Chapter 1 — John Morton, Sr. (1816–1879) (KWJD-2VK)

A Scottish Industrial Migrant to Illinois and Utah

Narrative Biography

John Morton, Sr. was born on 29 April 1816 in Lawmuir, in the historic parish of New Kilpatrick Parish, an area near Glasgow that became a center of early Latter-day Saint missionary success. He is the son of Samuel Morton and Catherine Merton. Of his parents, John says. “They were unmarried and my mother died a few months after I was born, and my father went away and left me, whither it was before I was born or after I know not. One thing I know, I never saw either of them but hope I will hereafter.”

A granddaughter writes, “Grandpa Morton’s mother was a schoolteacher in Scotland. She was in love with a wealthy man, but his folks wouldn’t consent to their marriage. They loved each other very much, and their son was born out of wedlock. Samuel Morton, the father, went away and Catherine Merton, the mother, died of a broken heart. Everything proved too much for her.”

John was raised by John & Jean (McIlquham) Miller, good friends of his mother’s family. Clearly John did not harbor a grudge about being an orphan. When he was just a few years old, his aunt (Samuel Morton’s sister) came to take him to live with her. She was well off financially and wanted to provide him with a good education. Little John had other ideas. He had grown to love his stepfamily; he did not want to leave. John kicked and squirmed until the man sent to fetch John had to let go. John grew up in Old Kilpatrick. According to scotnursing.net, the village is “a quiet place but hides a lot of historical importance.” The Antonine Wall, built in 1400’s, ends there. The wall ditch and other artifacts from the Roman occupation are still clearly visible. Today, the Eskine Bridge crosses the River Clyde at Old Kilpatrick. Beyond there the Clyde widens into an inlet called the Firth of Clyde

Raised in Scotland during a period of religious and social change, he later joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, aligning himself with a growing movement that encouraged gathering to Zion.

In the mid-1850’s, John emigrated with his wife and children, departing from Liverpool and crossing the Atlantic as part of an organized Latter-day Saint company. There John moved his family to Pennsylvania and was employed as a coal miner for a number of years, then he and his wife moved their family to Florence, Nebraska, the stepping off point for LDS pioneers to be organized into a wagon train company and then moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. Once in Utah, he, after a short time, moved to Provo Valley where Margaret had a brother who offered to help them get land and get settled.

In the Provo Valley, specifically Midway, John engaged in the essential work of frontier life, including clearing land, developing irrigation, and cultivating crops. His efforts contributed to the establishment of a stable agricultural community in what had only recently been undeveloped land. He remained in Midway for the rest of his life and died there on 24 February 1879, leaving a legacy as one of the early pioneers of Wasatch County.

Chapter 2 — Margaret Cunningham Morton (1815–1879) (KWJD-2VK)

A Scottish Homemaker & Mother Migrant to Illinois and Utah

Narrative Biography Morton

Margaret Cunningham, a native of Scotland, was born and raised in the same general region as her husband, near New Kilpatrick Parish. She married John Morton, Sr. in Scotland, and together they established their family before emigrating to America during the height of Latter-day Saint gathering in the mid-nineteenth century.

Margaret grew up in an area of Scotland which was an industrialized area and had power looms for the production of lace and coal mines that provided both fuel and employment for the miners.

Margaret accompanied her husband and children across the Atlantic and through the American interior to Utah, enduring the physical and emotional demands of long-distance migration. By the late 1850s, she was among the early settlers of Midway, where she helped establish a home in the newly developing community.

She originally did not convert to the church with the first part of her family, as she was concerned about the persecution that followed those who were baptized into the church. However, while still in Scotland, she had a dream which helped convince her to join the church. She was converted to the church and was baptized on 27 July 1851.

Her role in the settlement of Heber Valley was both essential and enduring. As a wife and mother, she managed the household under frontier conditions, supported agricultural life, and contributed to the social and religious fabric of the community. Like many pioneer women, her labor—though less frequently recorded—was vital to the success and stability of the settlement.

After her husband passed away, she made her living by selling yeast to the community, exchanging it for flour, sugar, etc. Every day, she would make yeast but only sold them on 4 days of the week. She never sold it on Sundays or on Relief Society days. People from all over Midway would come to buy yeast from her.

