Matthew Morton, founder and president
of the Morton Manufacturing Company,
Muskegon Heights, Mich., and father of
the draw-cut shaper, died at his home
in that city on March 10 after a brief
illness.
Mr. Morton was born in 1836 in Scot
land, and when but eight years old was
brought to this country by his parents.
The family settled on a farm in Macomb
county, Mich., and it was here that young
Morton first began his mechanical career.
On his way to market in Romeo, a city
seven miles distant, he would frequently
visit a small machine shop and spend a
little time there making parts for a small
foot lathe, which he would bring home
and store in the woodshed. After collect
ing the necessary parts he finally assem-
bled and completed the lathe, which at
the time displeased his folks, for they did
not favor his becoming a mechanic.
At 21 he moved to Armada village with
his foot lathe and started in business, a
year later moving to Lapeer, Mich., en
gaging in the steam-engine business under
the name of the Lapeer Steam Engine
Works. In 1861 he constructed his first
steam engine. He made the patterns,
molded them, melting the iron in a home
made cupola, machined and erected it en
tirely unassisted. His business grew and
he established a record for building en
gines of economical steam consumption.
After five years' partnership with the late
William McDonald he disposed of his in
terests in Lapeer to Mr. McDonald and
established a steam-engine business in

Romeo, here building his first marine en-
gine, which was very successful. In 1878,
in partnership with A. Hamlin he went
into the agricultural implement manufac-
turing business, but trade depression and
financial reverses caused him to again
start in business on a foot lathe, which
was the start of the present plant.
In a short time he produced the first
successful keyseater to cut with a single
tool, and it proved to be the correct prin-
ciple. In 1887 he developed the Morton
portable slotter and planer, the first ma
chine to be used in the Pittsburg district
for planing the feet and windows of roll
housings, which proved valuable for heavy
work, best attested by its large sale.
In 1891 the factory was moved to
Muskegon Heights, and in the same year
incorporated under the name of the

Morton Manufacturing Company, with
Mr. Morton as president.
A passion for mechanics and the. de-
velopment of new ideas and improve
ments in machinery characterized Mr.
Morton's life as is shown by the fact of
starting his draw-cut shaper with "a 26-
inch stroke as the first product in this
line, and developing it into the largest
traveling-head shaper or planer in the
world. During his lifetime he had taken
out over forty patents which have nearly
all been for useful machines and appli-
ances and was always original in his
ideas.
He was a man of strong character and
honest convictions, his motives in both
business and private life always being
actuated by a desire to do right.
With the esteem and respect of all
those with whom he came in contact,

cherished at home and honored in busi-
ness, his life is an example of work well
done.
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