Diary of J. Sterling
Morton, Statesman
J. Sterling Morton was born in Jefferson County, New York, in
1832. In 1850 he entered the University
of Michigan and subsequently received degrees from both that
institution and from Union College in Schenectady, New York.
In 1854 he married Caroline Joy French of Detroit and that same
year they moved to the Nebraska Territory. There he became editor
of the Nebraska City News. He had an active political
career as a member of the territorial legislature, secretary
of the territory, acting governor, and finally, in 1893, United
States Secretary of Agriculture. In 1897 he returned to Arbor
Lodge, his home in Nebraska City, where he spent his remaining
days editing his newspaper, The Conservative, and compiling
a history of Nebraska.
Morton is best known as the father of
Arbor Day. In 1872 the State Board
of Agriculture adopted Morton's resolution that April 10th of
that year be set aside for tree planting. In 1874, Governor Robert
W. Furnas issued the first proclamation designating Arbor Day,
although it would not become a legal holiday until 1885, when
the legislature set aside Morton's birthday, April 22, as the
holiday.
Diaries offer insight into what
their creator believes to be his or her most important achievements
in life. J. Sterling Morton's 1874 entry celebrating the establishment
of Arbor Day shows a reserved pride in his role in the creation
of the holiday
April 8, 1874
Arbor Day, an invention of mine, now
become a public holiday, destined to become a blessing to posterity
as well as to ourselves. It is devoted to tree planting &
premiums are given to the largest planter by State Board of Agriculture.
On the Morton place, today, Two Hundred Elms, Ash & Linden
trees are set out on East Line and East Avenue..
Arbor Day spoon given to Dawson Collins by his great
nephew, J. Sterling Morton.
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