Margaret Cunningham Morton’s life reflects the resilience and faith of the women who crossed continents to build new lives in the American West, helping to anchor families and communities in an unfamiliar and often demanding environment.

Reflections by others of Margaret Cunningham Morton

Margaret’s Memories page of her FamilySearch account contains several reflections

from those who knew her, which are shown below.

Margaret Cunningham Morton (by unknown author)

Margaret Cunningham was born September 19, 1815, in Barceton, Baldernock Parish, Stirlingshire, Scotland. Her parents were Allen Cunningham & Elizabeth Marshall.

She married John Morton Sr. on December 31, 1840, at Motherwell Dalziel Parish, Lanarkshire, Scotland by Mr. Classon Minister of the Parish Church.

Her husband John was baptized into the LDS Church in 1850. Her conversion came later after having a dream of a man wearing a tall silk hat. He handed her a book and told her to read it. She was baptized into the LDS Church on July 27, 1851, by William

Brighton. She was confirmed the same day by David Hutchison. The baptism was performed at the Auchinearn Conference branch in the Kelvin River.

For 17 years the Morton’s lived in Scotland after their marriage. they had 6 children but 3 died at a very young age. The ones who lived to adulthood were Allen, Mary, and John Jr. John Sr. worked as a coal miner.

The family left for the United States on Saturday May 30th, 1857, on the sailing ship Tuscarora, arriving in Philadelphia on July 3, 1857. They went to Maryland for 1 year and in 1858 went to Pennsylvania where they lived and worked in the coal mines for 5 years preparing to come to Utah.

In May 1863 they started their journey west, going to St. Joseph, Missouri by railroad and taking a steamboat up the Missouri River to Florence, Nebraska, where they met the ox team (Capt. Wm. B. Preston Co.) headed for Utah. They arrived (in SLC) on Sept. 10, 1863. They then went to Franklin, Idaho for 3 months. They arrived in Wasatch Valley in Dec. of 1863 and went to the Upper Settlement, later named Midway.

As soon as spring arrived and work could start, they began clearing an area for a home and constructing the house. The work continued, but in 1866, the threat of Indian troubles appeared. The town built a fort, and each family had their place to protect themselves from the Indians.

Margaret’s husband was bothered with asthma from working in the coal mines and also had a dislocated hip following a coal mining accident.

After her husband died in 1879, she made her living by making yeast to exchange for flour, sugar, etc. She never sold yeast on Sunday and as people would come from all over Midway to get yeast from her, they would comment to each other concerning the spotless home and person of Margaret Morton and upon the pleasure which it gave them to talk with her.

A neighbor, Mrs. Margaret Hair, said of her: “She lived in a little log house which was immaculately clean. It had quite a bright green door on it. I so plainly remember the table she had with so many jars of yeast on it, which she made every single day. She would trade the yeast for flour and sugar and then sell them. In this way, she made her livelihood. She was just a grand old lady. She seemed to belong to everyone. She had quite round shoulders, but such a pleasant looking woman. It was nice to be around her. Everyone enjoyed her keen sense of humor.”

She was familiarly known as “Aunt Maggie”. She died on January 27, 1896, and is buried in the Midway Cemetery

Author: Unknown

Margaret Cunningham Morton (by Mrs. Margaret Hair, Neighbor)

Margaret Cunningham was born 19 Sept. 1815, in Baldernock, Sterling, Scotland and died 27 Jan. 1896 in Midway, Wasatch County, Utah. She married John Morton Sr. on December 31, 1840.

John was converted to the church and was baptized on 27 April 1850. Margaret was afraid of persecution. Her conversion came later after having a dream of a man wearing a tall silk hat. He handed her a book and told her to read it. She was baptized on 27 July 1851. Her brother Robert Cunningham, who was 12 years younger than she, was the branch President.

For 17 years the Mortons lived in Scotland after their marriage. They had six children but three died at a very young age. The ones who lived to adulthood were Allen, Mary and John Jr. John Sr. worked as a coal miner.

They felt the necessity for closer church association, so they left for Zion on the vessel Tuscarora and arrived in Philadelphia on 3 July 1867. They immediately went to Maryland and stayed one year which the father John and their oldest son, Allen, worked in the coal mines.

