Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904,
pp 473-474 [Hopkins]

     JOHN G. MORTON, of Madisonville, Kentucky, is the wealthiest and
one of the oldest citizens of Hopkins county.  He is a native of the
county and a member of one of the pioneer families of Kentucky, the
Mortons having originally come to this country from Scotland and made
settlement in Kentucky at an early day.  Samuel Morton, the father of
John G., was born in Jessamine county, this state, and in 1798 came
with his father to Hopkins county, their location being at what has
since been known as Morton's Gap.  Here Samuel Morton built the first
brick house in the county, which stands to-day [sic] as a landmark, and
which, although over a hundred years old, is still in a good state of
preservation.  A man of sterling worth, Samuel Morton figured
prominently in the affairs of the primitive settlement.  Besides
conducting his farm, he filled numerous official positions; was
postmaster, mayor, sheriff and magistrate, and for many years filled
the office of county judge.  He died at the age of sixty-eight years,
honored and respected by all who knew him.
     John G. Morton was born in Hopkins county, June 8, 1822, the
eldest of a family of eight children, and spent the first eighteen
years of his life on his father's farm, his father then moving with his
family to Madisonville.  John G. early in life learned the secret of
accumulating a fortune.  He began work at twenty-five cents a day, and
each day saved half of his earnings.  When he was twenty he was made
postmaster of Madisonville, and in connection with his duties as such
conducted a grocery business.  Two years later he was made constable
and sheriff, and served a term of four years.  After this he engaged in
the dry-goods business, which he conducted off and on for about fifteen
years.  When the Civil war broke out he commenced dealing in tobacco in
connection with his other merchandising, and was very successful. 
Calico he bought at seven cents per yard and sold at twenty-five cents. 
In 1867 he opened a private bank, called the John G. Morton Bank, which
was some years later organized as the Morton's Bank, and is still
conducted as such.  It is now the oldest banking establishment in
western Kentucky, has a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, and is
under the direct management of Mr. Morton's son, William C., who is
president of the company.  Careful attention and good management
characterized Mr. Morton's efforts, and in the various ventures in
which he engaged he prospered, and to-day [sic] he is recognized as the
wealthiest man and the largest taxpayer in the county.
     Mr. Morton was married in 1846 to Miss N. E. Young, and six
children came to bless their union, namely: Charles E., David,
deceased; Mollie, deceased; Helen, wife of John Hall; Lizzie, wife of
Joel McPherson; and William C.  Politically Mr. Morton is a Democrat. 
He is one of the stanch members and liberal supporters of the Christian
church.

Morton Young Hall McPherson
=
Scotland Jessamine-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/hopkins/morton.jg.txt