Jane Elder (Jennie) Tannahill Morton |
Jane Elder Tannahill and Benjamin Ellis
Morton
Benjamin
Morton had returned home and upon visiting with William’s family, had fallen in
love with his daughter, Jane and they were married on Dec. 7, 1865.
After Benjamin and Jane were married they lived in Iowa until 1871 when they moved to
Marshall Co., Kansas near some of his relatives. They stayed there one year then moved on to
Phillips Co., Kansas in 1872 where they located on a claim in Freedom township
about ten miles northwest of Phillipsburg.
They experienced many hardships of pioneer life as one of the first
settlers and with their growing family.
A granddaughter, Icle, remembers their home on the farm. Part of the house was made of sod and an
addition of frame. There was a step or
steps from the living area and the soddy sleeping part. The one thing she remembers most was the
feeling of “warmth and hominess” in Grandma’s home.
The community soon grew and was made of Union
soldiers many from Iowa volunteer companies, hence the name of Iowa Union
Community and Cemetery. There are 13
Civil War soldiers buried there. Aunt
Jennie and Uncle Ben as they were affectionately called, with their neighbors
and relatives organized a Sunday School and a congregational Church which met
in the Iowa Union Schoolhouse. The
church organization as such, ceased after some years but the Sunday School was
an active one for well over 50 years, with various denominations furnishing
full or part time ministers.
Jane Elder (Jenny) Tannahill Morton Obituary, “Phillips
Co. Review” July 17, 1924
" Jennie
E. Tannahill was born in Huntingdon, Canada, September 18, 1826 and passed from
earthly life in Lincoln, Nebraska, July 8, 1924, aged 77 years, 9 months and 21
days.
When
nine years of age she moved with her parents to Iowa, where she grew to womanhood. In December, 1865 she was _____in marriage to
Benjamin E. Morton. The that union nine
children were born, seven of whom _____William J. of Salt Lake City, Utah; Mrs.
Belle M. Thomas of Lincoln, Nebraska; Bert B. and Roy R. of Basin, Wyoming; Jay
T. of Stockton; John O. of Goodland and Henry of Tooele, Utah. One preceded her in death in infancy and
Alvin H. passed to the Great Beyond about seven years ago. Her husband was taken from this life in
March, 1890.
In the year
1872, with her family, she came to Phillips County, locating on a homestead in
the present Iowa Union neighborhood, that present Iowa Union cemetery being a
part of that homestead.
She was
very active in the religious training in the “Little Brown Community” in Which
her lot was cast. Having received her
childhood religious training in the “Little Brown Church in the Vale” which has
been immortalized in song, she sought to reproduce its ideals in the new community. In 1875 or 1876, she became a member of the
Congregational church, organized in her community, but on its disorganization she
became a member of the Presbyterian church of Phillipsburg, where her
membership remained until the time of her death.
Her
later years were spent in the homes of her children. For many years she was with her sons in Utah,
and her last days were with her daughter in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Besides
her immediate family, she is survived by two brothers, William of Bellwood,
Nebraska, George of Vernon, Kansas and
one sister, Belle M. Morton of Moscow, Idaho, and many other relatives and
friends."
She has
gone from us, but the influence of her life and service remain in the life of
the church and community which she helped to organize and mold.
Funeral
services were held Saturday morning, July 12, in the Presbyterian Church of
Phillipsburg, conducted by Rev. L. A. Kerr, pastor of the church assisted by
Rev. McDonald, pastor of the Christian church of Stockton. Interment was made in Iowa Union Cemetery.