In 1858, they went to Pennsylvania, where they lived and worked for five years in preparation to go to Utah. In 1863, they started on their journey west, going to St. Joseph, Missouri by railroad and then taking a steamboat up the Missouri River to Florence, Nebraska, where they met an ox team train taking members of the church to Utah. They arrived in Utah in September 1863 and then went to Franklin, Idaho, for 3 months. Margaret’s brother, Robert, lived in Midway, Utah and he sent for them. They arrived in Provo Valley in Dec. of 1863 and went on to the Upper Settlement called Mound City at that time. It was later named “Midway”.

As soon as spring arrived and work could start, they began clearing an area for a home and constructing a house for shelter. Allen, who was 21 and John Jr. who was 13 helped their father, clearing, building, digging ditches, etc. The work of clearing land, growing crops and establishing a home continued peacefully, but in 1866, the threat of Indian troubles appeared on the horizon. They built a fort and each family had their place to protect themselves from the Indian.

Margaret’s husband was bothered with asthma from working in the coal mines and also had a dislocated hip following an accident. When they arrived in Midway, they had a hard time finding food in the wintertime. They lived a lot on nettle greens.

After her husband died in 1879, she made her living by making yeast to exchange for flour, sugar etc. She never sold yeast on Sunday or Relief Society Day and as people would come from all over Midway to get yeast from her, they would comment to each other concerning the spotless home and person of Margaret Morton and upon the pleasure which it gave them to talk with her.

A neighbor, Mrs. Margaret Hair, said of her: “She lived in a little log house which was immaculately clean. It had quite a bright green door on it. I so plainly remember the table she had with so many jars of yeast on it, which she made every single day. She would trade the yeast for flour and sugar, then sell them. In this way she made her livelihood.

She had certain days she sold the yeast. As I recall it was 4 days out of the week, never on Sunday or Relief Society Day.

She was just a grand old lady. She seemed to belong to everyone. She was an especially good friend of my Grandmother Bonner. She had quite round shoulders, but such a pleasant looking woman. It was nice to be around her. Everyone enjoyed her keen sense of Humor.

Once when she was quite sick, she stayed at our house for 3 days. I had a toothache one of those nights, and walked the floor, holding my face. She raised up and said she had never seen anyone have it so badly unless they were expecting a baby.

Author: Mrs. Margaret Hair, Neighbor

Footnote: FamilySearch/Margaret Cunningham Morton/Memories

Chapter 3 – Biography of Morton Family written by Ermel J. Morton

The following chronology/biography was prepared by one of the descendants, Ermel J. Morton.

Chronology of the Morton Family (1815-1863)

Introduction

In order to give as clear a picture as possible of the early history of the Morton family, it is best to list the places where the various events occurred and to provide a map showing the various places. The following is the list of places with the main events associated with each place:

Baldernock: A parish established in 1624, in Stirling County (Stirlingshire), 7 miles north of Glasgow, population 800. The Auchinearn Branch records (L.D.S.) state that Margaret Cunningham was born at Barceton, Baldernock Parish, Stirling, Scotland. There appears to be a question about this. See under Borrowstoun below.

Borrowstounness: A burgh (town or city) Also a parish since 1656. located in Linlithgow County, 3 miles north of Linlithgow, population 2347. Allan Cunningham, father of Margaret Cunningham, was from Borrowstoun, either Borrowstounness or Borrowstoun, a village located to the south. See next item.

Borrowstoun: A village in the parish of Borrowstounness, located In Linlithgow County, 3/4 miles south of Borrowstounness, population 60, Allan Cunningham was from here, and it may be that Margaret Cunningham was born here.

See the following explanation:

In John Morton’s personal record, he states: My wife was born to the year 1815, October 27, Ridernoch Parish, Stirlingshire, Hight Preston.” The information on the family group sheet of John Morton and Margaret Cumingam has evidently been taken from this source. The group sheet records Margaret’s birthplace as Ridernoch, Stirling, Scotland.

