The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-04-05
The New Secretary of Agriculture.

Adams, jefferson county, N. Y, April
%, 1882. His father, Julius Dewin
Morton, native of ST. Adams, VT,
was man of marked ability and sound
business judgment, and al the time of
his death was president of the Farmers
and Mechanics Bank of Detroit. His
mother was Ermeline Sterling, resi-
dent of Adams, n Y, at the time of
her marriage, September 30, 1880.
Removing with his parents to Michigan
at an early age, Mr.. Morton attended |
school at Monroe, subsequently at the |
state university at Ann Arbor, and |
finally at Union College, n. Y, from
which he received his diploma in 1854. |
Prior to this time he had shown strong
predictions toward journalism, being |
a frequent contributor to the Detroit
Free Press and to other journals. Oc-
tober 30, 1854, he was married to Caro-
line Joy French of Detroit, with whom
he had attended school from childhood
and to whom he had been engaged
from the age of sixteen. On the same
day, accompanied by his wife, he
started for Nebraska. Arriving at
DtllGNuO gully III ANONNuibOlf hO ~
NAMED there for three months and
then removed to Nebraska City, where
he received the sum of $50 a month for
editing the Nebraska City Ne,DS. This
position he held for some time, resign
ing in 1857, but continuing editorial
work at intervals until 1877.
In 1855 he was elected to the terri
toral legislature; was again candidate
in 1856, but was defeated by eighteen
votes in consequence Of his opposition
to chartering "wild.cat " banks. He
was reelected in 1857, and succeeded
Thomas B. Cunning as secretary of the
territory in the spring of 1853, and be-
came acting governor within few
months by the resignation of Governor
Richardson. In the fall of 1860 he was
nominated by the democrats as del
egate to congress. The result of the
election showed Morton fourteen votes
in the majority, and he was accordingly
certified as delegate, but his seat was
contested and he was finally unseated
The passage Of a resolution was Sc
cured, granting the defeated candidate
mileage and pay for the time he was in
Washington. Returning home, Mr..
Morton took no active part in politics
until the spring of 1866, when he re-
ceived the gubernatorial nomination,
contesting with David Butler the honor
of being the first governor of Nebraska.
In consequence of the irregularities in
Rock Bluffs precinct, Cass county, by
which about 100 votes were thrown out,
Butler was declared elected, thus CIV
ing the republicans a majority of seven
on Joint legislative ballot. Without
caucus being held, Morton received the
entire strength of his party for United
States senator.
Mr.. Morton has lived for thirty-eight
years upon his farm at Nebraska City,
giving it his personal attention. He is
a tree enthusiast and as the originator
of Arbor Day-a day now set apart by
proclamation in many states for plant
ing trees-his reputation is more than
national. In recent address Mr.. Nor
ton thus referred to the institution of
this observance: 81 have done little
but build home, make it attractive,
and rear my family to humble man
hood. / have instituted Arbor Day. 1t
came to my mind that in this great
treeless plain day that would owe its
celebration to future day instead of
some past forgotten event would be not
only benefit but blessing to human
ity. 1t was taken up by this state, and
went from state to state until now it is
celebrated in every civilized country on
the globe, and in many islands of the
seas, so that the posterity of our race
will rest under some spreading
trees and kindly mention my name"
Mr.. Morton has always manifested a
strong taste for horticulture and has
given much attention to it along with
his general farming operations. He
was one of the first to introduce inn
proved live stock into the territory
and has always been a breeder and
feeder of cattle and hogs. He early
secured Morgan stallion from Michi-
gan and later well-bred roadster
from Indiana, and great improvement
was wrought by the introduction of
these sires. In 1858 he brought some
Devons from New York with which to
raise oxen for the freighting trade on
the plains. Several years ago he es-
some cows of an importation of Garrett
son Brothers of indianapolis, and his
herd now numbers thirty head. He
| u5eu couple VI Well-preu Dulle iIoiu
Mr.. L. w. Harvey's Jersey herd at
burlington Ga part of which farm he
sold to Mr.. Harvey and the sire now
in service came from the herd of w.
z. Hickman, Lexington, Mo. He early
introduced the Suffolk hogs from the
herd of "Long John" Wentworth, and
for nearly forty years has marketed on
the average fifty to seventy.fve swine
year. He has also engaged consider
ably in steer feeding, especially on his
tenant farms, and recently the cereal
mills at his home, in which he is in
terested with his son, sent to the Chi
cago market 1000 head of sheep fat
tened on the by-products of the mills.
They now have number of grade An
gus steers in the feeding pens.
1t thus appears that Mr.. Morton has
been for years in close personal touch
with agriculture, horticulture, and live
stock husbandry. Elk Governor Furnas
and himself organized the first terrific
rial fair and furnished from their farms
the larger part of the live stock exhibit