Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-05-03
j. s. MORTON Is DEAD.
FORMER SECRETARY OF AGRI-
CULTURE PASSES AWAY.
Death Occurs at Home of His Son at
Lake Forest, IH.-Deceased Was an
AGriculturist of National Repute-
Originator of Arbor Day,

j. Sterling Morton, Secretary of Agri-
culture under the last Cleveland admin
istratlon, died Sunday afternoon at the
residence of his son, Mark Morton, at
Lake Forest, Ill. His three sons, Mark,
Paul and Joy Morton, with their fanli-
lies, were at the bedside of their father
when the end came. His physicians We're
in almost constant attendance on their
patient during the last few days. al
though they and the family were fully
aware that there was no hope of his
recovery.
Secretary Morton's illness dates from
last November, when he contracted q Sc
we're cold while speaking at the stock
show in Chicago. The cold ran into an
attack of grip, and Mr. Morton was in
a hospital for several weeks. When he
was able to travel he returned to his
home at Nebraska City, where he suf-
fered a relapse
Takes Trip to Mexico.
After a partial recovery he went to the
City of Mexico. expecting that his health
would be restored During his stay in
the South he was attacked with disease
of the bronchial arteries, and he return
ed to his home at once. He suffered Sc
verely on the return journey and reached
his home with his health very much i'm
paired. Three weeks ago Mr.. Morton
went to Chicago for the purpose of con-
sulting a specialist. A week ago, while
at the home Of his son at Lake Forest,
he was stricken with apoplexy. He raj
lied little after this attack and gradu-
ally sank until the end.
Since the death of his youngest son,
Carl, year ago last January Mr.. Nor
ton had been a changed man, and his in
innate friends say the grief he then ex-
perienced indirectly FASTENED his death.
His Political Career.
julius Sterling Morton had been one
of the foremost Democrats of the nation
for nearly half a century. His first Off
cial position was given him by Presi-
dent Buchanan in 1857, that of secretary
of the territory of Nebraska. His last
office was that of Secretary of Agricul-
ture in the last administration of Presi-
dent Cleveland, from 1898 to 1897. All
his life he had been a farmer and had
been a leader in the upbuilding Of every
line of agriculture. 1t was he who orig
mated 'Arbor day." which has become
an annual festival throughout the west
ern prairie States. If Mr.. Morton had
the choice he would rather be remem-
bered in connection with that anniversary
than for anything else he ever accom-
plished. Even on his book mark was the
motto plant trees"
Mr. Morton's public life practically
ended with his retirement from the cab
met with President Cleveland. In the
Bryan campaign that Immediately fol
lowed that administration Mr.. Morton
forsook the Democrats and declared him
self for the gold standard casting his
strength for the Republican candidate.
His Career Sketched.
Mr.. Morton was born in Adams, Jeffer-
son County, n. Y, April %, 1882. When
he was but 2 years of age his parents
removed to Michigan, where the boy at
tended the primary schools. At the pro-
per age he returned to New York and
attended Union College, where he grad
uated in 1854. The same year he was
married and emigrated to the then far
away territory Of Nebraska. He pre-
empted a half section of government
land at Nebraska City, and for more
than forty years he had lived on the
in its management.
1t was in 1858 that President Blu
chanan appointed Mr.. Morton secretary
of the territory, and, the Governor, dy-
ing during the term, he became acting
Governor
Does Newspaper Work.
During his college days Mr.. Morton
became contributor to the Detroit Free
Press. and later he wrote for the Chi
cago Times in the days when that paper
occupied its most prominent position un-
der Mr.. Story. The newspaper expert
ence he acquired at that time served him
we'll in after years, and he has been con-
nected with some publication nearly all
his life. Shortly after he went West he
started the Nebraska City News, and
was its first editor For many years he
had been proprietor aud usually editor Of
the Conservative, weekly publication
in Nebraska City that has had large
following among the farmers.
Although little known in the East, up
to the time that Cleveland appointed him
to the new Department Of Agriculture,
he at once took front rank among the
agriculturists of the country, and be-
came the exponent of many reforms in
farming that have served to revolution
ize the industry.
Mr.. Morton was supposed to be in
comfortable if not afIluent circumstances.
His farm in Nebraska is one Of the larg-
est and without doubt the most highly
cultivated in the State indeed in the
whole West. He is also said to own
conSidarable property in WASHINGTON