Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1920-05-17
OBITUARY.
Former vice President Levi P. Mortor

Former Vice President Levi P. Morton.
Poughkeepsie. n. Y, May 16-Levi p
Morton, former governor of New York
state and vice president of the United
States under President Benjamin Harri-
son died at his home at Ellerslie, Rhine
beck, at $50 o'clock tonight, on the seth
anniversary of his birth.
| Mr.. Morton was taken i'll with slight
cold three or four days ago but his con-
dtion did not become serious until this
morning, when bronchial pneumonia de-
veloped. He lapsed into unconsciousness
| soon after and the end came peacefully
at $50 o'clock With him at his bed
side when he died We're his daughter
Mrs. Helen Morton, who had made her
! home with him at Ellerslie, his country
estate, since the death of Mrs. Morton
! in August. 1913 his daughter and SON
| in-law, Mr.. and Mrs William c. Eus-
| tbs, of Washington. D. c., and his ne
phew Morton Minot.
/ Another daughter Miss Mary Morton
of Germantown Pa, will arrive tomor-
| row morning, having been unable to
reach Rhinebeck tonight. Mr.. Morton's
| 96th birthday was formally celebrated
| yesterday when the vhildren of the
Rhinebeck schools held a field day at
his country estate. He had returned to
Ellerslie from Washington, where he
made his residence on May and had
| been in apparently good health until
| the middle of last week. Arrangements
| for the funeral, which will be held at
Ellersle, have not been completed. Inter
ment will be in the family plot in
/ Rhinebeck.
| Levi Parsons Morton was the twenty
second vice president of the United
| tha oF
Harrison in 1888. At II years of age he
rounded out his political life as governor
| of New York state
| Although born the son of clergyman
in poor circumstances at Shoreham, VT
| in 1924, he forced his way to the front
in the business and financial world until
he became one Of the money powers of
the country. He had the blood of f.
nancier in his veins-descendant as he
was of George Morton of York Eng.
who raised funds to send the Pilgrims
to America on the Mayflower.
Clerk in country store at IA, pro.
pretor of his own little drygoods store
at 81, he started his banking career a
| 2S as a partner of Junius S. Morgan, ia.
ther of the late j. Pierpont Morgan, anc
ten years later founded his own house
of L. P. Morton & Co, which became the
fiscal agent of the government Under
his guidance, 1t conducted some of the
largest negotiations in the history O
American finance. Its London brancl
; 1oated the 5 per cent. loan, with othe1
European bankers, which enabled tn,
United States government to resume spe
| Gle payment in 1871, saving $4,000 00l
! in interest. This payment had been sus
pended during and after the Civil war
When a New York man was desired il
1888 to stand on the republican nationa
ticket with Benjamin Harrison, Mr. Nor
ton was the choice of the convention b,
large majority. AS presiding officer il
: the senate he gained the praise of bot
l parties for the vigor and the fairness
of his policy. Mr.. Morton concluded hi
political career as governor of his state
taking office in 1895 and serving tw,
years. He signed the bill which abol
ished the ward trustee system of schoo
government in New York city, and tn
+ so-called Raines liquor law
After leaving office in his vigorou
old age he still was active in the direc
r torates of many corporations He wa
r rated as millionaire, many times over.
' Mr. Morton was twice married. Hi
( first wife was Lucy KimbalI, who die
Y in 1871. His second was Anna I.iveine
: ston member Of an old Manhattan fam
fly.