Butte County
Biographies
SAMUEL JOSE MORTON
SAMUEL JOSE MORTON.--A man who has
experienced many hardships, though he never lost courage, and today holds the
respect of all who know him, is Samuel Jose Morton, of Chico.
He was born on an American man-of-war, in Monterey
Bay, in 1846, thus giving him the choice of his
birthplace, which he designated as California.
His father, Freeman Morton, a native of New York,
served as a volunteer in the Mexican War. He came around Cape Horn on a
battleship, arriving in Monterey Bay
in 1846. In his journey to this coast he was accompanied by his wife, and,
before they were landed, Samuel Jose was born. Freeman Morton served under
General Fremont until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged.
He then removed to San Joaquin County,
thence to Calaveras County,
and still later settled in Stockton,
where he died. His wife,
Catherine Morton,
was born in Germany and died at Stockton.
Their children were: Samuel Jose; Lou; Lizzie, Mrs. Locker; Mary; Kate, Mrs. Gerlach; and Tillie, now deceased.
Samuel
Morton, when a baby at Monterey,
was a very sick child; he was given up by the physician; then an old Mexican
woman told Mrs. Morton she could cure the babe with native remedies, and for
the mother to give him the name of Jose. This the
mother readily agreed to do if the child could only be made well. The treatment
was successful and the boy grew up as Samuel Jose
Morton. When his father died, this lad was of an age when most children were in
school, but he had to go to work to aid his mother in caring for the rest of
the family, therefore his schooling was limited. He was ready and willing to do
any kind of work that would bring in some money and, as a thinly-clad, barefoot
boy, he herded cows for eight dollars per month, even
in winter time. This he followed for several years, finally getting a raise to
nine dollars per month, and he assisted with the milking as well. Though small
for his years, he "bucked" straw behind a threshing machine for two
dollars per day and he saved one hundred fifty dollars to give his mother, but
was prevailed upon to loan it to a man named "Billy" Eaton, who ran
away to Oregon, and the boy lost
his hard-earned money. He continued to work hard, and what money he could save
he turned over to his mother. When he was eighteen he
bought four
old horses and began freighting, still assisting his mother until she died, at
which time he paid all funeral expenses.
It
was about this time that young Morton had begun farming in San
Joaquin County,
but later came to Nelson and leased land, in time enlarging his operations
until he ran seven eight-mule teams. Although he had his ups and downs, he was
successful in the main. In 1908, he leased the Wilson Ranch near Cana
and ran it four years. By this time he had saved enough to buy himself some
land and he selected forty acres at Nord, where he erected a house, barns and
other necessary outbuildings to supply his needs. He leased additional land
until he farmed three hundred acres to grain and stock. In 1917, he had three
hundred acres in grain and reaped a bumper crop that brought fine prices. He
runs three eight-mule and horse teams, and besides doing his own work he
engages in teaming between seasons. During the hop-picking season he
superintends the Rooney hop ranch, having over one hundred fifty pickers; he
also looks after the dry kilns.
Mr.
Morton was married, in Oroville, to Miss Melancy
Cole, born in Illinois. They have
one son, Samuel Jose, Jr., who was reared and educated in Butte
County and was assisting his father
with his farming operations until his death, at the age of thirty years. He had
married and at his death left a son, Delbert, who makes his home with his
grandparents. Mr. Morton is a member of Chico Parlor, N. S. G. W. He has seen
this country in its wildest state, when deer, elk, coyotes, and other wild
animals were numerous. He takes great interest in the present-day development
and is always willing to aid any worthy project for the betterment of the
country and its people. He is a dependable man and it is conceded by all who
know him that when "Sam Morton says a thing is so, it is so; when he says
he will do a thing, it is done."
Transcribed by Sande Beach.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 649-650, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Sande Beach.
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