However, this information differs somewhat from that given in the early Auchinearn Branch records. (Margaret and her son Allen were baptized while the family were members of the Auchincearn Branch). The information as to Margaret’s birth is given in the Auchinearn Branch records as follows: “Margaret Morton, born Barceton, parish Baldernock, Stirling, Scotland, 27 October 1815.” The name Barceton appears in the entry and resembles Boreston, given in John Morton’s personal record and cited above. Many words written in the 1800’s and earlier were written as they were pronounced and spellings varied a lot and were not standardized. These two words, Boreston and Barceton, also closely resemble Borrowstoun. There are no names Boreston and Barceton listed in the Genealogical Atlas of Scotland, including the maps. However, there is a Borrowstoun, which also closely resembles Boreston (and Barceton) in pronunciation. I have also not been able to find a Ridernoch, the name of the town given on the family group sheet, in any of the maps or gazetteers of Scotland. Perhaps a further search may yield some information on this.

In the Parish Register of Baldernock Parish, Stirling, the following birth entry found: “Cunningham, George, lawful son of Allan Cunningham, miner, Borrowston and Elizabeth Marshall born 28 December 1817 and baptized 1st March 1818.” Allan Cunningham and Elizabeth Marshall are the parents of Margaret Cunningham; hence, George was the brother of Margaret. George is evidently the second child (born in 1817), while Margaret was the first child (born in 1815). A search for the Baldernoch Parish record of births of 1805-1819 has failed to show any record of Margaret’s birth, just the birth of George. Why is there no record there for Margaret, but there is for George? Could it be that Margaret was not born at Baldernoch?

The Scotch (Old English also) word “hight” means “is or was called” or “named”. Evidently, when John Mortonn wrote Hicht Boreston in his personal record he meant “named Boreston,” “name of Boreston,” or “is called Boreston.” As mentioned previously. There is no Boreston or High Boreston (as given by Joseph Morton in his family records) listed in the gazetteers of Scotland or shown on the maps. Neither is the name Ridernoch, Morton had moved his family to the new location, as Mary, the next child, was also born there. Margaret died at the age of a year and a half.

1847 – Margaret, the fourth child, died on 30th August 1847, at the age of one year and six months. She was buried in Deyel Churchyard, parish of Lanarkshire.

1848 – Mary, the fifth child and third daughter, was born 28th March 1849, at Holytown, Napier Square, Bothwell Parish, Lanarkshire, Scotland. She emigrated with the family to Utah in 1857 at the age of 8 and died 10th February 1880, at the age of 30 in Midway, Utah.

1849 – John Morton was baptized 27th April 1850 in the River Clyde in the Kelvindock and Knightswood Branch, Knightswood Conference, by James Henderson, a priest. He was confirmed on the same day (27th April 1850) by Robert Cunningham, president of the Branch. Robert Cunningham was the brother of John’s wife Margaret. John’s membership remained in the Branch until 25th May 1851. Since John and his family were living at Motherwell, attendance at church required a round- trip of some 30 or so miles.

John Morton was called and ordained a teacher on the 25th day of July 1850. Ha was ordained by Joseph Clements, president of the Glasgow Conference. The ordination occurred at the Knightswood Conference, Kelvindock and Knightswood Branch.

John Morton was called and ordained a priest on 18th of September 1850. He was ordained by Alexander May, an elder of the Knightswood Conference.

1851 – John Morton, the sixth child and third son of John and Margaret Cunningham Morton, was born 29th April 1851, at Torrance (Florance), Campsie Parish, Stirlingshire, Scotland. It is possible that the family had moved to Torrance, which is about 44 miles north and a little east of Glasgow by this time. Knightswood is about 7 miles to the southeast of Torrance. Assuming that the move of residence was made, the family moved to the new location sometime between the birth of Mary on 28th of April 1849, and the birth of John, two years later. Perhaps the move was made before John Sr. was baptized and consequently, he may have been in a better location to hear the gospel. It appears that Margaret’s brother Robert may have had something to do with the conversion.

Early in the year, John decided to move his membership to the Auchinearn Branch, which was much closer to Torrance. Auchinearn is about 2 ½ miles north of Glasgow and about 3 miles south of Torrance. This change of branches made it easier for John, and likely his wife and children, to attend church. According to the Auchinearn Branch records, John Morton’s membership was received into the Branch from the Kelvindock and Knightswood Branch on 25th May 1851. The records also state that he was baptized 27th April 1850, at the Knightswood Conference. The Morton membership records were removed from the Holytown Branch 5th February 1854, nearly 3 years later.

