Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-21
THE Goth MILESTONE.
Birthday Anniversary, Tomorrow, OF
Peieg D. Morton.

One of the very few among our old
err citizens who have reached the ripe
old age of 80 years, is Peleg Decrow
Morton, who lives at the foot of Win
throp hill, and who will celebrate his
Goth birthday, Sunday. Aside from the
inf3rmites which come with age. Mr..
Morton is perfectly well, and is as
bright and active as ever. and is busy
about something ali the time.
Naturally from his long life in the
city, he has witnessed many changes,
and is always ready for a chat about
the doing of other days. He is an in
telligent man. and has Il good memory,
and it is an hour well spent to hear
him recount the story of his life.
Mr. Morton was born in Bristol,
which was then a part of Massachu-
sets, Feb. %. 1913. When he was 10
months old his parents moved to
Windsor. The travelling facilities
were not what they are now, and young
Morton made the journey in his
mothers arms. on horseback, over tote
road. His father was q carpenter and
the house which he built was the first
farm house, and had the first plastered
room of any in the neighborhood.
Clothes in those days were all made
of houlespln and the cobblerS used to
go round to the houses. making shoes.
The material used were generally Sc
cured from old boot legs. Mr.. Morton
never had Il pair of shoes until he was
- years of age.
When nine years of age he went to
school, the sessions being held in
room set apart in the different houses
in the ncighborhood, and owing 70 the
scarcity OF text books. two scholars al
ways studied the same book. All the
families were large in those days, and
poor, and Mr.. Morton was the last of Is
children.
With his schooling came n great
deal of work on the farm, included in
which was some instruction in the car
penter's trade. and when IA years of
age he helped to build the old Spauld-
ing barn, which is still standing on
the Togus road, and n house in Vas
sslboro. Everything was done by
hand from the rough lumber-even the
doors s;shes. etc.
At the age of % he was married to
Mary Hilton Pratt of Windsor, and
continued to live in that town as a
farmer and carpenter until 1861, when
he moved to Augusta. and lived in a log
son neighborhood, but long after this
he returned to Windsor, but in 1862 he
came back to Augusta, where he has
since lived.
on coming to Augusta the second
time he moved into the Sprague block.
now occupied by Daniel Moore, as Il
store. From there he moved down
town and opened a restaurant in
;nl, ctA al hn CT a
occupied by Viewers restaurant He
then built Il house on Sand hill, on IL
lane running off of Washington street.
and while at work on this house, had
the misfortune to have the little finger
of one hand pulled completely out.
an accident by which the hand was
crippled beyond recovery. 1872 Mr..
Morton bought the lot and built the
house in which he now lives
Three children were born to Mr.. and
Mrs. Morton. Wendell W., Redington p.
and Clara Ann, all of whom have
passed away His wife died in 1897.
He now makes his home with Mrs.
Redifgtcn Morton and children.
Mr.. Morton is an unusually smart
gentleman for one of his years. During
the summer he visits the cemetery
every day, where he takes entire care
of the family lot, and does many odd
Jobs of carpenter work about the house.
He cannot see TO drive a nail very well.
but by deuending on the sense of feel
ing ear hit ii on the head every time.
In politics he has always been a
Staunch Democrat. He has voted for
q Presidents, the first being Andrew
Jackson. He is an Episcopalian, and
became member of st. Marks church
Il few years age.