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- JAMES MORTON, a farmer of Johnstown Township, residing on
- section 36, and one of the early settlers of the county,
was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, on the 1st day of January, 1833,
and was the second in a family of six children, four of whom
are living, born to John and Jane (BARCLAY) MORTON: John, the
eldest of the family, a farmer of Rock County, died in September,
1877; Jane, wife of David CARTER, who is engaged in farming,
is living in Johnstown Center; Robert, a resident farmer of Johnstown
Township, married Isabella JENTLE, a daughter of James JENTLE,
and to them have been born five children: Alexander, who became
the husband of Ann SCOTT, a daughter of Walter SCOTT, of La Prairie
Township, by whom he had four children, three yet living, was
a farmer in the town of La Prairie, and died in March, 1880;
Margaret makes her home with her sister Jane.
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- Resolving to try his fortune in the New World, on attaining
his
- majority, our subject emigrated from Scotland to America.
Bidding good-bye to home and friends he embarked on board the
vessel "Middlesex," which left port on May 11, 1854,
and after sailing five weeks dropped anchor at New York on the
16th day of July. Landing in the great Eastern metropolis, a
stranger in a strange land, Mr. MORTON at once began to look
about him to find some means of earning a livelihood. Going to
Buffalo, N.Y., he engaged to work for a farmer by the name of
Gould, continuing in his employ for one month, when he came to
Rock County, arriving in Janesville on the 1st day of September,
1854. He now found himself on the Western frontier where all
was new and strange. The first year after his arrival was spent
as a farm hand in the employ of Robert LAMB, an early settler
of Rock Prairie, and for his services he received $130. The following
year he worked for John BENNETT, one of Rock County's
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- pioneers, and in the fall of 1856 bought a span of horses,
and in connection with William DUFFY purchased a threshing-machine,
and continued to thresh for various farmers in the neighborhood
until the spring work opened. The young men then rented
a farm for the summer, operated the same on shares and in the
following winter again engaged in threshing, continuing to follow
the two occupations alternately for several years. He also gave
some attention to the raising of stock, and in 1860 formed a
partnership with his brother, they cultivating a farm of 160
acres during that summer. They bought the BELLE farm of eighty
acres that year, and rented an 80-acre tract just north, owned
by William GALBRAITH, which they worked on the shares. They continued
the cultivation of that land for about three years, when in 1863
purchased another eighty-acre farm on section 36, adjoining the
BELLE farm. The call of his adopted country for men to put down
the Rebellion no longer could go unheeded, therefore, early in
the struggle, he became a member of Company I, 44th Wisconsin
Infantry, and with his regiment marched to the front. The war
soon ending, he was mustered out of service Aug. 28, 1865, and
at once returned home, resuming partnership with his brother
in general farming. In 1868 the brothers dissolved partnership,
James taking eighty acres, being a portion of his present farm.
In 1869 he bought 160 acres adjoining his original purchase,
of William GALBRAITH, paying $45 per acre, and has since become
the owner of a 38-acre tract of timber land. His farm is one
of the best in the township, comprising good arable land under
a high state of cultivation. Many fine improvements have been
made, a large barn and granary have been built, and the farm
is stocked with the best grades of cattle, horses and hogs.
- On the 9th day of April, 1869, the marriage ceremony which
united the destinies of James
- MORTON and Miss Janet Ann McFARLAND, was performed. The lady
is a native of Perthshire, Scotland, and a daughter of John and
Lillias (McQUEEN) McFARLAND. They had a family of nine children,
of whom Mrs. MORTON is the youngest: Duncan is now engaged in
farming in Hamilton County, Neb.; George, who is engaged in farming
in the town of Richmond, Walworth County, married Christina Jane
JENKINS, daughter of John and Joanna JENKINS, and to them were
born eight children, seven of whom are living - John, James,
Joanna, George, Peter and Duncan; William and George, the latter,
who was the first born, being deceased; Isabella, who is single,
resides in Nebraska with her brother; Margaret, widow of Kennett
BLAIR, is living in the city of Glasgow, Scotland; James died
in Scotland; three died in infancy; Janet, who became the wife
of our subject.
- The union of Mr. and Mrs. MORTON has been blessed with four
children: John B., born March
- 1, 1874; Lillie B., Aug. 18, 1875; James D., Feb. 18, 1877;
and George E., born June 17, 1879. The parents are both members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Richmond, Walworth County,
and are active workers for its interests. For about three years
Mr. MORTON has been a member of the judicial church board, and
is a teacher in the Sunday School. In political sentiment he
is a supporter of the Prohibition party, and a strong adherent
to its principles. He is also a member of the Johnstown Insurance
Company, and is ranked among Rock County's best citizens.
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- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 885-886; lithographs from
same book.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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