Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 2799prominence and honor, for his effective service as president of the MemphisBoard of Health during a severe epidemic of yellow fever in the City ofMemphis, Tennessee, his faithful, unselfish and arduous work in behalf of thesufferers having gained to him the gratitude of the entire community, asshown by the fact *hat the citizens of Memphis later presented to him asplendid chest of silver, as a testimonial of appreciation and esteem.Jacob W. Morton likewise was a native of Keysville, Virginia, and his wifewas born in the State of Arkansas. For many ^ears he was an influential. citizen and prominent real estate broker at Keysville, and his sterling character and worthy achievement gave him .inviolable place in popular confidence and good will. He was a valiant soldier of the Confederacy duringthe entire period of the Civil war up to the time of the Battle of Gettysburg,where he was wounded and incapacitated. He was prominently concernedwith the civic and material progress and upbuilding of his native town afterthe close of the war, and there he continued to maintain his home until hisdeath, in 1911, at the age of sixty-eight years, his cherished and devoted wifehaving passed away- in 1905 and both having been earnest communicants ofthe Protestant Episcopal Church. Mrs. Morton was a daughter of JohnThompson Jones and Caroline (McEwen) Jones, who were residents of Lexa,Arkansas, at the time of their death. Jacob W. and Annie (Jones) Mortonbecame the parents of five children, of whom three are living, Doctor Mortonof this review having been the fourth in order of birth; Carrie is the wife ofCharles A. Osborne, of Keysville, Virginia; and Lucy is the wife of EdwardW. Hudgins, of Chose City, that state.In the public schools of his native town Doctor. Morton continued hisstudies until he had completed the curriculum of the high school, and thereafter he was afforded the advantages of such admirable institutions, in turn,as the Hoge Military Academy, at Blackstone, Virginia, and fine old Hampden-SidneyCollege, that state, in which last mentioned institution he completedhis specific literary education. In preparing himself for his exacting profession he was signally favored in being able to complete a thorough course in themedical department of the University of-Georgia, in which he was graduatedas a member of the class of 1909 and from which he received his degree ofDoctor of Medicine.After his graduation from the medical school, which department of the university is established at Augusta, Doctor Morton engaged in practice in thatcity, where he became associated with Dr. Thomas D. Coleman, one of theoldest and most influential physicians and surgeons of that section of thestate. During the year of this alliance Doctor Morton was enabled to gain* valuable experience and to profit largely through the counsel and instructionof Doctor Coleman, who accorded him kindly consideration and assistance.In 1910 Doctor Morton established his residence at Waynesborb, BurkeCounty, where he has since continued his effective activities as a zealous andefficient representative of his profession and where he has built up a largeand successful general practice, which extends into all parts of the county.He is local surgeon for the Savannah & Northwestern Railroad and is avalued member of the board of health of Waynesboro. The doctor continuedan ambitious student of his profession and keeps in close touch with theadvances made in medical and surgical science, both by recourse to the beststandard and periodical literature pertaining thereto .and by individualresearch and investigation as well as through active affiliation with the American Medical Association, the Southern Medical Association, the Georgia StateMedical Association and the Burke County Medical Society. He holds membership in the Alpha Kappa Kappa college fraternity^and as an undergraduate he took specially active interest in athletic affairs in the variouseducational institutions which he attended. He was a member of the baseballand football teams and is still an enthusiast in athletics and outdoor sports,