Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-05-17
Noted Financier and Pol
itician, Once Governor
of New York, Dies on
His Goth Birthday
Started as Clerk in Little
Country Store and End
ed in Multimillionaire
Class.

Poughkeepsie, N. Y, May
16.-Levi P. Morton, former
vice president of the United
States and former governor of
New York state, died at his
home, Ellerslie, at Rhinebeck,
on the Hudson, at $50 o'clock
Sunday night, on the Goth an
niversary of his birth.
Mr.. Morton was taken i'll with a slight
cold several days ago but his condition
did no become serious until Sunday
morning, when bronchial pneumonia de-
veloped. He lapsed into unconsciousness
soon after The end came peacefully.
With him at his bedside when he died
were his daughter. Mrs. Helen Morton.
who had made her home with him at
Fillerslie. his country estate, since the
death Of Mrs. Morton in August. 1918:
his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and
Mrs. William G. Eustis. of Washington.
p. c.. and his nephew, Morton Minot
OF Germantown, Pa, did not arrive until
after his death.
Children Celebrate Birthday.
Mr.. Morton's Goth birthday was form
ally celebrated Saturday when the chill
dren of the Rbinebeck schools held a
field day at his country estate He had
returned TO Ellerslie from Washington.
where he made his residence. on Nav 3.
and had been in apparently good health
until the middle Of last week Interment
will be in the family plot in Rhinebeck
Levi Parsons Morton was the twenty
second vice president of the United
tot tAn hn II
Harrison in 1883. At II years of age
he rounded his political life as governor
Of New York state
Although born the son of n clergyman
in poor circumstances at Shoroham. 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
financer in his veins-descendan as he
was Of George Morton of York. Eng
who raised funds to send the Pilgrims to
America on the Mayflower
Starts as Clerk
Clerk in country store at IA. pro-
prietor of his own little drygoods store
as partner of Junius s. Morgan, father
of the late !. Pierpont Morgan. and
ten years later founded bis own house of
l.. +. Morton & 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. It's London branch
floated the per cent loan. with other
European bankers, which enabled the
United States government TO resume
speci. payment in 1871, saving $1,000
600 in interest. This payment had been
suspended during and after the civil war
Morton's financial operations brought
him into political prominence He entered
congress in 1878 and established repu-
tation in the fight over unlimited free
coinage of silver He was urged to accept
nomination for vice president with Presi-
dent Garfield. but declined. He was
offered a portfolio in the cabinet as sec
retary of the navy, and refused again.
Minister to France.
The offer to become minister to
France appealed to him. He accepted and
remained during Garield's and Arthur's
administrations. He secured the legal
status of American corporations in
France. He drove the first nail in the
construction of the statue of Liberty.
and publicly accepted it in behalf of the
United States.
When New York men was desired
in 1888 to stand on the Republican ma
tionaI ticket with Benjamin Harrison.
Mr.. 1torton was the choice of the CON
yention by a large majority. AS pre-
siding officer in the senate he gained
the praise of both parties for the vigor
and the fairness of his policy. Mr. Nor
ton concluded his political career as gov
ernor of his state. taking office in 1895
and serving two years.
Was a MuItimiIlIonaire.
After leaving office in his vigorous
old age he still was active In the direc-
torates Of many corporations. He was
rated millionaire, many times over.
Mr.. Morton was twice married. His
first wife was Lucy kimball, who died
member of an old Manhattan
family