Bio notes by Ronald Decker, contributor #47547678
Oren F. Morton is the author of several books on the history of Virginia and West Virginia counties. His parents were Harrison Gray Otis Morton and Hellen Theodate Gibson.
His papers were given to the West Virginia & Regional History Center at West Virginia University. The online description of this collection states:
"Correspondence, diaries, sketch books, published and unpublished manuscripts, literary notes, business records, and printed material of a schoolteacher, newspaper writer, county historian, novelist and essayist from Kingwood, whose fiction and nonfiction writings deal primarily with the Virginia-West Virginia Allegheny highlands. His best known works are WINNING OR LOSING?: A STORY OF THE WEST VIRGINIA HILLS (1901); LAND OF THE LAUREL: A STORY OF THE ALLEGHANIES (1903); UNDER THE COTTONWOODS: A SKETCH OF LIFE ON A PRAIRIE HOMESTEAD (1900); and histories of Preston, Pendleton, and Monroe counties. The collection also includes a manuscript temperance paper, "The Meridian Temperance Banner," 1880; and a list of marriage bonds for Monroe County, 1799-1846."
Bio notes by contributor RadarZDC (#50930897):
My research shows that Morton was married to Helen Louise Moody who was 39 years younger than him. They had one son, Harry Frederic Morton, who worked as a postal worker in Cass County, Indiana. He never married and had no children. When Oren Frederic Morton died, neither his wife or son attended the funeral. Morton died penniless and was buried in the 'Strangers Lot' at Mt. Hebron Cemetery. Two anonymous citizens paid for his original gravestone (in 1926). In 1973, Garland Quarles, local historian, asked the Kiwanis Club of Winchester to purchase Morton a proper headstone since the old one was in such bad shape. The Club bought and installed the 2nd stone and dedicated it on July 12, 1973. In 2021, Kiwanian Scott Straub researched 100 years of Kiwanis Club history and suggested that a wreath laying take place at Morton's grave since the Club had purchased the 2nd stone and had an obligation to remember him. While cleaning Morton's stone with Kiwanian Robin Doss, Straub asked the cemetery supervisor what happened to the original stone and was told there was no record, but old stones were tossed in piles by the maintenance building. Straub and Doss looked around the discarded stones and discovered the original stone was still intact. A cleaning was performed on the original stone and it was installed directly behind the 2nd stone on Morton's grave in order to preserve the history, thus giving Morton the distinction of having 2 gravestones on his site.
Follow-up bio comments by contributor Ronald Decker:
Bessie Morton, possible wife of Oren Morton, appears to be the person buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Logansport, Indiana (memorial #34819791). Harry Frederic Morton, possible son of Oren and Bessie Morton, appears to be the person buried at this same Mount Hope Cemetery (memorial #34819792). Bessie and Harry Morton share a gravestone and have adjacent graves. The obituary of Harry Frederic Morton in his memorial supports some of the statements in the above paragraph.
****************************************************************
3-6-2022 UPDATE: Marian Elizabeth Moody and Helen Louise Moody were sisters from Logansport, IN. Helen Louise married Theo Bandy in 1913 and is documented being with him until his death in 1979. Helen & Theo lived in Colorado and California and had children together. Marian Elizabeth (aka "Bessie") is the documented mother of Harry Frederic Morton. Harry is listed on her death certificate as her son. Bessie is listed on Harry's death certificate as his mother. The only discrepancy is Harry's birth certificate says Helen Louise is his mother.
An examination of documents related to Bessie sheds some light on this. Bessie moved back to Logansport, IN and lived with her mother, Caroline. She is listed in the City Directory several times as the widow of Frederic Morton. The most curious entry is the 1924 listing saying she is the widow of Morton----Morton didn't die until 1926.
Later directory entries show Bessie as "Bessie H L Morton"; suggesting that she is using her sister's initials to identify herself. This might lead one to believe that she presented herself to Morton as "Helen Louise Moody" when they met, dated and married. Frederic Morton listed himself in the 1923 Who's Who in America as being married to Helen Louise Moody of Logansport, IN on July 21, 1915. Bessie lied about who she was to Frederic; and when she left him to return home, she lied about Morton being dead.
