The Penn's Grove record., 1923-06-01
The Last Torton Resident

For more than so years the Torton
family were prominent in the business,
political, religious and social life of
PennS Grove.
The Torton family settled in Ches-
ter County, Pennsylvania. William,
the grandfather, was a shoemaker, as
was his son Thomas, who moved to
Camden, N. j., where he married Ann
Duer, a daughter of James Duer, a
leading Methodist Glass Leader.
Thomas Torton and Ann Duer had
four sons and five daughters, William
D., James D., John W., and Thomas
j.; Sarah, wife of Augustus Cam;
Mary, wife of Benz. Hinchman; Eli
zabeth, wife of William S. Bowen;
Louisa, wife of George Kirk, and two
who died young.
John w. Torton was a faithful en-
ployee of the DUPONT Company for
many years when he was retired.
Thomas J. Torton was a prominent
sturgeon fisherman and game war
den for some years. He has one son,
Thomas, unmarried, in Atlantic City.
the only n to bear the Torton name.
James D. TOrton was a veteran of
the Civil War, was elected the first
Mayor of Penns Grove in 1894, and
was reelected in 1897, 1899, 1901 and
1905. He was an undertaken for many
years until his death in 1917.
William D. Torton married Mary
Homer. They had one son, Joseph,
who died young. The daughters were
Anna j., wife of Alfred F. Layton;
Isabelle, wife of Seth H. Leap, Jr.;
Mary Ann, wife of Powell Steel. After
a happy welded life for over twenty
five years his wife died. He survived
all his daughters, but has several
grand and great grandchildren.
William D.. Torton was a shoe
maker by trade, like his father and
grandfather. He was the village cob
bier and made the finest of boots and
shoes until 1875 when he became the
keeper of the Deep Water Point rear
lighthouse, located beside Henby
creek, now in the midst of dupont
Powder Works where was tillable
pasture hand until 1892. Altho not
robust like his brothers and a spare
man, for 40 years he climbed the 1875
steps two and three times a day. A
house to live in and $500 a year for
SO years was the pay and $500 during
four years.
He married Mary Ann Hiles, widow
of William T. Layton, who died De-
cember 81, 1920, after SO years of
happy welded life. For over 60 years
they were faithful members of En-
manuel Methodist Episcopal Church
and for many years he was on the
Board of Stewards and was the Dis
trict Steward for many years. Their
genial and jovial dispositions added
much to the social life of the Church
society, and during the time they we've
keepers of the rear Deep Water Point
light until November l, 1915, their
home was the meeting place of many
iovial social gatherings. While aged
in years, "Uncle VIII" and "Aunt
Mary Ann" never grew too old for
young society, because their spirits
continued young in their feeble bodies.
A man, when a boy, who used to
tantalize Mr.. Torton with his mischief,
said that he never knew Mr.. Torton
to get angry and claims his calm tenn
permanent and frugal temperate living
was the cause of his long life.
Mr.. Torton was a Republican in
politics, a partisan without guile. He
held the county office of Coroner more
than once, as did also his brothers,
James and Thomas.
He was a strong temperance man
and took an active part in the Good
Templar's societies which were promi-
nent in the 1S70s.
The Christian home of Mr.. and Mrs.
William D. Torton had a great inf1u-
ence on the lives of several young
helpers who spent their youths with
them and their benign influences