Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-05-01
]. 5. MORTON DIES.
rhs Ex-Secrstary Of Agriculture
Suecumbs to q Long Sickness.
4 BRIEF SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
VAs Ex-sscretary Was the Author Of Ar.
Dor Day and His Motto Was to "Plant
Trees"-Four Times Defeated
for Governor.


Chicago, April 2S.-lIon. ]. Ster-
ling Morton, former secretary OF
agriculture, died at 4;30 o'clock yes
tsrday afternoon at Lake Forest, at
the home OF his son, Mark Morton,
For several weeks Mr.. Morton had
been gradually failing. The nature
Of his sickness had not been deter
mined and week ago he was
brought from his home at Nebraska
City, Neb., to Lake Forest for medi-
cal attention. The change brought
no improvement and he failed grad
ually until death came. The ar
rsngements for the funeral are as
yet incomplete, but 1t has been de-
lermined that services will be held
II Lake Forest at three o'clock to-
morrow afternoon, after which the
remains will be removed to Mr.. Nor
tons country home at Arbor Lodge,
near Nebraska City, Neb., where
services will be held on Wednesday
afternoon at two o'clock. The inter
ment will be at Nebraska City.
Death was due 70 cerebral throm-
bus. Mr.. Morton began ailing sew
oral months ago and in hopes that
change Of climate would restore
bis health he went to the City OF
Mexico, accompanied by his son,
Paul Morton, vice president Of the
Ganta Fe railroad. Mr.. Morton con-
tinued to grow worse in the south
ern country, however, and six weeks
ago he returned to his old home in
Nebraska. He then came to Chicago,
where it was believed he would have
better medical attention. After he
arrived here he improved somewhat
and it was believed for time that
he would entirely recover from his
ailment. Last week he suffered
stroke Of apoplexy, from which he
never recovered. He suffered sec
end stroke yesterday, and Us he had
Seoome 80 weak from his long sick
sess it proved fatal.
Julius Sterling Morton was in
Washington for four years as secre-
tary Of agriculture in President
Ceveland's second administration.
he was man Of steadfast convic-
items, answering honesty and I'M
asubted ability. By nature a contro-
vwsialist Mr.. Morton came to the
ssbinet with many fixed ideas about
lAe government service. He was
vractical farmer and ran his depart
aent along practical lines, but never
.1Aeless not without many squabbles.
Ne regarded the distribution OF
seeds as paternalistic and on that
subject found himself In opposition
10 congress.
The ex-secretary was the author
Of Arbor day, April %, which began
10 be observed generally during his
incumbency as head Of the depart
ment Of agriculture and Is now gen
orally observed in all states. His
constant motto was to plant trees"
having 1t stamped in large letters
under a picture Of tree on his sta
tionery. He was an inveterate let
ter writer. He found keen enjoy
nent in answering the communities
lions from farmers and 1t was no un-
usual occurrence for him to call
newspaper men into his Office to read
the answers he was writing to farm
ers, often giving out portions OF
them for publication.
The ex-secretary was exactly 70
years old yesterday. He was OF
bcotch-English descent. He was born
n jefferson county, N. y, but his
parents moved to Michigan when he
was very young. He was q graduate
81 Union college, New York. Mr.,
Morton was connected editorially for