Biographical Sketch of Robert W. MORTON & John W. MORTON (1881); Chester Co., PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Candace Roth . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** From THE HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, by Futhey and Cope (1881); pg. 667 Robert W. Morton.-James Morton emigrated from the northern part of Ireland, near Belfast, just previous to the Revolutionary war. He first settled near Hoopes' Mills, in Honeybrook township, and married, after his arrival in Chester County, Isabella Mann, who was born in his native place in Ireland. To them were born six children,-three sons and three daughters.,-of whom Robert was the eldest. He was born Oct. 2, 1779, and married Elizabeth Moore (his first wife), by whom Robert Whitehill Morton was born, Oct. 2, 1817. He worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-one, and was educated at the neighborhood subscription schools, working in the summer and attending school in winter. He studied surveying with Squire Beynard Way, a noted surveyor of that day. He began farming on his own account in 1842, in which he continued to 1855 on the old farm. He then farmed in Lancaster County until 1869, during which time he was ten years justice of peace, and engaged in conveyancing and surveying. The First National Bank of Honeybrook was organized February, 1868, with $100,000 capital, and he was in April following elected its cashier, which position he has held to this time. This is the only bank in this section of the county, and does a very large business, and has the entire confidence of the business world and public generally. He was married April 16, 1846, to Jane, daughter of John Robinson, Esq., of Salisbury, Lancaster Co. He has served three terms of three years each as school director, and is very active in school matters. He is strongly attached to the principles of the republican party, but has always refused to be a candidate for office. He is of Scotch-Irish extraction on both sides of his family, and comes of the old Presbyterian or Seceding element. he owns a farm in Lancaster County, on which is a saw and clover-mill, also a farm in Honeybrook township, on which is a grist-mill. He is a man highly esteemed in the business and social world. John W. Morton.-Robert Morton, son of James, the emigrant, from near Belfast, Ireland, married for his second wife Nancy Walker, by whom he had only one child, John Walker. He was born April 29, 1824, in Honeybrook township. He spent his boyhood on the farm, and received the usual educational advantages the country schools then afforded. He was married Nov. 27, 1862, to Victoria, daughter of William E. Lewis. She died April 12, 1876. He was the second time married, March 12, 1878, to R. E. Dorlan, daughter of Samuel B. Dorlan, of Dorlan's Mills, Upper Uwchlan township, by whom he has had one child, John Ralph, born March 13, 1879. He owns, in the southern part of Honeybrook township, one hundred and fifty acres of land, a part of the original Morton homestead tract. In 1879 he was elected a justice of the peace for the term of five years, the same office his father, Robert, and his two half-brothers, Robert W. and William, once filled. He served in the 47th Regiment of Pennsylvania militia (three months men) in the summer of 1863, in the Rebellion. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a ruling elder in the same, as was his father before him. He has been Sunday-school superintendent. He is a Republican in politics, and has ever been active for his party. He removed in 1878 from his farm to the borough of Honeybrook, where he now resides in easy retirement, renting out his fine farm. His father, Robert, died April 11, 1852, aged seventy-two years; his mother, Nancy (Walker), died May 10, 1865, aged seventy-six years. He enjoys the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens.