Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 467; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Frank A. Morton. To an active, wide-awake young man who is
the happy possessor of that energy and ambition that almost invariably
wins success, there is always a broad field in which to hew out a
flattering career. After the declining years of life are reached there
is little to expect or achieve, but while the bloom of youth lingers,
one may accomplish nearly any desired end in the commercial and
political world. Everywhere and among every class of men there is a
feeling of reverence for a man who taking up the threads of his destiny
in a firm hand has woven them into a beautiful whole. It is often a
difficult matter to realize the importance of each passing moment that
robs life of this energy and strength of purpose, but such men as Frank
A. Morton realize fully that "life is real," and so endeavor to leave
behind them "footsteps on the sands of time."
Our subject, who is an aspiring young politician, was first
ushered into this mundane sphere on the 2d of March, 1855, being the
son of H. D. Morton, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.
Frank's birth occurred on the old Morton homestead and there he passed
his early youth, attending the common schools and at a later date the
High School at Farmington. Even in youth he evinced a liking for his
books and made rapid progress in his studies.
Mr. Morton was married in 1880 to Miss Anice Eshelman, daughter,
of Samuel Eshelman, of Canton, and one of the pioneer settlers in that
place. Mrs. Eshelman, previous to her marriage, was Miss Catherine
Deffenbough, of Pennsylvania, where her husband was also born and where
they were married. Mr. Eshelman died in 1886, at the age of
seventy-two, and his wife continues to live at the old homestead. To
them were born seven children--Mary, Amanda, David, Susan, Samuel,
Alice and Anice. Mrs. Morton passed her girlhood in Canton and there
received a good education. She is the mother of two children - Hattie
and Maria Adel.
The subject of our sketch owns a valuable estate comprising one
hundred and forty acres of fine farming land, and has besides ten acres
of timber land. He has resided on his present farm for the past three
years, and has served as School Trustee for his district. Mr. Morton is
an ardent member of the Republican party and takes great pride in
supporting the party principles of the same. His father is an equally
strong Democrat.
The subject of our sketch deserves great praise for the interest
he manifests in public affairs and the amount of information he
possesses regarding the chief issues of the day.
