Julius Sterling Morton - Nebraska City, NE - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Julius Sterling Morton was born in upstate New York but grew up in Michigan after his father relocated his family there when Julius was only two years old. He worked as a reporter for a Detroit newspaper for a while but shortly after his marriage in 1854, moved westward to Nebraska City where he become editor of the local newspaper. Nebraska had not yet become a state at that time.

Morton became active in politics soon after arriving in Nebraska. Although rarely elected to any position, he did serve in varying capacities, even rising to acting governor of the Nebraska Territory for a few months in 1859. The highest political position he held was U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under President Grover Cleveland (1893-1897).

Today, J. Sterling Morton is mostly known as the founder of Arbor Day in the U.S. When he arrived in Nebraska, the area was described as “treeless.” Dabbling in agriculture and planting trees became a lifelong hobby for Morton. His proposal that a day be set aside specifically for planting trees resulted in April 22 being officially declared Arbor Day in Nebraska. (April 22 also happens to be Morton’s birthday.) Since that time, Arbor Days have been designated in all fifty states as well as many other countries.

Julius Sterling Morton’s family plot in Wyuka Cemetery in Nebraska City is marked by a monument in the form of a tree trunk – a fitting symbol for the founder of Arbor Day. Besides J. Sterling Morton himself, the monument notes two others who are buried here: Morton’s wife Caroline, who died at the young age of 47, and his sister, Emma Morton.
(Sources: nebraskahistory.com)

Description: See Long Description above. Date of birth: 04/22/1832 Date of death: 04/27/1902 Area of notoriety: Politics Marker Type: Monument Setting: Outdoor Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link] Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Not listed

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