HARRISON County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 564
WILLIAM W. MORTON

There is no more highly respected citizen in Modale, Taylor township, HARRISON county, Iowa, than William W. MORTON, a distinguished veteran of the Civil War and a resident of this county since 1866. He farmed a few years after first coming to this county and then engaged in the drug business in Modale for a few years. While engaged in this business he was postmaster for nearly a quarter of a century, and has held various other official positions in his township and town, and in every capacity has always proved faithful to the trust reposed in him by his fellow citizens. He has been an active worker in the church and every good cause has always found in him a hearty supporter.

William W. MORTON, the son of Eldred H. and Melissa E. (MCMICKEN) MORTON, was born in Marion, Kentucky, July 4, 1840. His father was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, but moved to Kentucky with his parents when a small boy. His mother was also a native of Kentucky.

When William W. MORTON was about eleven years old the family moved to Des Moines, Iowa, but lived there only a few months, removing to a farm in Oxford township, Johnson county, Iowa. In that county William was reared to manhood and received such education as was afforded by the schools of his neighborhood. He was the eldest of eight children and remained at home until September, 1861. He then enlisted in Company F, Fourteenth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, the regiment commanded by Colonel Shaw. He served with this regiment until he was mustered out on account of disability, in November, 1864. He was wounded at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, April 6, 1862, and also was captured by the enemy. He was incarcerated in a stockade in Macon, Georgia, but was finally exchanged after having been a prisoner for seven months. He rejoined his regiment in January, 1863, and served until the fall of 1864, when he was finally discharged. He had been promoted to second sergeant of his company on account of bravery and distinguished service.

After returning from the war Mr. MORTON worked on his father's farm in Johnson county, Iowa, until the spring of 1866. He had married during the war while home on a furlough and after coming to HARRISON county he bought a farm in Taylor township, on which he and his young wife started housekeeping. On account of his wound which he had received in his leg during the war he was unable to do heavy farm work, and consequently disposed of his farm and moved to Modale, in the same township, where he bought a drug store. Modale was then a new town, which had just been laid out, on the Chicago & Northwestern railroad, and he had the honor of establishing the first store in the town. He finally sold out the store on account of his prejudice against the selling of whiskey. He then worked in an elevator for a short time, having charge of the milling department. On March 20, 1889, he was appointed postmaster of Modale by President HARRISON, being the second postmaster to be appointed in the state by President HARRISON. He was postmaster for twenty years and assistant postmaster for four more years, making a total of twenty-four years' service in the office.

Mr. MORTON was married, December 5, 1862, while home from the war on a furlough, to Melinda DOTY, who was born in Plymouth, Ohio, a daughter of James DOTY. To this union were born six children, five of whom are still living, James L., Martha J., Maud E., Fred B., Robert G. and Mamie A., the latter being deceased. James E., who now lives in Spooner, Wisconsin, married Bertha Hargadine. His wife died in 1912, leaving him with one daughter, Martha. James E. began life when very young as a telegraph operator, in fact, lacking one month of being thirteen years of age when he received his first appointment. He has always been with the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company, and is now division superintendent of the road, having made a remarkable record with this company. Martha J., the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. MORTON, married C. C. LIGHTELL, and now lives in Omaha, Nebraska, where her husband is a contractor. Mr. and Mrs. LIGHTELL have seven children, Mabel, Fred, Leonard, Alice (deceased), George, James and Endus. Maud E. married Dr. J. J. BOURN and lives in Hannibal, Missouri. Doctor BOURN is the surgeon of the Burlington Railway Company. Fred B. MORTON married Alice WHITNEY and now makes his home in Denver, Colorado, where he is a government inspector in the packing houses in that city. Fred and his wife have five children, William, Harvey, Marguerite, Ruth and Fred, Jr. Robert H. married Delia GIBSON and makes his home in Omaha, Nebraska, where he is agent and solicitor for the Wabash Railway Company. He has two sons, Eugene and Lawrence. Mamie, the only deceased child of Mr. and Mrs. MORTON, married Albert BOURN, and he is also deceased. The mother of these six children died on April 30, 1902.

In January, 1905, Mr. MORTON married, secondly, Mrs. E. J. WILLIS, who was born near Augusta, Hancock county, Illinois, a daughter of Abijah and Lucinda (BRUNTON) WHITSTONE. Mrs. MORTON had three children by her first marriage, Arthur, Etta M. and Claude C. Arthur lives at Neueva Gerona, Isle of Pines, in the West Indies. He is the publisher of the Isle of Pines Appeal, which is the only English newspaper published on the island. Etta M., who married William BEASLEY, a minister in the Methodist church, has six children, Pauline, Christine, William, Willis, Margaretta and William, Jr. Claude C. married Lumpka CALB, and lives in Port Arthur, Texas, where he is a surveyor for a railroad company. They have three children, Ada E., Mabel and John P.

Mr. MORTON has been a life-long Republican and has been active in his party for many years. He has been mayor of Modale for five years, justice of the peace for sixteen years, and was at one time the clerk of Taylor township and on the school board of Modale. He has never at any time sought for office, having always been the recipient of official favors at the hands of his party without any effort on his part. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church practically all of his life. He has been superintendent of the Sunday school at Modale for twenty years and has always been active in Sunday school work. He is justly proud of his army record, and the government now grants him a generous pension of thirty dollars a month in view of the services which he rendered his country, which is small compensation. Mr. MORTON is one of the sterling pioneers of the county and during his residence here of nearly half a century people who know him have learned to love and honor him.

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