On 27th July 1851, Margaret Cunningham Morton was baptized a member of the Church by William Brighton. She was confirmed a member of the church on the same day by David Hutchison. The baptism was performed in the Kelvin River (Celvan Water, in John’s personal record). This baptism was conducted at the Auchinearn Conference (Branch), Bishop Briggs, Glasgow. Bishop Briggs is adjacent to Auchinearn, and I have no information on whether the branch meetings were held at Auchinearn or Bishop Briggs, most likely at the latter. Two weeks after Margaret was baptized, her son Allen

was also baptized at the same place. The Auchinearn Branch records state that Allan, John and Margaret’s second son, were baptized 10th August 1851 by A. Johnston (Andrew Johnston in John’s record) and were confirmed by James Anderson on the same day. (There is a discrepancy here. John’s personal record states that Allan was confirmed by David Hutcheson.)

William Brighton was an elder, and David Hutcheson was president, evidently president of the Branch or Conference. There appears to be no way to determine whether Allan was confirmed by David Hutchison or by James Anderaon. It appears certain, at least, that Elder Hutchison confirmed Margaret.

John Morton, the sixth child, was blessed by A. Ferguson in the Auchinearn Branch on the 27th of July 1951. Mary Mar Ferguson in the Auchinearn John Horton, the sixth child, was blessed by A. Ferguson in the Auchinearn Branch on the 27th of July 1851. Mary Morton was blessed by D. Hutchison (David Hutchtson), evidently the same day. (This information has been taken from the early church records of the Auchinearn Branch. The branch records list Mary’s birthdate as 29th March 1849. The family group sheet in the genealogical archives gives the date as March 28th, but John Morton’s own personal record gives the date as 29th March, agreeing with the Auchinearn Branch records.

The 1851 Census of Campsie Parish, Stirlingshire, village of Torrance, lists the following members of the John Morton Family and gives the following information about them:

John Morton, head, male, age 34, married, occupation ironstone miner, born in Dunbarton. New Kilpatrick.

Margaret Horton, female, age 35, wife, born in Stirling, Baldernock.

Allan (Alan in the census), male, age 8, son, scholar, born Lanark, Motherwell. Mary Morton, female, age 2, daughter, Lanark, Holytown.

The name of John Jr. is not listed in this census, since John was born on the 26^th of April 1851, the census must have been taken before that date. The Census must have been taken at the end of March or early April as Mary’s age is listed as 2 years and her second birthday occurred on 28th of March, one month prior to John’s birth.

1853 – On the 28^th of March 1853. John Morton commenced to write his personal history and the record of his family and children in Dumbartonshire, New Kilpatrick Parish. He and his family were then members of the Auchinearn Branch of the L.D.S. Church, located at Bishop Briggs, Auchinearn, about 2 1/2 to 3 miles north of Glasgow. The question arises: Did the Morton family move to New Kilpatrick, John’s old home between the birth of John Jr. on 26 April 1851 in Torrance, Campsie Parish? It is possible that the family made the move. New Kilpatrick is 6 miles northeast of Glasgow and about 6°-7 miles west northwest of Auchinearn. Or was John Morton merely visiting New Kilpatrick for a short stay when he began to write his personal history? It is difficult to say without further evidence.

1854 – John Morton and his family had their church memberships transferred from the Auchinearn Branch to the Holytown Branch. The Auchinearn Branch records state that the family memberships were received at the Holytown Branch from the Auchinearn Branch on the 5^th of February 1854.

On the 30th of July 1854, John Morton was ordained an Elder by Paul Gourley at Holytown. On the 27th of August 1854, John Morton was called and appointed to preside over the Holytown Branch in the absence of President Burt. There is no information as to how long John Morton served in this capacity, probably less than a few months.

1857 – John Morton and his family emigrated on the 17^th of May 1857 from the Holytown Branch. Although there is no information as to their activities during 1855-56, they must have been saving money and making preparations during some of that time for the move to America.

The family went to Liverpool, England to find passage to America. Liverpool was a center for the embarkation of Saints emigrating to America. The family found passage aboard the sailing vessel Tuscarora. The following entry concerning the voyage of the Tuscarora is found in The Church Chronology by Andrew Jenson, Church Historian:

Saturday, May 30th, 1857 “The ship Tuscarora sailed from Liverpool, England, with 547 Saints, under the direction of Richard Harper. It arrived at Philadelphia (Friday) July 3rd, and the emigrants continued by rail to Burlington, Towa, in the vicinity of which most of them sought temporary employment.

