Washington County ArArchives Biographies.....Morton, R. Mack 
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Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 July 18, 2009, 12:15 pm

Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

R. MACK MORTON.
    R. Mack Morton, who is engaged in general agricultural pursuits in the
vicinity of Farmington and not far distant from Fayetteville, was born on the
place which is still his home, his natal day being June 3, 1866. He comes of the
sturdy pioneer stock of northwest Arkansas. His grandfather, William Morton, who
was horn in South Carolina in 1804, emigrated in early manhood to middle
Tennessee, where he wedded Rachel Crawford. He and his young bride came to
Washington county, Arkansas, in the year 1830, establishing their home in the
valley immediately north of where the town of Prairie Grove now stands. The old
homestead was between the lines of the Union and Confederate forces in the
battle of Prairie Grove during the Civil war. To the union of William and Rachel
(Crawford) Morton, ancestors of the Morton family in Washington county,
Arkansas, were born five children: James A., Nancy J., John M., Martha E. and
William T. William Morton departed this life on the 30th of January, 1880,
having for several years survived his wife, whose death occurred December 5, 1873.

    Henry Tollett, the maternal grandfather of R. Mack Morton, was born in
Virginia in the year 1793. In early manhood he made his way to middle Tennessee,
where he was united in marriage to Eliza Brown, who was also a native of
Virginia, horn in 1795. Henry Tollett was a soldier in the War of 1812 and held
a commission as captain in the Black Hawk Indian wars. He and his young wife
emigrated to Little River county, Arkansas, in the year 1819 and a decade later
took up their abode in Washington county, this state, establishing their home
where the suhject of this review now resides. To them were horn five children:
William J., Rowland C., Margaret J., Ferdinand G. and Harriett L. Mr. Tollett
died in July, 1871, while the demise of his wife occurred on the 15th of
Octoher, 1885, when she had reached the ripe old age of more than ninety years.

    James A. Morton, the father of R. M. Morton, was born in Washington county,
Arkansas, Fehruary 19, 1831. On the 12th of July, 1860, he wedded Miss Harriett
L. Tollett and they became the parents of three sons: W. H., R. M. and J. E.,
all of whom are still living at this date. James A. Morton was reared in a
typical pioneer home, and, true to the faith of his fathers, in early manhood
united with the Presbyterian church, in which he served as an elder until his
death, which occurred on the 30th of November, 18S5. In politics he was a
democrat. He was a Confederate veteran of the Civil war and spent two years in
northern prisons, having suffered capture at the battle of Prairie Grove. His
wife, Harriett L. Morton, died at the old home where she was born, in November,
1905.

    R. Mack Morton, whose name introduces this review, obtained his education in
the country schools and when lie had reached adult age he took up as his life
work the occupation to which he had been reared. Throughout the greater part of
his life he has engaged in tilling the soil and harvesting the crops, but at
different periods his fellow countrymen have called him to public office, and he
has rendered efficient service in these connections. In 1914 he was chosen
sheriff and collector of Washington county and continued to serve in that
capacity until January, 1919, discharging his duties without fear or favor and
retiring from office as he had entered it—with the confidence and good will of
all law-abiding citizens. During the World war he was prominently identified
with all war activities in Washington county. He acted as chairman of the draft
board or classification hoard of the county throughout the period of hostilities
and until the board was discharged from further service. Since resuming the work
of the farm Mr. Morton has given his attention to the further development and
improvement of the fields, which he has brought under a high state of cultivation.

    In 1886 Mr. Morton was united in marriage to Miss Kate Smith, who was horn
in Washington county and is a sister of the wife of W. H. Morton, her husband's
brother. Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Morton are the parents of four children: Grace, who
is the wife of J. C. Barnett, a farmer of Washington county; Ruth, who died at
the age of twenty-six years; Albert Russell, who died at the age of thirteen
years, and Mamie, the wife of C. A. Carnes, who is engaged in farming with Mr.
Morton.

     In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Morton are Presbyterians, loyal to the
teachings of the church and contributing generously to its support. He belongs
also to the Masonic lodge of Farmington and has membership with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World. In
politics he has ever been a democrat and has taken a deep interest in politics,
yet he feels that the pursuits of private life are in themselves abundantly
worthy of his best efforts and is now concentrating his undivided time and
attention upon his agricultural interests. He owns the old home place and other
lands, so that his holdings embrace three hundred and seventy-five acres. He
carries on general farming and specializes in raising berries and tomatoes. In
former years he also engaged in raising thoroughbred horses and was one of the
best-known breeders in the county. On his farm stands an attractive and
commodious country residence, and the place is supplied with all the comforts
and conveniences of the model farm of the twentieth century. Mr. Morton is also
operating a canning factory on his farm, having a capacity of forty thousand
cans per day, and he usually ships from forty to fifty carloads of canned goods
per year. He cans blackberries, tomatoes and peaches, but the first two in
larger amounts. The first year in which he began this work he canned two hundred
and fifty cases in a small shed near his home. Then he developed his plant until
he now has a well-equipped establishment, which during the canning season
furnishes employment to many and constitutes an important source of revenue to
the community, while the capable management and unfaltering enterprise of the
proprietor have found their reward in the gratifying profit which comes to him
as the result of his labors in this connection.


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


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