My Genealogy Hound

HIRAM C. MORTON is the fortunate owner of as comfortable a home and surroundings as could be wished for. His well cultivated and neatly kept farm is located in township 45, range 25, Johnson County, and on it he raises a large quantity of grain, besides giving considerable attention to the breeding of stock.

Mr. Morton was born in Randolph County, Mo., January 21, 1842, to Josiah and Margaret L. (Callison) Morton, natives of Madison County, Ky. The parents were married in the above section of the Blue Grass State, whence they came to Missouri the year of our subject’s birth. They located in Randolph County, and after a stay there of two years, moved to Schuyler County, this state, locating on a tract of land near Kirksville. Our subject was six years of age when he left that place with his mother, his father having departed this life while living there. Mrs. Morton and Hiram came to this county and, renting a farm in Grover Township, made their home on the same for six years. About that time an uncle of our subject took him home with him, and from that time until attaining his majority he made his home with relatives.

On the outbreak of the late war, young Morton enlisted in Company A, Seventh Missouri Infantry under Captain Houts and Col. John F. Phillips. With his regiment he followed Price for forty-two days, and afterward went in pursuit of Shelby in Missouri. When his services were no longer needed in the army, he was honorably discharged and mustered out at St. Louis, March 18, 1865. He at once returned to his home in this county, and February 26 of that year was married to Miss Lucy M., daughter of William E. and Louisa (Cox) Ezell, both of whom were born in Kentucky, and after taking up their abode in Johnson County made this section their home until their decease.

The parental household of our subject included nine children, of whom the following-named lived to mature years: Mary J., Wade H., Irimenta, Rebecca, Hiram C. and Richard B. Upon starting out for himself, our subject went to Lafayette County, where he purchased forty acres of land near Odessa, and lived for two years. He then sold out and upon his return to Johnson County became the owner of one hundred and forty acres. After holding this tract for a time, he traded it for another farm containing one hundred and fifty-three acres on Clear Fork Creek. He farmed this estate for some time, and when the next move was made we find him a resident of his present finely improved farm. In 1891 he erected a substantial residence, which, with the good line of buildings which were already standing, makes of it one of the most attractive and valuable pieces of property in the township. Mr. Morton has on his place a fine Percheron Norman stallion, named “Charlie,” and two fine jacks, “Henry Ward Beecher” and “Jerry Simpson.” He raises stock exclusively, and ever finds a ready market for his animals when desirous of selling.

To Mr. and Mrs. Morton there have been born six children. Charlie married Miss Clara Belle Fortner, and lives in this township; Lucy is the wife of William Phillips, and makes her home in this county; Albert married Minnie Munn, and they live on the farm with our subject; Emma is attending the normal school; and Lola and Winnie are at home. In politics our subject is a strong Populist, and has done much good in extending the lines of his party in this community. He was formerly a Republican.

The maternal grandfather, Hiram Callison, and also the great-grandfather of our subject, served in the Revolutionary War under General Washington. A grand-uncle on the maternal side fought as a soldier in the War of 1812, and was present at the battle of New Orleans, when Andrew Jackson conquered Packingham.