Karl G. Maeser, eminent Church educator, was aboard the vessel. His testimony and spirit was a great influence on John Morton and his family in strengthening their

testimonies. It is stated in the ‘Life of Karl G. Maeser’ by his son, that an infant son of Karl and his wife, died aboard the boat shortly before it arrived in Philadelphia. There was quite a contrast between the sadness of the Maeser family and Saints and the gaiety of the July 4th celebration which greeted them when they stepped off the ship in Philadelphia. Evidently, the celebration had begun a day early.

Another account of the voyage of the Tuscarora and the Saints aboard it was published in the Millennial Star, Vol, XIX, pp 376, 489, as follows:

One Hundred and First Company. — “Tuscarora”, 547 souls. The ship “Tuscarora”, Captain Dumlevy, sailed from Liverpool, May 30th, 1857, having 547 of the Saints on board, of whom 298 were from the Scandinavian and the remainder from the British Mission. Elder Richard Harper was appointed president of the company, with Joseph Stapleton and C. M. Funk as his counselors. The Saints who sailed in that vessel only contemplated going to the States that season, there to labor and procure means to enable them to cross the plains to Utah another year. After a pleasant voyage lasting about five weeks, the “Tuscarora” arrived in Philadelphia on the 3rd of July. From that port most of the immigrants continued the journey by rail to Burlington, Iowa, where they scattered in search of employment.

Evidently, the group was the 10Ist company of Saints who had immigrated to America. John Morton must have decided to stop off in Pennsylvania because of the coal mines

there and perhaps because of friends or relatives in the area. Mary Ana McGimpsey’a great grandfather, James McElroy and his wife Sarah Wisherd or Sarah Wishart both died in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. There are a large number of MeElroys listed in the records of Lancaster during the 1800’s. This fact suggests that the Mortons (John and his family) may have had relatives or friends living in the area, and to whom they had landed in Philadelphia.

An interesting account is given by President Angus Cannon of his meeting the with the Saints of the Tuscarora soon after the landing. The following is the account: “On the 3^rd of July, the ship Tuscarora came to her berth with upwards of 540 saints on board, enjoying remarkable good health, notwithstanding 2 infants died after their arrival in port. Bro. Richard Harper presided over the company, which was comprised of persons from 7 different nations, namely, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, England, Scotland, and Wales. These people, although of different tongues, were of one heart and one mind, being baptized into one faith. I witnessed no bickerings or strife amongst them.

The Sainta spoke of Captain Domerly (Donlevy), as a gentleman in his behavior towards them; he was likewise well pleased with their conduct on board and said he would never wish to carry better people over the sea than they were. In fact, they have been pronounced the most respectable company of passengers that have landed in this part, by members who visited them. The voyage was pleasant as it only lasted 32 days. They had a few marriages, births, and deaths. It was 10 A.M. when we boarded the vessel on Friday (July 3), and all were sent away by the next day at 6 P. M., with the exception of some who took up their abode in this city.”

“Between three and four hundred went west by the Baltimore Railroad, under the direction of Elder Christian Hyer, who was sent by President Erastus Snow to take charge of the Scandinavian Saints.

Others went to Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, and different parts of Pennsylvania. It was gratifying to see all enjoy such excellent spirit.” (From The Mormon, July 18, 1857:3).

Within a short time, John Morton and his family moved immediately to Maryland, where they stayed for a year while John and his son Allan, who was 15 years of age, secured work in a coal mine.

1858 – John Morton moved with his family back to Pennsylvania, and his sons Allan and John Ir. found work at a coal mine. By this time, John Jr. was old enough to work. The Mortons lived there, possibly in the vicinity of Lancaster, for five years until they moved to Utah. Lancaster is about 35-40 miles west of Philadelphia, where they landed at the time they arrived in America.

1863 – John Morton and his family decided sometime in the early part of the year that the time was right for them to move to Utah. They left Pennsylvania (perhaps Lancaster) sometime during the latter part of June. Travel west then was aboard the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

They traveled to St. Joseph, Missouri, by rail, crossing through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, to the western boundary of Missouri. At St. Joseph, they caught a steamboat and travelled up the Missouri River to Florence (then known as Winter Quarters), Nebraska.

