The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-05-20
LEVI p. MORTON DIES
At AGE OF NINETN-SIN
Twenty Second Vice President of L. :.
Governor Of New York at n. A
Multi Millionaire. Born at Shore
h... Nf

Governor Of New York at "a. A
Multi Millionaire. Born at Shore
ham. VI.
Poughkeepsie. n. Y, May i6-Levi
r. Morton, former governor of New
York State and vice president Of the
United States under President Benja-
man Harrison. died at his home at
Ellerslie, Rhinebeek tonight at $3.50
O'Clock on the goth anniversary Of his
birth.
Mr.. Morton was taken III 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 into
Inconsistencies soon after and the end
came peacefully at $50 o'clock. With
him at his bedside when he died were
his daughter, Miss Helen Morton, who
had made her home with him at Eller-
slie, his country estate, since the death
Of Mrs. Morton in August, 1918; his
daughter and son-in-law, Mr.. and Mrs.
William c. Eustis, of Washington, ID.
C., and his nephew, Morton Minot.
Another daughter, Miss Mary Morton
of Germantown, Pa, will arrive to-
morrow morning, having been unable
TO reach Rhinebeck tonight. Mr.. Nor
tons Goth birthday was formally cele-
brated yesterday when the children Of
the Rhinebeck schools held field day.
He had returned TO Ellerslie from
Washington, where he made his resi-
dence on May Sth and had been in APP
parently good health until the middle
of last week. Arrangements for the
funeral which will be held at Ellerslie
have not been completed. Interment
will be in the family lot in Rhinebeck.
Levi Parsons Morton was the twen-
ty-secQnd vice president of the United
States, the running mate of Benjamin
Harrison in 1888. AT II years OF age
he rounded his political life as govern
or of New York State.
Although born the son Of a clergy
man in poor circumstances at Shore
ham, 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 a financier in his veins
descendant as he was Of George Nor
ton of York, Eng, who'raised funds to
send the Pilgrims to America on the
Mayfiower.
Clerk in a country store at Ia, pro-
pritor of his own little dry goods store
at 21, he started his banking career
Iat 2S as a partner of Junius 5. Nor
igan. father of the late j. Pierponi
Morgan, and ten years later founded
his own house Of l.. p. Morton & Co.
which became the fiscal agent OF the
government. Under his guidance, il
conducted some of the largest negoti-
ations in the history of American
finance. Its London branch fioated the
five per cent loan, with other Euro
pean bankers, which enabled the Unit
ed States government to resume specie
payment in 1871, saving $7Q,0O0,OO0 in
interest. This payment had been sus-
pended during and after the Civil
War.
Morton's financial operation
brought him into political prominence
He entered Congress in 1878 and es-
tablished a reputation in the fight over
unlimited free coinage of silver. He
was urged TO accept nomination foi
vice president with President Garfield
but declined. He was offered a port
folio in the cabinet as secretary OF the
navy, and refused again.
The offer TO become minister tc
France appealed to him. He accepted
and remained during Garfeld's anc
Arthur's administrations He secur'
ed the legal status of American cor
Iporations in France. He drove tho
first nail in the construction OF th'
Statue of Liberty, and publicly accept
ed it in 1884 in behalf of the Unitet
States. He established himself Sc
firmly in the hearts of the Frenef
people that the square on which HI!
Legation stood in Paris was named
place des Etats Unis."
When a New York man was desired
lin 1888 to stand on the Republican ma
tional ticket with Benjamin Harrison
Mr.. Morton was the choice Of the con
vention by a large majority A pre-
siding officer in the Senate he gained
the praise Of both parties for the vigol
and the fairness Of his policy. Mr.
Morton concluded his political careel
as governor Of his State, taking ofiic'
in 1895 and serving two years NJ
signed the bill which abolished tn
ward-trustee system Of school govern
ment in New York City, and the so
called Raines liquor law
After leaving Office in his yigorou
old age he still was active in IN
ldirectorates Of many corporations. n
was rated a millionaire, many time
over.
Mr. Morton was twice married. HI
first wife was Luck Kimball, who die
lin 1871. His second was Anna Liv
ingston. member Of an old Manhattan
family.
IMPORTANT TO FARM