*********************************************************
Obituary from Logansport, IN:
Harry F. Morton
A funeral Mass for Harry F. Morton, 87, of Logansport, will be held at 8 a.m. Monday in All Saints Catholic Church.
He died at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, April 22, 2004, in Chase Convalescent Center.
Born Feb. 17, 1917, in Staunton, Va., he was the son of Bessie Moody Morton.
A graduate of Logansport High School, Mr. Morton earned an associate's degree in 1952 from North Park College and Theological Seminary in Chicago. In 1955,
he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Redlands in California. He also had attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
Mr. Morton was a retired letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in Logansport. In the late 1930s, he had been employed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in
Monon. In the 1950s, he was employed by the Railway Express Agency in Chicago. He also held various other jobs in the Chicago area.
Mr. Morton was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in World War II from 1939 to 1943.
He was a member of All Saints Catholic Church and had been a member of the former St. Vincent de Paul Church.
Father Michael McKinney will officiate at the services. Burial, with military honors, will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery.
Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday in Kroeger Funeral Home.
Source: Pharos Tribune Publication Date: 4/23/2004
Oren F. Morton is the author of several books on the history of Virginia and West Virginia counties. His parents were Harrison Gray Otis Morton and Hellen Theodate Gibson.
His papers were given to the West Virginia & Regional History Center at West Virginia University. The online description of this collection states:
"Correspondence, diaries, sketch books, published and unpublished manuscripts, literary notes, business records, and printed material of a schoolteacher, newspaper writer, county historian, novelist and essayist from Kingwood, whose fiction and nonfiction writings deal primarily with the Virginia-West Virginia Allegheny highlands. His best known works are WINNING OR LOSING?: A STORY OF THE WEST VIRGINIA HILLS (1901); LAND OF THE LAUREL: A STORY OF THE ALLEGHANIES (1903); UNDER THE COTTONWOODS: A SKETCH OF LIFE ON A PRAIRIE HOMESTEAD (1900); and histories of Preston, Pendleton, and Monroe counties. The collection also includes a manuscript temperance paper, "The Meridian Temperance Banner," 1880; and a list of marriage bonds for Monroe County, 1799-1846."
Bio notes by contributor RadarZDC (#50930897):
My research shows that Morton was married to Helen Louise Moody who was 39 years younger than him. They had one son, Harry Frederic Morton, who worked as a postal worker in Cass County, Indiana. He never married and had no children. When Oren Frederic Morton died, neither his wife or son attended the funeral. Morton died penniless and was buried in the 'Strangers Lot' at Mt. Hebron Cemetery. Two anonymous citizens paid for his original gravestone (in 1926). In 1973, Garland Quarles, local historian, asked the Kiwanis Club of Winchester to purchase Morton a proper headstone since the old one was in such bad shape. The Club bought and installed the 2nd stone and dedicated it on July 12, 1973. In 2021, Kiwanian Scott Straub researched 100 years of Kiwanis Club history and suggested that a wreath laying take place at Morton's grave since the Club had purchased the 2nd stone and had an obligation to remember him. While cleaning Morton's stone with Kiwanian Robin Doss, Straub asked the cemetery supervisor what happened to the original stone and was told there was no record, but old stones were tossed in piles by the maintenance building. Straub and Doss looked around the discarded stones and discovered the original stone was still intact. A cleaning was performed on the original stone and it was installed directly behind the 2nd stone on Morton's grave in order to preserve the history, thus giving Morton the distinction of having 2 gravestones on his site.
Follow-up bio comments by contributor Ronald Decker:
Bessie Morton, possible wife of Oren Morton, appears to be the person buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Logansport, Indiana (memorial #34819791). Harry Frederic Morton, possible son of Oren and Bessie Morton, appears to be the person buried at this same Mount Hope Cemetery (memorial #34819792). Bessie and Harry Morton share a gravestone and have adjacent graves. The obituary of Harry Frederic Morton in his memorial supports some of the statements in the above paragraph.
****************************************************************
3-6-2022 UPDATE: Marian Elizabeth Moody and Helen Louise Moody were sisters from Logansport, IN. Helen Louise married Theo Bandy in 1913 and is documented being with him until his death in 1979. Helen & Theo lived in Colorado and California and had children together. Marian Elizabeth (aka "Bessie") is the documented mother of Harry Frederic Morton. Harry is listed on her death certificate as her son. Bessie is listed on Harry's death certificate as his mother. The only discrepancy is Harry's birth certificate says Helen Louise is his mother.
