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

For several weeks Mr. Morton ha
been gradually failing, The nature o
his sickness had not been determine,
and a week ago he was brought from
his home at Nebraska City, Neb., I,
Lake Forest for medical attention. III,
change brought no improvement, anC
he declined gradually until death came
The arrangements for the funeral ar,
as yet incomplete, but ii has been dc.
termined that services will be held at
Lake Forest at o'clock Tuesday af-
ternoon, after which the remains win
| be removed TO Mr.. Mortons country
home at Arbor Lodge, near Nebraska
Clty, Neb., where services Will be held
on wednesday afternoon.
| Inc inlerment will be az Nebraska
| CITY a special train, bearing the re-
| mains OF Mr. Morton ana 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 severe cold while speaking at the
STOCK show In Chicago. The cold ran
INTO an attack of la grippe and Mr..
Morton was In hospital for some
Time. When he was able 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 Fe railway. Mr.
Morton continued to 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 Il was believed he would
nave better medical attention, After
ne 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 a second stroke
today, and he had become so weak
from his long sickness that 1t proved
latal His three sons, Paul Morton
Joy Morton and Mark Morton, were at
the bedside when the end came.
julius Sterling Morton was In Wash
ington for four years as secretary OF
agriculture in President Ceyeland's
second administration He was a man
of steadfast convictions, answering
honesty and undoubted ability.
10y nature q controyersaist, Mr..
Morton came TO the cabinet with many
fixed IDEAS about the government ser,
vice. tie was a practical farmer and
ran his department along practical
lines, but, nevertheless, not without
many squabbes 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 lnoum-
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 a
tree on his stationery. He was an
Inyeterate letter writer He found keen
enjoyment In answering the communi-
cations from farmers, and II was no
occurrence for him to call
newspaper men into his Office 20 read
he answers he was writing 20 farm
or publication,
The ex-secretary was 10 years old
oday, this having been the anniver-
AIRY of his birthday He was OF
English dscent He was born
n Jefferson county, New York, his
PARENTS moving to Michigan when he
vas very young, He was a graduate
II Union college, New York.
In ffI alf la |
or time with the Detroit Free Press
nd the Chicago Times and then 10.
ated at Belleyile, Neb., in November
S5i, where In the following April he
'sued the first number Of the Nebraska
lily News. He was elected to the
erritorial legislature the same year
nd reelected In 1851 He was APP
ointed secretary OF the territory In
sos, to I'LL the vacancy caused by the
eata Of Thomas b. Cumming and
arved until May 1861, part OF the time
S acting governor He was elected TO |
ongress In 1860, but was unseated as
he result Of a contest. He was four
rnOr OF Nebraska, but was defeated ,
lch time. He was a stalwart gold
IAN" and had an early falling out
1
teal aspirations he opposed vigorous.
=. He was Identified officially with
any agricultural and horticultural Of :
,es.
julius Sterling Morton was born in
dams, Jefferson county. New York
pril 20, 1892 His parents removed to 4.
ichigan In 1894, whore he attended u
iyate school at Monroe until IA years n
n j.. 10 IN |
Methodist seminary, and theer pre- II
red for college. In 1850 he entered p
lchigan university, where he re- n
aimed through most OF his course n
[ was graduated from Union college
1854, lie was married In October Of m
2 same year to Caroline JOY French 81
Detroit, Mich. and thereafter re- Il
wed TO Bellevue. Neb., where he re- HI
lined but a few months He then re- is
wed 10 Nebraska City, near which el
ice, at "Arbor Lodge" he has re- W
ed ever since and there, In 1851. his 81
fe died in 1858 President Buchanan OF
pointed him secretary OF the terri
y OF Nebraska, and he became. un- ri
: a provision Of law. the acting gov sa
Tor upon the resignation Of Gov. az
lllam A. Richardson. An uncompro- m
sing Democrat Mr. Morton has al m
VS. stood high In the ranks OF his m
-ty In that state -Four times. with. -
/ solicitation on his part, he was In
de unanimously the candidate OF his du
ny for the governorship OF Ne
ska, and twice In a similar manner ex
minated for Congress. In 1898 Pres
Mt Cleveland appointed Mr., Morton
rotary OF agriculture. the duties OF
ich office he discharged with intel !
snce and satisfaction Mr.. Morton ~
= the originator OF "Arbor day" and de
thousands OF trees thriving In the Gu
e woodless prairies Of the ives, are po
ng witnesses to the benthcence Of vi
, new anniversary.