Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-17
LEVI P. MORTON DIES
ON HIS 18TH BIRTHDAY

is2i al Shoreham. W., and was the
son Of a Sew Hampshire clergyman
who brought ny large family on
$500 a, y ear o, Inc Morton family is
England. dating its ancestry back to
George Morton. ono OF the pilgrims
who came 20 New England IN 1923.
Before he was 20 years of age. Mr..
living. First he secured n position
as clerk in dry goods shop IN Han
over, y. H. AT the end OF Ave years
he had saved enough money. though
tho sum was small. 10 secure AN in
tcrcst in Il dry goods firm in Bos-
ton. and il lS4s the house of Beebe.
Morton X Co. was established. and
met with encouraging success.
Mr.. Morton in 1854 moved to New
York city and established the dry
goods house of Morton e Grinnell.
which failed, paying 80 cents on the
dollar. Few years later the cred
itors received an invitation from MIR.
Morton 10 dine with him. When they
sat down AZ dinner each man found
beneath his nlatc check signed by
MIR Merton for an amount that paid
has Claim In full, with interest.
In 1868 Nj. Morton opened the
banking house, which afterward be-
as tho firm OF Morton. Hiss & Co.
and ave years later he founded the
London house OF Morton. Rose * Co..
his leading partner being Sir John
I II.
These two banking houses were
largely instrumental in making re-
sumption OF specie payment in the
I tinted states possible and in en-
ahlinG the government TO fund the
/ United states debt.
Elected 10 ConErcss.
MI. Ncrtons entrance into politics
! in 1876 was at tho personal request
I Of General Chester y. Arthur. when
he ran for Congress against Ben
! Willis. MIR Willis WAS reelected by
! a majority reduced from 1000 10 n
/ n ISIS the Democrats renom.natea
I Mr. Win:s. The Republicans prompt
/ ~ named Mr. Morton. who was elected
by majority that exceeded MT.
I Wits total vote. Mr.. Mor,on's con-
grJssiona! career In Washington was
. AZ oIon ana clean page.
i!ut despite his laDor!ous duties in
CONGRESS. he did not turn II deaf enr
70 III. cry OF famine that rang out
put ~ the disposal OF the charitable.
as means OF conveying food 10 the
starving Irish, the fr:sate Cons:el-
laton. iir. Morton offered TO supply
Gus Offer, which was made AZ an
expense OF many thousands Of dol
lars. fred the hearts OF the com
iuuni,y, and IN IL single day the en-
ire cargo Of the Constellation was
years later that Mr.. Morton became
known as the chief bcHcfactor.
Ia 1850 Mr.. Morton Was rc-clect cd
by large majority, ana later
president Garfield named him minis
ter 10 France.
Elected Nicc-President.
Nh Morton was ahlc 10 secure
from the French Cabinet rcScind-
ing OF the prOhihiiory edIct agains,
the american hog. but the Chamber
u: Deputies insisted upon the re.
tcntson Of the law. Mr.. Morton ham.
mered the first nail in the construc
ZION Of the Statue of Liberty crcctos
in New York harbor, and DELIVERED
Il speech on June 10. 1854. accepting
IN" statue in behalf OF the America!
government He was present A
the unvcn!ng OF the statue OF La
fayette at lie Pul. the birthplace o
tho French patriot
In 1855 Mr.. Morton accepted III,
nomination for the vice presidency
again offered him by the RcpubIicar
party, ana was duly elected in No
v.mDer OF that year and served unit
m" expiration OF his term, March 4
1879 He then returned to New YorJ
ana continued TO give his attcntio,
To ms vast banking and business in
,'rcSlS' During the past few year
h" had gradually rciinGuishcd HIS nc
i've hus!ness connections though ~
continued 20 interest himself in eyer,
iHoEeM"nt that related to tho MINI
welfare TIE greater part Of nj
liihc ne spent with his family M hi
nlhEninccnt SHOW place O. l. coo nero
AZ fh!ncc!Ir- on Hudson.
.