An examination of documents related to Bessie sheds some light on this. Bessie moved back to Logansport, IN and lived with her mother, Caroline. She is listed in the City Directory several times as the widow of Frederic Morton. The most curious entry is the 1924 listing saying she is the widow of Morton----Morton didn't die until 1926.
Later directory entries show Bessie as "Bessie H L Morton"; suggesting that she is using her sister's initials to identify herself. This might lead one to believe that she presented herself to Morton as "Helen Louise Moody" when they met, dated and married. Frederic Morton listed himself in the 1923 Who's Who in America as being married to Helen Louise Moody of Logansport, IN on July 21, 1915. Bessie lied about who she was to Frederic; and when she left him to return home, she lied about Morton being dead.
*********************************************************
Obituary from Logansport, IN:
Harry F. Morton
A funeral Mass for Harry F. Morton, 87, of Logansport, will be held at 8 a.m. Monday in All Saints Catholic Church.
He died at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, April 22, 2004, in Chase Convalescent Center.
Born Feb. 17, 1917, in Staunton, Va., he was the son of Bessie Moody Morton.
A graduate of Logansport High School, Mr. Morton earned an associate's degree in 1952 from North Park College and Theological Seminary in Chicago. In 1955,
he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Redlands in California. He also had attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
Mr. Morton was a retired letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in Logansport. In the late 1930s, he had been employed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in
Monon. In the 1950s, he was employed by the Railway Express Agency in Chicago. He also held various other jobs in the Chicago area.
Mr. Morton was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in World War II from 1939 to 1943.
He was a member of All Saints Catholic Church and had been a member of the former St. Vincent de Paul Church.
Father Michael McKinney will officiate at the services. Burial, with military honors, will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery.
Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday in Kroeger Funeral Home.
Source: Pharos Tribune Publication Date: 4/23/2004
Bio notes by Ronald Decker, contributor #47547678
Oren F. Morton is the author of several books on the history of Virginia and West Virginia counties. His parents were Harrison Gray Otis Morton and Hellen Theodate Gibson.
His papers were given to the West Virginia & Regional History Center at West Virginia University. The online description of this collection states:
"Correspondence, diaries, sketch books, published and unpublished manuscripts, literary notes, business records, and printed material of a schoolteacher, newspaper writer, county historian, novelist and essayist from Kingwood, whose fiction and nonfiction writings deal primarily with the Virginia-West Virginia Allegheny highlands. His best known works are WINNING OR LOSING?: A STORY OF THE WEST VIRGINIA HILLS (1901); LAND OF THE LAUREL: A STORY OF THE ALLEGHANIES (1903); UNDER THE COTTONWOODS: A SKETCH OF LIFE ON A PRAIRIE HOMESTEAD (1900); and histories of Preston, Pendleton, and Monroe counties. The collection also includes a manuscript temperance paper, "The Meridian Temperance Banner," 1880; and a list of marriage bonds for Monroe County, 1799-1846."
Bio notes by contributor RadarZDC (#50930897):
My research shows that Morton was married to Helen Louise Moody who was 39 years younger than him. They had one son, Harry Frederic Morton, who worked as a postal worker in Cass County, Indiana. He never married and had no children. When Oren Frederic Morton died, neither his wife or son attended the funeral. Morton died penniless and was buried in the 'Strangers Lot' at Mt. Hebron Cemetery. Two anonymous citizens paid for his original gravestone (in 1926). In 1973, Garland Quarles, local historian, asked the Kiwanis Club of Winchester to purchase Morton a proper headstone since the old one was in such bad shape. The Club bought and installed the 2nd stone and dedicated it on July 12, 1973. In 2021, Kiwanian Scott Straub researched 100 years of Kiwanis Club history and suggested that a wreath laying take place at Morton's grave since the Club had purchased the 2nd stone and had an obligation to remember him. While cleaning Morton's stone with Kiwanian Robin Doss, Straub asked the cemetery supervisor what happened to the original stone and was told there was no record, but old stones were tossed in piles by the maintenance building. Straub and Doss looked around the discarded stones and discovered the original stone was still intact. A cleaning was performed on the original stone and it was installed directly behind the 2nd stone on Morton's grave in order to preserve the history, thus giving Morton the distinction of having 2 gravestones on his site.
