,
ETC., and also got into his residence
and washed away most Of his house.
hold goods. This left him again in
straitened circumstances, but with
that courage peculiar to himself
when the waters subsidized he again
started almost anew; and it wa.
with few complaints that hr persist
cd In plying his vocation. S"me
months after this he renewed Il
| Maxyville, and BY industry and abii
ity in his calling, secured comfort
able home and was doing well finan'
cially when FIRE broke out in his
house and burned with such rapid
ty that the greater part Of his house
ihold goods as well as his medical
outfit was reduced tn ashes, while
he himself barely escaped with. hi,
life. being seriously injured by tht
inhalation of smoke and hot air
All these sad reverses did not con
quer his indomitable will, but HI
persevered through it and agar
arose above the waste. His trou
bles were still not ended. Som,
years sgo a young carpenter was q
work en n barn, and falling. broke
his leg between, the knee and. ankle
the broken bone in some way pene
t ating the flesh,. severing and mu
tilating the nerves and parts sur
rounding until vitality WAS lost b.
low the wound The deceased wa
called in, and with that caution Il
which he vas accustomed, he at
tempted to save the limb. 1t wa
no use-the vitality WAS gone-an'
the only means Of saving life wa
amputation- Recovering from hi
surgical operation, the patient r.
warded his faithful surgeon b.
bringing suit for malpractice, tn
prosecution of which was follows
up with great ernestness and vigO
The worry and anxiety of the GOO
physician through this litigatio
was narrowing, and appeared as
1t would shorten his days. The ca
came and the decision was ia fave
of the doctor. Some time after thi
was Ovef the family of this sam
carpenter took sick, and being |
poverty were reduced almost I
starvation. In the goodness of hi
heat and with true Christian cha
! ily, the doctor took of his subsi anc