Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-04-28
Was Secretary Of Agriculture I'm
der Mr. Cleveland.
THE AUTHOR OF ARB0R DAY
His Illness Dated from Last Novem-
Der, bat Its Nature Not Determined
Sketch OF His Career.

fOf seNeidl Weeks MT, MORTON ndu
been gradually failing, The nature OF
his sickness had not been determined
and a week ago he was brought from
his home at Nebraska City, Neb,, to
Lake Forest for medical attention. The
change brought no Improvement, and
he declined gradually until death came,
The arrangements for the funeral are
as yet incomplete but II has been de-
tormined that services viii be held at
Lake Forest at o'clock Tuesday az
ternOon, after which the remains viii
be removed 70 MI Morton's country
home AT Arbor Lodge. near Nebraska
City, Neb,, where services will be held
on Wednesday afternoon
The interment viii be at Nebraska
City. A special train, bearing the re-
mains Of Mr.. Morton and members of
his family and friends, viii leave Lake
Forest Tuesday afternoon for Nebraska
city. Death was due to cerebral
thrombus
The illness OF Secy. Morton dates
from last November, when he contract
ed a severe cold while speaking at the
stock show In Chicago. The cold ran
into an attack OF la grippe and Mr.,
Morton was In a hospital Tor some
time. When ne was aDle to do So he
returned to his home IN this city.
where he suffered a relapse. After a
partial recovery he left early In March
for the City OF Mexico, accompanied
by his son. Paul Morton, vice presi-
dent of the Santa Ne railway Mr.
Morton continued 20 grow worse in the
southern country however and six
weeks ago he returned to his old home
In Nebraska He then came to Chi
cago, where II was believed he would
have better medical attention. After
he arrived here he improved somewhat
and II was believed for a time that h,
would entirely recover from his all
ment. Last week he suffered a stroke
OF apopleXy, from which he never re-
covered He suffered second stroke
today and he had become 50 weak
from his long sickness that II proved
fatal. His three sons, Paul Morton
JOY Morton and Mark Morton, were at
the bedside when the end came
julius Sterling Morton YVES In Wash
ington for four years as secretary OF
agriculture In President Cleveland's
second administration, He was man
Of steadfast convictions, answering
honesty and undoubted ability.
by nature a controyersallst, Mr.
Morton came 10 the cabinet with many
fixed ideas about the government SER
vice. He was a practical farmer and
ran his department along practical
lines, but. nevertheless, not without
many squabhles. He regarded the dis
tribution Of seeds as paternalistic and
on that subject found himself IN oppo-
sition TO Congress,
The ex-secretary was the author Of
Arbor day April %, which began to be
observed generally during his incum-
bency as head Of the department of
agriculture, and which Is now general
ly observed IN all the states,
His constant motto was PLANT
trees" and these words he had stamped
in large letters under a picture Of
tree on his stationery He was an
inveterate letter writer. He found keen
enjoyment In answering the communi-
cations from farmers, and II was no
unusual occurrence for him to call
newspaper men into his Office to read
the answers he was writing 10 farm
ers, often giving out portions Of them
for publication.
The ex-secretary was 10 years old
today, this having been the anniver-
sary Of his birthday He was Of
Scotch English dscent He was born
In Jefferson county New York, his
parents moving TO Michigan when he
was very young He was a graduate
OF Union college, New York.
Mr. Morton was connected edltorlally
for q time with the Detroit Free Press
and the Chicago Times aud then To-
Gated at Belleylle, Neb., In November,
1854, where In the following April he
Issued the first number Of the Nebraska
City News. He was elected TO the
territorial legislature the same year
and reelected in 1851. He was APP
pointed secretary OF the territory ir
1858, TO fill the vacancy caused by the
death OF Thomas B. Cumming and
served until May 1861, part Of the time
as acting governor He was elected 10
Congress In 1860, but was unseated as
the result Of contest He was four
times nominated by his party as gov
ernor OF Nebraska. but was defeated
each time. He was a stalwart gold
man" and had an early falling out
with Hon. william ]. Bryan, whose po-
litical aspirations he opposed vigorous
ly. He was identified officially with
many agricultural and horticultural Of
fees.
julius Sterling Morton was born In
Adams, jefferson county, New York,
April %, 1892 His parents removed TO
Michigan In 1894, where he attended a
private school at Monroe until Il years
OF age He was then sent 10 Albion, 10
Methodist seminary and theer pre-
pared for college. In 1850 he entered
Michigan university, where he re-
mained through most Of his course
but was graduated from Union college
in 1854. He was married In October Of
the same year to Caroline JOY French
OF Detroit, Mich, and thereafter re-
moved 20 Bellevue, Neb., where he re-
NAMED but few months. He then re-
moved to Nebraska city. near which
place. al "Arbor Lodge" he has re-
sided ever since. and there, In 1881, his
wife died. In 1858 President Buchanan
appointed him secretary OF the terri
tory OF Nebraska. and he became. un-
der provision Of law, the acting gov
ernor upon the resignation OF Gov.
William A. Richardson. An uncompTO-
missing Democrat, MIR Morton has al
ways stood high IN the ranks OF his
party In that state -Four times. with
out solicitation on his part, he was
made unanimously the candidate OF his
party for the governorship OF Ne
braska, and twice In a similar manner
nominated for Congress. In 1898 Pres
ldent Cleveland appointed Mr.. Morton
secretary OF agriculture, the duties OF
which office he discharged with intel
llgcnce and satisfaction Mr.. Morton
was the originator OF "Arbor day" and
the thousands OF trees thriving IN the
once woodless prairiss OF the west are
living witnesses 70 the benthcence Of
This new anniversary.