Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1902-05-01

accompanied by MS su4l -dul Norton
vice president of the Santa Fe road
Mr.. Morton continued to grow worse
in the southern country, and six
weeks ago he returned to his old
Chicago, where it was believed he
would have better medical attention.
After he arrived here he improved
somewhat and it was thought he
would entirely recover. Last week he
suffered a stroke of apoplexy, from
which he never recovered. He suf-
fered second stroke yesterday, and
as he had become so weak from his
long sickness it proved fatal. His
three sons, Paul, Joy and Mark, were
at the bedside when the end came.
Sketch of His Career.
Washington, April 2S-Julius Ster-
ling Morton was in Washington for
four years as secretary of agriculture
in President Cleveland's second ad-
ministration. He was man of stead
fast convictions. answering honesty
and undoubted ability. BY nature a
controversialist, Mr.. Morton came to
the cabinet with many fixed ideas
about the government service. He
was practical farmer and ran his de-
partment along practicl lines, but
nevertheless not without many squab-
bles. He regarded the distribution of
seeds as paternalistic and on that sub
ject found himself in opposition to
congress.
The ex-secretary was the author of
Arbor day. April %. which began to
be observed generally during his in
cumbency as head of the department
of agriculture and is now generally
observed in all the states. His con-
slant motto was to plant trees" hav-
ing it 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 communications from farmers, and
it was no unusual occurrence for him
to call newspaper men into his Office to
read the answers he was writing to
farmers, often giving out parts of
them for publication. The ex-seere-
tary was exactly 70 years old, yester-
day being the anniversary of his birth.
He was of Scotch-English descent He
was born in Jefferson county, New
York, but his parents moved to Mich
igan when he was very young. He
yas a graduate of Union college, New
York. Mr.. Morton was connected ed
itorially for time with the Detroit
Free Press. and the Chicago Times,
and then located at Belleville, Neb..
in November, 1854, where in April
following he issued the first number
Of the Nebraska City News. He was
elected to the territorial legislature
the same year and reelected in 1857.
He was appointed secretary of the ter
ritory in 1858 to fill the vacancy caused
by the death of Thomas B. Cunning,
and served until May, 1861, part of the
time as acting governor. He was elect
ed to congress in 1860. but was un-
seated as the result of contest. He
was four times nominated by his party
as governor of Nebraska. but was de-
feated each time. He was a stalwart
gold man and had an early falling
out with William j. Byran. whose po-
litical aspirations he vigorously op-
posed. He was identified officially
with many agricultural and horticul-
tural organizations.
SOL SMITH RUSSELL DEAD.
Famous Actor Succumbs to Illness of
More Than Two Years.
Washington, April 29.-Sol Smith
Russell, the actor died here Yesterday
afternoon.
The funeral services will take place
Wednesday afternoon from the resi-
dence of Mr.. Berger brother-in-law
of Mr. Russell. to whose home the re-