Follow-up bio comments by contributor Ronald Decker:
Bessie Morton, possible wife of Oren Morton, appears to be the person buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Logansport, Indiana (memorial #34819791). Harry Frederic Morton, possible son of Oren and Bessie Morton, appears to be the person buried at this same Mount Hope Cemetery (memorial #34819792). Bessie and Harry Morton share a gravestone and have adjacent graves. The obituary of Harry Frederic Morton in his memorial supports some of the statements in the above paragraph.
****************************************************************
3-6-2022 UPDATE: Marian Elizabeth Moody and Helen Louise Moody were sisters from Logansport, IN. Helen Louise married Theo Bandy in 1913 and is documented being with him until his death in 1979. Helen & Theo lived in Colorado and California and had children together. Marian Elizabeth (aka "Bessie") is the documented mother of Harry Frederic Morton. Harry is listed on her death certificate as her son. Bessie is listed on Harry's death certificate as his mother. The only discrepancy is Harry's birth certificate says Helen Louise is his mother.
An examination of documents related to Bessie sheds some light on this. Bessie moved back to Logansport, IN and lived with her mother, Caroline. She is listed in the City Directory several times as the widow of Frederic Morton. The most curious entry is the 1924 listing saying she is the widow of Morton----Morton didn't die until 1926.
Later directory entries show Bessie as "Bessie H L Morton"; suggesting that she is using her sister's initials to identify herself. This might lead one to believe that she presented herself to Morton as "Helen Louise Moody" when they met, dated and married. Frederic Morton listed himself in the 1923 Who's Who in America as being married to Helen Louise Moody of Logansport, IN on July 21, 1915. Bessie lied about who she was to Frederic; and when she left him to return home, she lied about Morton being dead.
*********************************************************
Obituary from Logansport, IN:
Harry F. Morton
A funeral Mass for Harry F. Morton, 87, of Logansport, will be held at 8 a.m. Monday in All Saints Catholic Church.
He died at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, April 22, 2004, in Chase Convalescent Center.
Born Feb. 17, 1917, in Staunton, Va., he was the son of Bessie Moody Morton.
A graduate of Logansport High School, Mr. Morton earned an associate's degree in 1952 from North Park College and Theological Seminary in Chicago. In 1955,
he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Redlands in California. He also had attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
Mr. Morton was a retired letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in Logansport. In the late 1930s, he had been employed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in
Monon. In the 1950s, he was employed by the Railway Express Agency in Chicago. He also held various other jobs in the Chicago area.
Mr. Morton was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in World War II from 1939 to 1943.
He was a member of All Saints Catholic Church and had been a member of the former St. Vincent de Paul Church.
Father Michael McKinney will officiate at the services. Burial, with military honors, will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery.
Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday in Kroeger Funeral Home.
Source: Pharos Tribune Publication Date: 4/23/2004
Oren F. Morton is the author of several books on the history of Virginia and West Virginia counties. His parents were Harrison Gray Otis Morton and Hellen Theodate Gibson.
His papers were given to the West Virginia & Regional History Center at West Virginia University. The online description of this collection states:
"Correspondence, diaries, sketch books, published and unpublished manuscripts, literary notes, business records, and printed material of a schoolteacher, newspaper writer, county historian, novelist and essayist from Kingwood, whose fiction and nonfiction writings deal primarily with the Virginia-West Virginia Allegheny highlands. His best known works are WINNING OR LOSING?: A STORY OF THE WEST VIRGINIA HILLS (1901); LAND OF THE LAUREL: A STORY OF THE ALLEGHANIES (1903); UNDER THE COTTONWOODS: A SKETCH OF LIFE ON A PRAIRIE HOMESTEAD (1900); and histories of Preston, Pendleton, and Monroe counties. The collection also includes a manuscript temperance paper, "The Meridian Temperance Banner," 1880; and a list of marriage bonds for Monroe County, 1799-1846."
