Biography of B. B. Morton, Randolph Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Bridgette Cohen Date: 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas Copyrighted and Published 1889 by Goodspeed Publishing Company Col. B. B. Morton, editor of The Pocahontas Free Press, one of the leading newspapers in point of circulation and influence in Randolph County, is justly entitled to no inconsiderable [p.416] measure of credit for the enviable position his paper occupies among the better class of country journals in Arkansas. He was born in Natchez, Miss., in 1848, and is the son of Thomas Morton, who was born in Liverpool, England. The latter came to America when fifteen years of age, and followed mercantile pursuits through life. His wife, who was originally Miss Leonora Tooley, is still living, and resides at New Orleans. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Thomas Morton died in 1884, at the age of seventy-one years. He was a member of the A. F. & A. M., and also of the I. O. O. F. He and his wife reared five children, B. B. Morton being the eldest. The others are Elizabeth C., widow of William Esmond (deceased), now residing in Jefferson Parish, La.; James T., now residing in New Orleans, La, where he is a speculator and real estate dealer; William H., now of New Orleans, and the captain of a steamboat, and Bettie J., wife of Stephen DeGruy, a planter, of Jefferson Parish, La. B. B. Morton received a thorough education in the public schools of Natchez, Miss., and completed his education at Washington, D. C. After this he served three years as an apprentice to learn the printer's trade, on the Natchez Weekly Mirror, and then went to New York City, where he engaged in a large book publishing establishment. At the end of two years he connected himself with the New York Herald, where he remained a number of years, filling all positions, from setting type to a place on the editorial staff. At the first outbreak of the war he returned to New Orleans, and enlisted in Wheat's battalion, Confederate army, as a private, but was promoted to first lieutenant, then to captain of Company A, and served in that capacity until the battalion was disbanded, with only eighteen able-bodied men left. He then enlisted in, and was promoted to the rank of major of, an independent battalion, and served in that capacity two months, when he was promoted to the rank of colonel, and was given command of the Tenth Virginia Cavalry. Thus he served until the cessation of hostilities. He participated in the battles of Mitchell's Ford, Manassas, Hagerstown, the Shenandoah Valley campaign, second battle of Manassas, seven days' fighting around Richmond; was then at Malvern Hill, where he was wounded by a gunshot in the thigh, and disabled from duty five months. During his second service he was in the following battles: Yorktown, Williamsburg, Petersburg, and Appomattox Court House, where Gen. Lee surrendered. As soon as the war was over Col. Morton went to Farmville, Va., and engaged in a job office, where he remained one year. He then returned to New Orleans, and held different positions on the Morning Bulletin for two years, when he went to New York City, and took his old position on the Herald. Six years later he went to the Far West as a reporter for the New York Herald, and spent four years in Mexico and in the Indian reservations and in Europe. He then started a daily paper at Socorro, N. M., which he ran for two years, and then went to Lordsburg, N. M., where he started a weekly paper, which he continued one year. He then sold out, returned to New Orleans, and was there instructor in the art of colored job printing. This he continued until the 1st of January, 1887, when he came to Portia, in Lawrence County, Ark., connected himself with the Free Press, which he afterward purchased, and in April, 1888, moved his paper to Pocahontas. There he has since remained. His marriage occurred in 1867 with Miss Sallie V. Morrow, a native of Cumberland, Va., and six children were born to this union. Josie died of yellow fever when fifteen years of age. The others were named Seymour, Sanders, Thomas, James and Katie. Mrs. Morton died of yellow fever in Memphis, Tenn., in 1878, and her four children then living died within nine days' time, of the fatal scourge. The Colonel had several times volunteered to attend the yellow fever sufferers, and he and his wife were living in Memphis when she took the fever and died. Col. Morton is the owner of a stock ranche in Colorado. His paper was established in April, 1888, and is Democratic in its views. It is an eight-column folio, both sides printed at home, and is published every Saturday morning.