J. STERLING MORTON: FATHER OF ARBOR DAY

  • J. STERLING MORTON: FATHER OF ARBOR DAY
    J. STERLING MORTON: FATHER OF ARBOR DAY
  • Above left: Even his gravestone is in the shape of a tree stump. Photo by Martha Dawes, from Findagrave.com. Above right: J. Sterling Morton is considered the founder of Arbor Day. He was also a governor of Nebraska. Public domain photo.
    Above left: Even his gravestone is in the shape of a tree stump. Photo by Martha Dawes, from Findagrave.com. Above right: J. Sterling Morton is considered the founder of Arbor Day. He was also a governor of Nebraska. Public domain photo.

    Julius Sterling Morton was born April 22, 1832 in Adams, Jefferson County, New York to Julius Dewey Morton and Emeline (Sterling) Morton. His parents ran a general store. In 1834, his parents and grandfather moved to Monroe, Michigan (south of Detroit). There they operated a newspaper.

    J. Sterling was an obedient child. Even when tempted by some uncles, he would not leave “time out”. One of his unc…