Earlier in the year (1863), Nebraska earlier in the year (1863), Brigham Young called a large number of men with wagons and teams to go to Florence, Nebraska, and bring the large number of Saints who had arrived there and were in need of assistance to make the journey to Utah . The Church Chronology by Andrew Jenson, Church Historian, gives the following entry for May, 1863: Three Hundred and eighty-four wagons, 488 mules, 3,604 oxen, taking 235,969 pounds of flour, started east to assist the poor of the immigration; 4,300 pounds of Utah grown cotton was sent east for sale, with the teams. The captains were John W. Woolly, John E Murdock, Horten D. Haight, Peter Nebeker, William B. Preston, Horton D. Haight, Peter Nebeker, William B. Preston, Thomas E. Ricks, Rosel Hyde, John F. Sanders, Samuel D. White, and Danial D. McArthur. Horace

1. Eldredge acted as Church emigration agent in the States this year.”

After a long and arduous journey of 62 days and some 1,000 miles and over, the Mortons arrived in Salt Lake City. They left Florence on July 9, 1863, with Captain William B. Preston Company. Captain Freston had 55 wagons in his charge. The arrival of the wagon train in Salt Lake City is recounted by The Church Chronology by Andrew Jenson, as follows: “Thursday September 10 (1863) —Captain William B. Preston’s train of immigrants, which had left Florence, July 9th, with 55 wagons, arrived in G. S. L. City (Great Salt Lake City).”

The Deseret News of September 10, 1863, gives a little more detail than this. The Deseret News reported as follows: “The third, Capt. Preston’s Church company train arrived in the vicinity of the city (Salt Lake City) — on the evening of the 9th and came in on Thursday morning. The teams generally were in better condition than those of the companies which preceded it, but many of the oxen were very poor, indicating that they had hard times. Many of the oxen were very poor, indicating that they had experienced times for want of feed or had been driven too fast.

“The loss of stock in all the companies which have arrived thus far, of those that were sent from Valleys of Deseret last spring for the gathering of the poor Saints, has been greater than that sustained in any previous year, according to the number of teams. There may be some unavoidable cause for the among cattle on the plains this season, but the opinion is entertained that much of the loss of cattle reported has been caused by overdriving, and for the want, at times, of requisite care and attention …”

“There has been, as per report, considerable sickness on the plains season, but upon their arrival, they appear healthy and vigorous and are ready and willing to engage in any business for which they are capacitated, for the procurement of a livelihood.”

After a brief rest of perhaps a day or two in Salt Lake City, the Mortons continued on with Captain Preston to Franklin, Idaho, then Franklin, Cache County (or Valley), Utah. They arrived at Franklin on Monday, September 14, 1863. At that time, Franklin was the center of Mormon colonization in Cache Valley. A fort had been erected there and from

there groups of Latter-day Saints fanned out in different directions establishing settlements in surrounding areas. Captain Preston, who later became the Presiding Bishop of the Church, was the bishop of the small ward which had recently been organized in Logan.

The Mortons stayed at Franklin for slightly over three months. During that time, John Jr. and Mary were baptized members of the Church, they were both baptized on the 27th of September 1863, just 13 days after they had arrived at Franklin. Mary was then 14 years old and John was 12. The baptisms had evidently been delayed due to the family moving about a great deal.

Robert Cunningham, a brother of Margaret, had come west a year earlier and had located at Midway, Wasatch County, Utah. In Scotland, he was president, evidently of the Knightswood Conference, when John Sr. was baptized and confirmed member of the Church. At the time the Mortons moved from Franklin to Midway, Midway was then known as the Upper settlement and as Mount City, the latter name being given due to the mounds created there by the hot pots.

Soon after John Morton and his family had arrived in Franklin, Robert Cunningham wrote to them and urged them to come to Provo Valley, where Midway was located, and he would help them to secure land there. John Morton and his family, after investigation, moved to Provo Valley at the end of December 1863.

Footnote: Source – FamilySearch/John Morton Sr./memories 

Chapter 4 – The Way Westward (Florence, Nebraska to Salt Lake City, Utah)

Once the Morton’s arrived at Florence, Nebraska, they joined a wagon train.

William B. Preston Company Immigration Company