My Genealogy Hound

MORTON, CHARLES M., whose portrait appears in this work, was born Nov. 15, 1797, near Orange Springs, Orange county, Va. He was the fifth and youngest child of John and Mary T. Morton. He married in 1824 to Mary L. Hawkins. They had four children: Ann P. (now Mrs. G. F. Terrill), born in 1826; Joseph L., died September, 1848; Mary J. (now Mrs. Proctor), born in 1830; and John E., born in 1832, now living near Perry, Pike county, Ill. Mr. Morton moved from Virginia to Christian county, Ky., in 1831, and remained there two years, and then concluded to move still farther west. He, with several other families, mostly relatives, came to Adams county. He came to Illinois in 1833 to make a home for himself. His wife died the next spring after he came, but kind friends assisted him to take care of his little children. In 1835 he was married to Nancy Verner, of Tennessee. She came to Quincy in 1829. They had four children: Hattie A. (now Mrs. King); Henry C., James E. (now deceased), and Virginia G. (now Mrs. Bookout). The subject of this sketch was one of the constituent members of the Baptist church at Payson, Ill., which was established at a very early day, and “winter storms nor summer heat” scarce ever deterred his attendance, although he had five miles to travel, to reach the church. He was a most liberal man, and gave of his scanty means to all charitable and religious purposes freely. His hand was ever ready to help the needy. He labored hard to raise his children aright and give them that best of legacies — an education. He lived to a good old age, and died July 6, 1874, surrounded by his children and grandchildren, and grieving friends. His widow still lives on the old homestead, well advanced in years, but looking hale and cheerful, and seems to enjoy life and the society of her children and many friends.