J. Sterling Morton was much like his father and grandfather, strongly devoted to his principles. He was independent in thought and what he did. He was interested in literature, agriculture, politics, family and his beloved Arbor Lodge ranch. The reason he and his family came to Nebraska City was a job and politics. He was given the editor's job of the local newspaper, the Nebraska City Press, which is the oldest, continuous publication in the State of Nebraska.

J. Sterling and Caroline fell for each other right away while they were students at Wesleyan Seminary in Albion, Michigan. They were both in their teens, so they waited seven years before they married. Caroline and J. Sterling Morton were wed on October 30, 1854 in Detroit. Encouraged by Lewis Cass, second governor of the territory of Michigan, J. Sterling and Caroline headed to the Nebraska Territory the day after their wedding.

Caroline was luckier than most settlers' wifes; she was near people and lived in the first framed house between Nebraska City and the Rockies. Caroline wrote to her family that she was happy with the Nebraska scenery and was waiting to take her paint supplies out to paint. Caroline Morton loved art and has several paintings at Arbor Lodge. Within the first four years in Nebraska City, the Mortons had 3 of their 4 sons. Caroline was the sole caretaker of the Arbor Lodge ranch while J. Sterling was gone on business trips and stuff. Beside all of the domestic chores and care of her children, she was an active community member. She raised money for the first school built in Nebraska City.

The Mortons were proud of their sons. They encouraged a strong education and good character. Each son was successful in their own right.

Joy was the oldest son of the Morton's. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on September 27, 1855. Joy's first job was in Nebraska City at a local bank. He was diagnosed with spinal mengites in 1874. He went to work for the Michigan Central Railroad and finally became the owner of a salt company, later known as Morton Salt Co. Joy married Miss Carrie Lake and had two children - a daughter Jean and a son, Sterling.

The Morton's second son, Paul was born in Detroit, Michigan on May 22, 1857. He worked for the Burlington Railroad. Paul married Charlotte Goodridge. They had 3 kids Caroline, Donald, and Pauline.

Mark was the third son of the Morton's, born November 22, 1858 at Herndon House in Omaha. Mark worked for Paul at the railroad office of the Burlington as a freight clerk. Mark then managed the Nebraska City Packing Co. but then went to work for Joy at Morton Salt. He married Martha Parkhurst Weare and had four children; Laura, Helen, Joy and Jane.

Carl was the youngest son of the Morton's, born February 18, 1865 at Arbor Lodge. Carl worked for his older brother Joy at Morton Salt for four years. He then became the owner of a starch works in Nebraska City and changed the name to Argo Starch. He married Miss Boatie Payne. They had a boy who they named Wirt and a daughter named Martha.

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Arbor Day (1872)

The first year the Mortons were in Nebraska City, they planted over 1,000 trees. J. Sterling worked very hard to care for the soil and plant various types of plants. J. Sterling and his wife were a team in making Arbor Lodge a beautiful place. They purchased young trees and healthy seeds to create their orchards of fruit and nut, white pine and other trees in the park. The orchard was a mix of plum, apple, pear, and peach trees. In 1856, J. Sterling and Caroline planted over 400 apple trees. The Morton family would grow fruit for market.

J. Sterling's job as a newspaper man gave him the opportunity to spread information about planting techniques and just to promote agriculture. Mr. Morton knew how important rural life was and said, " Manufacture and skill in the various arts, may and will undoubtedly, aid us in our pursuit of glorious and independent opulence, but our great trust and strong hope is still hidden in the fertility of our soil and its adaptation to general cultivation. J. Sterling would encourage the farmer to plant just one tree a year and try to persuade them that this would give the Great Plains a lush atmosphere. This gave him the idea of Arbor Day.

J. Sterling served on the State Board of Agriculture and shared his idea with the board. The board first wanted to call the day "Sylvan Day". This was changed to Arbor Day because sylvan meant forest, not trees in general. It is claimed on the first Arbor Day the state planted over 1 million trees.

Arbor Day is J. Sterling Morton's greatest legacy.

Carrie
Little Pioneers