The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-04-29
AUTHOR OF ARsoR DAY PASSES
FROM EARTH.
PIONEER OF GREAT WEST
illness Of Several Months Duration
Ended in Fatal Stroke Of
ApopIexy.

SteFuHS morton, fOrl1nr secretary Of
agriculture, died ut 40 this after.
noon at Lake Forest, at the home Of
his son, Mark Mo.ion. For several
weeks Mr.. Morton has pean gradually
failing. The nature of his sickness
had not been deternllbnd and a week
ago he was brought from his home
at Nebraska City, to Lake Forest. He
showed no Improvement, however,
and failed gradually until death came.
The illness of ex-Secretary Morton
dates from last November, when he
contracted severe cold while speak
ing 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 relapse. At
ter partial recovery he left, early
in March, for the City Of Mexico, ac-
companied by his son. Paul Morton.
vice president of the Santa Fe rail-
way. Mr.. Morton continued to grow
worse in the southern country, 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 ii
was believed for time that he would
entirely recover from his. ailment.
Last week he suffered stroke OF apo
plexy, from which he never recovered.
He suffered a severe stroke today,
and he had become so weak from his
long illness it proved fatal.
His three sons, Paul Morton, Joy
Morton and Mark Morton, were at
the bedside when the end came.
The ex-secretary was the author Of
"Arbor day which began
to be observed generally during his
incumbency as head OF The depart
ment Of agriculture, and which is now
generally observed in all the states.
His constant motto was plant
trees" and these words he had stamp
ed in large letters under picture Of
a tree on his stationery. He was an
inveterate letter writer. He found
enjoyment in answering the communi-
cations 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 the
farmers. often giving out portions Of
them for publication.
The ex-secretary was 70 years old
today, this having been the ami.
versary of his birthday. He was Of
English descent. 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 for q
time with the Detroit Free Press and
the Chicago Times, and then located
at Bellevue, Neb, in November, in
1854, where In the following April
he issued the first number OF the Ne
braska City News. He was elected
to the territorial legislature the same
year and reelected in 1857. He was
appointed secretary of the territory
in 1858 to fill the vacancy caused by
the death OF Thomas B. Cunning, and
served until May. 1861. He was elect
ed to congress in 1860, but was un-
seated as the result OF contest. He
was four times nominated by his par
ty as governor Of Nebraska, but was
defeated each time. He was q stal-
wart "gold man" and had an early
falling out with Honorable William
Jennings Bryan, whose political as
pirations he opposed vigorously He
was identified officially with many
agricultural and horticultural socie-
ties