MORTON, John N.: Died 1907

MORTON, WHITE

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 9/26/2016 at 06:10:23

**Handwritten: St. Line Dem. Wed. 11 Dec. 1907

J.N. MORTON DEAD
FORMER KEOSAUQUAN PASSED AWAY AT LOS ANGELES.

OPENED STORE HERE IN 1858.
Was a Very Successful Business Man and Left a Large Estate.

News reached Keosauqua Friday evening of the death of John N. Morton, a former leading business man and prominent citizen of this place at his home at Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. Morton had been in declining health the past five years, and, as the result of paralysis, had for months been nearly helpless. He was buried at Los Angeles Monday.

John N. Morton was born in Windsor county, Vt., July 30, 1832, being at the time of his death 75 years 4 months and 6 days old. He was the son of John Morton, who was born in North Carolina in 1795, who at the age of 11 years shipped as a cabin boy on a vessel loaded with sugar for St. Petersburg. The ship was wrecked in the Baltic Sea and the greater part of the crew was lost, but Mr. Morton with a few others succeeded in gaining land. For a time he remained with a Dutch farmer, but tiring of that life he again took to the sea and followed it until he was 22 years of age. About 1817, landing at Cape Cod, he found a party of emigrants enroute for Vermont, and joining the colony he located in that state.

John N. Morton was one of five children. He spent his youth in Vermont where he acquired a good education in the common and select schools. At the age of 18 he taught school. Later he was a salesman in a store for three or four years. In 1856 he came west, and after a short stay at Galesburg, Ill., he came on to this county to visit with Dr. G.S. Guernsey, who was a friend back in Vermont.

Mr. Morton the same week engaged to teach the school in the Jos. Moore district west of Lebanon, and thus made a permanent location in this county. In the spring of 1857 he embarked in a very small way in the mercantile business at Lebanon. In January, 1858, he came to Keosauqua where he formed a partnership with Dr. G.W. Games, the partnership continuing until the fall of the same year, when they sold out. The same autumn Mr. Morton purchased a stock of drugs and formed a partnership with Dr. G.S. Guernsey, and they continued in business together until 1866, when Mr. Morton purchased his partner's interest. He added other lines to his business until he had a general store. About 1872 he erected the large two story building which stands opposite the Democrat office and moved his goods into it, and continued his business there until about three years ago he disposed of his store and retired from active business.

In the fall of 1865, at Bridgewater, Vt., Mr. Morton was united in marriage to Miss Emma V. White, daughter of Gilbert and Viola White, who were residents of that place, who survives him.

October 31, 1905, they bade final adieu to Keosauqua and departed for Los Angeles, to take up their future home. They had previously spent considerable time at Los Angeles, and had bought a home there, the reason of the removal being that Mr. Morton's health was better there than here.

Mr. Morton was a successful and farseeing business man. He had long ranked next Mr. Manning as the wealthiest man in Keosauqua. He owned several hundred acres of good land in this county besides his business houses at this place. His estate is estimated at $85,000 to $100,000. Before leaving here he made his will to which Messrs. T.C. Jackson and R.B. Rowley were witnesses. It is understood he left his whole estate to Mrs. Morton.

Mr. and Mrs. Morton were beloved members of the Congregational church at this place, and the Sabbath previous to their departure the church by unanimous rising vote adopted resolutions expressive of the esteem and affection in which they were held and of the deep regret at their removal. The news of Mr. Morton's death, though not wholly unexpected was received with regret and sadness.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book G, Page 209, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA