John W. Morton (Tennessee politician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Watson Morton
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Born	September 19, 1842 Williamson County, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	November 21, 1914(1914-11-21) (aged 72) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Resting place	Mount Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Education	Western Military Institute
Alma mater	University of Nashville
Occupation	Farmer
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Annie Humphreys Ellen Bourne Tynes
Children	2 sons, 1 daughter
Parent(s)	John A. Morton Sarah Buchanan
Relatives	West Hughes Humphreys (1st father-in-law)
Military career
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Service/branch	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Captain

John Watson Morton (born September 19, 1842 – died November 21, 1914) was an American soldier, farmer, and politician. He fought as a captain in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. After the war, he became a farmer and later served as the Tennessee Secretary of State for eight years.

Early Life and Education

John Watson Morton was born on September 19, 1842, in Williamson County, Tennessee. His parents were Dr. John A. Morton and Sarah Buchanan. In 1854, his family moved to Nashville, Tennessee.

Morton went to the private Western Military Institute. When the American Civil War began in 1861, he joined a Nashville militia called the Rock City Guards. He later became a captain of artillery under General Nathan Bedford Forrest in the Confederate States Army. He was the youngest captain in the Confederate forces. After the war, he studied medicine at the University of Nashville and graduated in 1867.

Career and Public Service

After the war, John Morton decided to become a farmer in Tennessee. From 1881 to 1901, he worked as the editor for Tennessee Farmer, a magazine about farming. He also led the Tennessee Farmers' Publishing Company as its president.

Morton served as an assistant commissioner of agriculture for Tennessee from 1891 to 1896. He helped organize the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition in 1897, which was a big event celebrating Tennessee's history. He also wrote a book about this event. Morton was the first president of the Tennessee Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association, which helped farmers who grew fruits and vegetables.

John Morton was a member of the Democratic Party. He served as the Tennessee Secretary of State from 1901 to 1909. This important role involves managing state records and official documents.

Personal Life and Death

A memorial to Nathan Bedford Forrest and John W. Morton in Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site.

John Morton was married two times. His first wife was Annie Humphreys, whom he married in 1868. Later, in 1901, he married Ellen Bourne Tynes. He had two sons, John W. Morton, Jr. and West H. Morton, and one daughter, Mrs. Samuel A. Stout. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He was also part of social groups like the Freemasons and the Elks.

John Watson Morton passed away on November 21, 1914, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was buried in his Confederate uniform at the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.

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