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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company; Elwood Roberts, Editor.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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WILLIAM MORTON, the well known farmer and quarryman of Montgomery township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, is a native of Germantown, where he was born October 20, 1837. He is the son of Alfred and Mary (Reckard) Morton. The Morton family are of English ancestry.

Alfred Morton was the son of Samuel Morton. He was born near Manchester, England. Samuel Morton emigrated to the United States after he had reached middle age, locating in Philadelphia where he died at an advanced age. Alfred Morton (father) came to America with his parents in early life. He was a weaver by trade, and, coming to Philadelphia, engaged in the manufacture of shawls, table cloths and ingrain carpets in that city, and died at the age of thirty-three years, in 1846. He married Mary Reckard, who died in 1855. The couple had six children, of whom the following three survive: William, subject of this sketch; Adam, residing in Germantown, Pennsylvania; Sallie, widow of Harry Hirst, residing at Germantown.

William Morton worked as a boy for truckers and dairymen, and, owing to the untimely death of his father, did not enjoy the advantages of education to any great extent. At an early age he entered the United States army, enlisting November 19, 1855, in the First Regiment Infantry, serving five years in that organization. He enlisted in the Twentieth Massachusetts Infantry Regiment at the breaking out of the Rebellion, July 1, 1861. He served sixteen months in that regiment, and was transferred, October, 1862, to Battery C, Fourth United States Artillery. He served in that regiment until February 12, 1867. During his term of service he participated in no less than forty-one engagements, and was promoted to corporal. At the close of the war he returned to Germantown, and was engaged in business as a stonemason four years. In 1871 he removed to Montgomery township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, worked for John Steever and at making door mats and other occupations. He also kept a tollgate. He quarried stone for Daniel Foulk, and in 1884 purchased his present quarry and farm.

Mr. Morton married, in Philadelphia, June 12, 1869, Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel A. and Catherine (Halderman) Wright, born in Horsham township. Their children are five in number as follows: Frank, married Elizabeth Haynes; Sallie, wife of George Kerns; Harry, married Susan Holbine; Ella, wife of Howard Walker; Emily, wife of Harry Jackson. In political views Mr. Morton is an Independent. He operates extensive stone quarries and a stone crusher, crushing stone for macadamizing roads. Mr. Morton is a prominent citizen of his community, and enjoys the respect and confidence of all who know him.

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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

View additional Montgomery County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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