Bio notes by contributor RadarZDC (#50930897):
My research shows that Morton was married to Helen Louise Moody who was 39 years younger than him. They had one son, Harry Frederic Morton, who worked as a postal worker in Cass County, Indiana. He never married and had no children. When Oren Frederic Morton died, neither his wife or son attended the funeral. Morton died penniless and was buried in the 'Strangers Lot' at Mt. Hebron Cemetery. Two anonymous citizens paid for his original gravestone (in 1926). In 1973, Garland Quarles, local historian, asked the Kiwanis Club of Winchester to purchase Morton a proper headstone since the old one was in such bad shape. The Club bought and installed the 2nd stone and dedicated it on July 12, 1973. In 2021, Kiwanian Scott Straub researched 100 years of Kiwanis Club history and suggested that a wreath laying take place at Morton's grave since the Club had purchased the 2nd stone and had an obligation to remember him. While cleaning Morton's stone with Kiwanian Robin Doss, Straub asked the cemetery supervisor what happened to the original stone and was told there was no record, but old stones were tossed in piles by the maintenance building. Straub and Doss looked around the discarded stones and discovered the original stone was still intact. A cleaning was performed on the original stone and it was installed directly behind the 2nd stone on Morton's grave in order to preserve the history, thus giving Morton the distinction of having 2 gravestones on his site.
Follow-up bio comments by contributor Ronald Decker:
Bessie Morton, possible wife of Oren Morton, appears to be the person buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Logansport, Indiana (memorial #34819791). Harry Frederic Morton, possible son of Oren and Bessie Morton, appears to be the person buried at this same Mount Hope Cemetery (memorial #34819792). Bessie and Harry Morton share a gravestone and have adjacent graves. The obituary of Harry Frederic Morton in his memorial supports some of the statements in the above paragraph.
****************************************************************
3-6-2022 UPDATE: Marian Elizabeth Moody and Helen Louise Moody were sisters from Logansport, IN. Helen Louise married Theo Bandy in 1913 and is documented being with him until his death in 1979. Helen & Theo lived in Colorado and California and had children together. Marian Elizabeth (aka "Bessie") is the documented mother of Harry Frederic Morton. Harry is listed on her death certificate as her son. Bessie is listed on Harry's death certificate as his mother. The only discrepancy is Harry's birth certificate says Helen Louise is his mother.
An examination of documents related to Bessie sheds some light on this. Bessie moved back to Logansport, IN and lived with her mother, Caroline. She is listed in the City Directory several times as the widow of Frederic Morton. The most curious entry is the 1924 listing saying she is the widow of Morton----Morton didn't die until 1926.
Later directory entries show Bessie as "Bessie H L Morton"; suggesting that she is using her sister's initials to identify herself. This might lead one to believe that she presented herself to Morton as "Helen Louise Moody" when they met, dated and married. Frederic Morton listed himself in the 1923 Who's Who in America as being married to Helen Louise Moody of Logansport, IN on July 21, 1915. Bessie lied about who she was to Frederic; and when she left him to return home, she lied about Morton being dead.
*********************************************************
Obituary from Logansport, IN:
Harry F. Morton
A funeral Mass for Harry F. Morton, 87, of Logansport, will be held at 8 a.m. Monday in All Saints Catholic Church.
He died at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, April 22, 2004, in Chase Convalescent Center.
Born Feb. 17, 1917, in Staunton, Va., he was the son of Bessie Moody Morton.
A graduate of Logansport High School, Mr. Morton earned an associate's degree in 1952 from North Park College and Theological Seminary in Chicago. In 1955,
he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Redlands in California. He also had attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
Mr. Morton was a retired letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in Logansport. In the late 1930s, he had been employed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in
Monon. In the 1950s, he was employed by the Railway Express Agency in Chicago. He also held various other jobs in the Chicago area.
Mr. Morton was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in World War II from 1939 to 1943.
He was a member of All Saints Catholic Church and had been a member of the former St. Vincent de Paul Church.
Father Michael McKinney will officiate at the services. Burial, with military honors, will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery.
Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday in Kroeger Funeral Home.
Source: Pharos Tribune Publication Date: 4/23/2004
Family Members
Children
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
