An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company,
Spokane, WA. 1905, pages 353-354.

HON. JOSEPH W. MORTON is a prominent and wealthy citizen of Wasco county, living
three miles out from Hood River on the State road. He owns the Riverside farm
which lies south of the Columbia and consists of four hundred acres. Three acres
are planted to strawberries and the balance of the land produces other fruit and
general crops. The place is valuable and one of the best in this part of the
county. Mr. Morton has it well improved and manages the estate with a display of
wisdom and thrift.      

Joseph W. Morton was born in Henry county, Iowa, the son of Charles R. and
Caroline (Wallace) Morton, natives of Ohio. The mother's family is allied with
the old Scotch Wallace family, well known in Scottish history. The father came
from the Morton family which has been identified with America long before there
was a United States. They came on the good ship, Ann, soon after the Mayflower
landed, and are well known in various portions of this country. Levi P. Morton,
at one time vice president, was a member of the family. The father died at
Salem, in 1894. He crossed the plains in 1852 and returned east and came west
again in 1875. Our subject was raised principally in Oregon. The family came
here when he was ten years of age. After completing his studies in the district
school, he graduated from the business college in Portland then remained with
his father on the farm until he came to this place in 1889.      

On February 14, 1886, at Hood River, Mr. Morton married Miss Annie M. Haynes, a
native of Portland and the daughter of Charles H. and Elizabeth J. (Quick)
Haynes. She died in June, 1889, at Portland. On May 1, 1902, at Hood River, Mr.
Morton married Miss Pearl Groshong, a native of Kansas and the daughter of Peter
and Malinda (Miller) Groshong, natives of Ohio. Mr. Morton has one brother,
Elijah, and two sisters, Mrs. Carrie E. Haynes and Nellie G. Mrs. Morton has
four brothers, Frank, Abraham B., Hood, and Joseph P., and four sisters, Mrs.
Clara E. Jones, Mrs. Grace Elliott, Mrs. Jennie Hixon, and Mrs. Mary Gordon.      

Politically, Mr. Morton is a very active Re-publican. He has been a delegate to
many of the conventions and in 1898, was elected to represent this district in
the state legislature. He was active and influential in that capacity and
endorsed the bill, which afterward became a law, that provides for the especial
care of trees and shrubbery in the state, and has done a great deal in keeping
the state clean from various pests which are detrimental to horticultural
interests. Mr. Morton is a member of the I.O.O.F., and a popular and influential
man.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.