"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a
brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western
Historical Pub. Co., 1902.  Page 628.  Malheur County.

JOSEPH A. MORTON

     This intrepid pioneer and enterprising stockman and farmer of Malheur
county stands among the leaders of this section of the country in the stock
business, having an excellent band of horses, numbering many hundreds, besides
which he owns much real estate in various sections.  He is a man of intelligence
and in all his varied career, much of which has been spent in the arduous
pursuits of the frontier, he has manifested great energy, perseverance, and
faithfulness, coupled with a keen discrimination in business affairs.  Mr.
Morton was born in Preston county, Virginia, on January 5, 1834, being the son
of James and Jane (Connor) Morton.  In 1843 he went with his parents to Darke
county, Ohio, and from there to Howard county, Indiana.  His education was
gained in the log schoolhouses of those days, and he had to walk a long distance
to attend school.  He was reared on a farm and in 1852 left the old home place
and started for himself.  Going to Adams county, Iowa, he there operated a
sawmill for a time and there also occurred his marriage with Miss Clementine
Ireland, in 1856.  They went with ox teams to Coffey county, Kansas, entered
government land, and in the spring of 1862 went with ox teams thence to the
Grande Ronde valley.  They were members of a large train and endured much
hardship on the route, being six months in making the journey.  Indians were
troublesome also.  Mr. Morton located land in the new country and the following
spring went to Eagle creek, to mine, which occupation he followed until 1870.
At that date he came to lower Willow creek, near Vale, and engaged in the stock
business.  In 1872 he removed to Bully creek and two years later to the Snake
river near Ontario.  In 1895 Mr. Morton sold that property and bought a toll
road running from Horse Shoe bend to Placerville and operated this until 1898,
then bought a farm two miles west from Ontario, continuing the stock business
all the time.  He sold that farm and bought nearer the town, which farm he also
sold and then bought a place in Snake river, it being an island of about five
hundred acres.  In the spring of 1902 Mr. Morton bought sixty acres four miles
southwest from Ontario, which is the family home at the present time.  His place
is well improved with building and corrals and orchards and provided with water
for irrigating.
     

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.