Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-05-17
MORTON DIES
Was Vice President
Under Harrison
End Comes Peacefully on 96th An
niversary Of Birth-Son Of Poor
Clergyman, Became Money Power
in Country-congressman, Minister
to France and Vice President

Clergyman, Became Money Power
in Country-Congressnan, Minister
to France and Vice President
/; Poughkeepsie, N. Y. May 16--Levi
p. Morton, former vice president Of
the United States under Benjamin
Harrison and former Governor Of
New York, died at his home, Eller-
side, Rhinebeck, at $50 o'clock to-
night on the Goth anniversary Of his
birth.
Mr.. Morton was taken ill with a
slight cold three or four days ago but
his condition did not become serious
until this morning, when bronchial
pneumonia developed. He lapsed in
to Inconsistencies soon after and the
end came peacefully at $50 o'clock.
With him at his bedside when he
died were his daughter, Mrs. Helen
Morton. who had made her home
with him at Ellerslie. his country es-
tate, since the death of Mrs. Morton
in August, 1918; his daughter and
son law, Mr.. and Mrs. William c.
Eustis, of Washington, D. c., and his
nephew, Morton Minot. Another
daughter, Miss Mary Morton, of Ger
mantown, Pa, will arrive tomorrow
morning, having been unable to
reach Rhinebeck tonight.
Mr.. Morton's 96th birthday was
formally celebrated yesterday when
the children of the Rhinebeck schools
held a field day at his country es-
tate. He had returned to Ellerslie
from Washington, where he made his
residence. on May and had been in
apparently good health until the MD
die of last week. Arrangements TOT
the funeral, which will be held at
Ellerside. have not been completed.
Interment will be in the family plot
in Rhinebeck.
Levi Parsons Morton was the I'D vice
President of the United States, the run
ming mate of Benjamin Harrison IN 1888.
At n years of age he rounded out MS
political life as governor of New YORK
state.
Although born the son of clergyman
in moor circumstances at Shoreham, VI,
in 1924, he forced his way to the front IN
the business and financial world until ne
became one of the money powers OF the
country. He had the blood of finan-
c;er in his yeins-descendant as he was
of George Morton of York, Eng. who
raised funds to send the Pilgrims to
America on the Mayfower.
Clerk in a country store at IA, proprie-
tor of his own little drygoods store at
q. he started his banking career at %
as a mariner of Junius S. Morgan. faith
or of the late j. Pierpont Morgan, ana
~ wears later founded his own house or
IL. P. Morton G. Co, which became the
fiscal agent of the government. Under
his guidance it conducted some OF the
largest negotiations in the history OF
American finance. Its London brancn
fioated the per cent. loan, with other
European bankers, which enabled the
United States government resume spe-
cie payment in 1871. saving $7O,0OO,000 in
interest. This payment had been sus-
pended during and after the Civil war
Morton's financial operations brought
him into political prominence. He en-
tered Congress in 1878 and established a
reputation in the fight over unlimited
free coingage of silver. He was urged
to accept nomination for Vice President
with President Garfield. but declined.
f1ls in l.
net as secretary of the navy, and refus-
ed again.
The offer to become minister to
Franco appealed to him. He accept
ed and remained during Garfield s
and Arthurs administrations. He
drove the first nail in the construc-
ton of the Statue of Liberty. and
publicly accepted it in 1864 in behalf
of the United States. He established
himself so firmly in the hearts OF the
French people that the square in
which his legation stood in Paris was
named place des Etats Unis."
When a New York man was de-
sired in 1883 to stand on the Republic
| can national ticket with Benjamin
| Harrison, Mr.. Norton was the choice
of the convention by large major
ity. AS presiding officer in the Sen
ate he gained the praise of both part
les for the vigor and the fairness of
his policy. Mr.. Morton concluded
his political career as governor of his
state, taking Office in 1895 and serv-
! ing two years. He signed the bill
which abolished the ward-trustee
system Of school government in New
York City, and the so-called Raines
Liquor law.
After leaving Office in his vigorous
old age he still was active in the
directorates Of many corporations.
| He was rated millionaire, many
| times over.
Mr.. Morton was twice married.
His wife was Lucy kimball. who died
in 1871. His second was Anna Liv-
ingston member Of an old Manhattan