Elizabeth (Garton) Morton (1840 - 1934)

Born 16 May 1840 in Argyle, Lafayette, Wisconsin, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Joseph Morton — married 22 Feb 1871 in Wisconsin, United States

Descendants

Died 25 Apr 1934 at age 93 in Laurens, Pocahontas, Iowa, United States

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Biography

Elizabeth was born in 1840. She passed away in 1934.

Born to William Carlin Garton and Phebe Sabina Newcomb. Elizabeth Garton married Joe Morton and had 5 children. Alexander, Maude, Charley, Ida Belle, Harvey Morton

Copied from: The Laurens Sun, Thursday, May 3 1934

Another Pioneer Mother Laid To Rest

The community lost one of the very few remaining pioneer mothers when Mrs. Joseph Morton passed on Wednesday of last week. She and her husband settled west of what is now called Laurens in 1873, before there were any towns or railroads-when the whole country was prairie with a liberal sprinkle of sloughs. They settled here before the grasshopper scourge and the whole country was natural habitat of wild fowls-ducks, geese and prairie chickens.

The community will miss the presence and kindly ministrations of these mothers, but it will miss much more someone to recount the hardships and trying experiences of those toiled to wrest this country from a raw prairie to its present development.

Mrs. Morton's funeral was held at the Christian church, Friday afternoon. The services were in charge of her pastor, Rev. W. H. Knotts. There was an unusually large attendance of relatives and friends. Burial was in Laurens cemetery.

At the funeral services, the following brief obituary was read:

"Mrs. Elizabeth Morton passed away at her home in Laurens, April 25, 1934, age 87 years, 11 months and 9 days. Her maiden name was Garton and she was born in Argyle, Wisconsin May 16, 1840. She was married to Joseph Morton February 22, 1871. They came to Pocahontas county, Iowa in 1873. They were among the early settlers of this community.

Mr. Morton died August 26th of last year. There are three living children: Mrs. Ida Cline, Hayfield, Iowa; Charlie Morton, Chelan, Washington; and Doctor A. Morton, Laurens, Iowa. There are also 18 grandchildren.

"Mrs. Morton united with the Christian church in Laurens in 1894, soon after the congregation was started. She made contribution of love and service to those about her in the Master's name. She had learned to trust her Savior here and was not afraid to follow Him in death."

Transcribed by great great granddaughter; Kim Lowrey Murphy Haukoos

Sources

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDKY-CY6 : 9 September 2017), Harvey Morton in household of Joseph Morton, Coon, Buena Vista, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district ED 19, sheet 50B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0329; FHL microfilm 1,254,329.

• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9QW-L9G : accessed 4 January 2019), Harvey Morton in household of John Henderson, Andrea, Foxhome & Riverside Townships Foxhome village, Wilkin, Minnesota, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 293, sheet 4A, family 61, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,796. Sons Harvey and Charles.

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67081752/elizabeth-morton