Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-05-20
Ev| P. MORTON
DIES At AGE OF So
nd Vice President of U. S.
Governor of New York at II
"A Multi-Millionaire - Born
in Shoreham, Vt.

bughkeepsie, n. Y, May 16-Levi p.
fton, former governor of New YORK
te and ice-president of the United
! es under President Benjamin Harri-
died at his homo at Ellerslie. Rhlne-
|, tonight at $50 o'clock on the 96th
|iversary of his birth.
r. Morton was taken III with a sight
three or four days ago, but his con-
|bn did not become serious until this
| hing, when bronchial pneumonia de-
Sped He lapsed into unconsciousness
after and tho end came peacefully
80 O'Clock. With him at his bedside
! n he died were his daughter, Mrs.
on Morton, who had made her home
him at E,llerslie. his country es-
since the death of Mrs. Morton in
ust, 1918, his daughter and son-in-
Mr.. and Mrs. William G. Eustis, of
Ellington, n. c., and his nephew. Nor
Minot. Another daughter, Miss Mary
Ton of Germantown. Pa, will arrive
borrow morning. having been unable
zach Rhinebeck tonight. Mr.. Morton's
birthday was formally celebrated yes
ay when the children of the Rhine
schools held a field day He had re-
ed to E.ilersie from Washington.
re he made his residence, on May 3
had been in apparently good health
the middle of last week.
wi Parsons Morton was the twenty
Ind vice president Of the United states.
running mate of Benjamin Harrison
kss At Il years of age he rounded his
heal life as governor of New York
though born the son of clergyman
Door circumstances at Shoreham. VT,
k2i. he forced his way to the front in
business and financial world until he
line one of the money powers of the
htry. He had the blood of financier
his veins--descendant as he was of
rye Morton of York, Eng, who raised
Is to send the Pilgrims to America on
Mayflower.
Jerk in country store at A. proprietor
his own little dry goods store at u,
started his banking career at Is as
ner of Junius S. Morgan. father of
late ]. Pierpont Morgan, and ten
RS later founded his own house of
p. Morton & CO.. which became the
hi agent of the government. Under
guidance. it conducted some of the
est negotiations In the history OF
erican finance. Its London branch
ted the five per cent loan, with other
opean bankers, which enabled the
ted States government to resume
lie payment in 1871, saving S700OO.NOt
Interest This payment had been sus-
he'd during and after the Civil War.
prton's financial operations brought
into political prominence. He en-
ID Congress in 1878 and established a
itation in the fight over unlimited
coinage of silver He was urged
accept nomination for vice-president
President Garfield. but declined. He
offered a portfolio in the cabinet
secretary of the navy, and refused
in.
e offer to become minister to France
ealed to him. He accepted and re
ned during Garfeld's and Arthur!
Illustrations. He secured the lega
US of American corporations il
nee. He drove the first nail in tn,
Etruction of the Statue of Liberty
publicly accepted it in 1881 in behal
he United States. He established
self so firmly in the hearts OF thu
pch people that the square on whicl
Egation stood in Paris was namet
ice des Etats Unis,"
hen a New York man was desired il
to stand on the Republican nationa
et with Benjamin Harrison, Mr.. Nor
was the choice of the convention b.
rge majority. AS presiding office
he senate he gained the praise o
parties for Ia vigor and the fair
Of his policy. Mr.. Morton conclude'
political career as governor of hi
e, taking office in 1895 and serving
years. He signed the bill whicl
shed the ward-trTstee system O
oil government in New York city, an
so-called Raines liquor law.
ter leaving office in his vigorous oil
he still was active in the directorate
many corporations. He was rated
onaire, many times over.
;. Morton was twice married. Hi
wife was Lucy Kimball. who died /
His second was Anna Livingston
Der of an old Manhattan family.