San Francisco County
Biographies
JOHN MORTON
JOHN MORTON, President of the Morton Draying and Warehouse
Company, 204 Battery street,
San Francisco, is a native of Maine,
and was born in 1820. His ancestors were among the early settlers of Maine,
being chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits. John remained at home
until eighteen years of age, when he left the parental roof, went to Boston
and engaged in a general teaming business. He was married in Boston,
in 1843, to Miss Lucetta Chase, a native of Maine,
whose ancestors were seafaring men.
Mr.
Morton resided in Boston until 1852, when he gathered
together his earthly posessions (sic) and boarded the
steamer Illinois, en route for California. Crossing
the Isthmus at Panama, he reëmbarked in the steamer Golden Gate, and without accident
arrived safely in San Francisco, landing at Commercial
street, between Drumm and Davis
streets, December 17, 1852. Mr. Morton fell in with Charles Parkhurst, an agreeable compagnon
de voyage, who had been a stage driver in Florida,
and who came to California to
drive stage between Stockton and Mariposa. After twenty-six years of
faithful service in this capacity, at his death the fact was revealed that he
had been leading a double life, as he proved to be a
woman disguised in the apparel of man. The story of this individual was
never revealed.
Mr.
Morton joined his brother, Reuben Morton, who had come to this coast in 1849,
and with him entered into the trucking business under the firm of R. & J.
Morton, with their office at the corner of Battery and California streets,
which was then built upon spiles (sic), as Montgomery
street was the water front. They began business with three two-horse trucks,
and continued successfully until 1871, when Mr. R. Morton retired from the firm
to engage in building the Geary street
cable railroad. His interest was sold to S. S. Morton, a younger brother,
and John Ruggles, and the firm of J. Morton & Company was
established. They continued at the same location until 1874, when they
moved to their present office, 204 Battery street. In 1876, William
R. Morton, the son of our subject, bought the interest of S. S. Morton and Mr. Ruggles, and without changing the name, father and son
continued the business till 1888, doing a general draying business with teams
varying from twelve to twenty-five, according to the demand. In 1888 the
firm incorporated under the name of The Morton Draying and Warehouse Company,
with a capital of $100,000, John Morton continuing as president of the company,
and William R. Morton as treasurer. They then established warehouses, with
a capacity of about 20,000 tons, and began a general storage business in
addition to their other interests.
Mr.
Morton has also been closely identified with the growth and development of the
city. He was an early investor in real estate. He built the Morton
House on Post street,
several residences on Ellis and Jones streets, and has held other valuable
property. He was one of the stockholders of the North
Beach and Mission
railroad, and was president of the company for several years. He was one
of the incorporators of the Security Savings Bank in 1870, and for many years was a wise counselor and director. He was one of the
builders of the Second Congregational Church on Taylor
street, between O’Farrell
and Geary streets. Subsequently the name was changed to Plymouth
Church, and, their property
becoming very valuable, they sold and removed to Post street, near Buchanan
street.
While
he has lived a life of great activity, ever zealous and clear sighted in the
advancement of his own interests, Mr. Morton has been equally ready to
contribute of his substance toward the moral or public improvement of the city
of his adoption. Of the seven children born to him and his wife, only two
are now living—William R. and Henry D.
William R. Morton was
born in San Francisco, in 1856. After
completing his education, he engaged in business with his father, as above
stated, and in the Morton Special Delivery, with his brother, Henry D. In
1877, he was married in San Francisco, to Miss Mae S.
Noble, whose father preached in the Second Congregational Church for a period
of twelve years. They have three children, Herbert S., Winifred Mae and
William R., Jr. Mr. Morton is a member of the A. O. U. W. And Knights of Honor. In politics, like his father, he
is a Republican.
Transcribed
3-31-06 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2, Pages 401-403, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
©
2006 Marilyn R. Pankey.
California Biography Project
San Francisco County
California Statewide
Golden Nugget Library