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Continued: Theodore Roosevelt Morton graduated from the Blytheville ColoredSchool during commencement exercises held 24-29 May 1922 at thePilgrim Rest Baptist Church. On Wednesday night May 24th, there wasan exhibition by the Primary Department. On Thursday night, May25th, there was an exhibition by the Intermediate Department. OnFriday night, May 26th, the Grammar Department presented two plays,"The Great Pumpkin Case' and "The District School". On Sunday, May28th at 3 PM, the Baccalaureate Sermon was given by Rev. M.C.Springer, D.D. On Monday night, May 29th, the graduation exerciseswere held. The Class Motto was "Climb though the rocks be rugged".The Class Colors were Purple and White. The Class Salutatory Addresswas given by Lillian Harber and the Valedictory Address was given byTheodore Moton (Morton). This was Theodore's high school graduation.
Theodore was first employed with his father Thord at the Chicago Milland Lumber Company in Blytheville, AR. There he met and married hisfirst wife, Martha Nelson on 18 April 1925. Theodore listed his ageas 21; Martha listed her age as 22. The ceremony was performed by EliCraig in Blytheville. Martha was said to have a daughter, Eddie Maefrom a previous union.
On 30 Sep 1933, Theodore was granted a divorce from Martha Nelson inToledo, OH as she was still legally married to a husband prior tomarrying Theodore.
There was a sepia photo of Theodore and Louise Harvey Morton, hissecond wife, in Velva's photo album. Frencella met Louise andbelieves she and Theodore were married in Chicago, Cook Co., ILsometime after Theodore and Martha Nelson divorced in 1933. BothLouise and Martha Scruggs lived in Chicago prior to settling inToledo, OH and were said to be cousins.
On 10 Jan 1939, Theodore wrote to Velva: " Dear Sis, While sittinghere trying to pull myself together to write you all of the bad newsthat has happened to me on Jan 4, 1939 my wife Louise died. She tooksick on Friday; I sent her to the hospital on the following Monday.She was operated on the same Monday eve at 7 PM. Died Jan 4, Wed,buried Sat Jan 7 at 2 PM".
"Sister Louise left some dresses and a coat for Pert. Should I sendthem to Cairo or send them to you? Sister please pray for me becauseI really need prayer. Louise had lock(ed) bowels, took sick Friday,went to hospital Mon, operated on Mon, died Wed eve 7 PM, buried Sateve 2 PM. (Frencella was in her last year of high school and living inCairo, IL.)
"Now Sister you write me at once and let me know where to send theclothes, sister I can't write very much because I am just burden down. Pray for me". "I will write you more next time and if I live will try coming to seeyou all this summer. Please write soon and tell me where to sendPert's clothes. I wish Pert would come and stay with me, your bro,Theo, 545 Belmont Ave.".
Velva Mae was about seven months pregnant at the time of this letterwith her eighth child, Eloise. She was not informed about Louises'death until after Louise was buried.
When Theodore and Martha Scruggs were married, Theodore listed hisoccupation as a laborer, 32 (34) years of age; Martha listed her ageas 23 and her occupation as a maid. This was Martha's first marriage.
After Frencella graduated from Sumner High School in Cairo, IL on 26May 1939, she went to Toledo as did James Scruggs, Martha ScruggsMorton's brother, to spend the summer. Frencella worked as awaitress. At that time, Theodore and Martha Scruggs were married.Frencella took a job with the Works Progress Administration later thatyear and recalled working in the home of Ella Mae Griffin's family inKennett, MO., as their mother was deceased.
On 4 Oct 1939, Theodore wrote to Velva: " Dear Sis, Just a line tolet you know that all are well, and I am to glad, Dad has had thatawful operation that had me scared but everything is over now and theyare going to let me bring him home about Oct 15th. He had hisoperation Sep 24th".
"Sister, tell Pert her blood did not match; everybody's was ok excepther's. Beatrice gave Dad one quart of blood in the transfusion.Sister, Dad had a dangerous operation, he had a cancer at the rectum;they did not move it because he could not stand it so they by-passedthe stooling from the rectum to a rubber tubing inserted in thestomach. His bowels will never move from the rear like ours but theywill move from the rubber tube in the stomach. The doctor said hewill have to come back and forth to the hospital for a couple ofmonths after they dismiss him".
"Tallie is not working. He had another one of those spells(epileptic) last week and somebody took $7.00 off of him. I carriedhim to the doctor. He is doing pretty good now. The doctor said thework was too hard for him. I tried to get him to take his old jobback at the hospital but he would not say".
"Did I leave my fishing box there? If so, send it and also thechickens if they are big enough. Send them C.O.D.". "Your brother,Theodore".
On 11 Oct 1939, Theodore wrote to Velva: "Dear Sis; Just a line; Dadhas taken a back set, he does not seem like he wants to get well, hedoes not know me nor Tallie".
"He has been getting worse since Sunday so I am writing you to come atonce, I don't believe he will last much longer, I wrote Frank to comeat once. Is no need of bringing Mama, should Dad pass then we willsend her a wire, and say we must face facts. Sister, Papa does nothave any insurance so we will have to put him away, and that will cost$250.00, so bring some money to help put Dad away should he die".
"Tallie is not working and does not have a dime so the expenses willbe for Frank, myself, you and perhaps Princess to put our Dad awaynice. Now don't start crying. I have done my best, and in fact weall have done all we could, so now should he die the thing for usfour children to do is to dig up $75.00 a piece and put him away. Iwill do my part and think nothing of it, so Sister please come at oncebefore he passes".
"Also you may bring my chicks (smile). Sister Papa ain't dead but Idon't believe he is going to last much longer so come at once".Theodore, 545 Belmont Ave.
Thord healed from his surgery and lived until 3 Apr 1945.
Theodore settled permanently in Toledo, OH where he was employed as amaintenance worker in a factory, as a male attendant at a localhospital and as a security guard. After retirement, Theodore workedas a Continental Security Guard at United Savings and LoanAssociation. Martha was employed in the school district working withchildren with learning disabilities.
Theodore was very active in the Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church andserved on the Deacon's Board for many years. He is affectionatelyremembered by all as "Uncle Peg" and "Uncle Pick".
On 10 Jul 1950, Theodore and Martha announced the birth of daughterMarguerite Anita Morton, 8 pounds, 2 ounces; black hair, brown eyes,born 10 July 1950 at 7:02 PM, Toledo, Lucas Co., OH. The Morton'slived at 744 Russell St., Toledo 8, OH. First Class Postage was threecents.
Mable and Frencella recalled going to Toledo, OH in July 1955 toassist Martha when daughter Cheryl was born. Armose became ill soFrencella took the train back to St. Louis early.
Theodore Morton died at 3:15 AM at St. Vincent Hospital. Theimmediate cause of death was cardiac arrest. Related causes werecarcinoma of lung, diabetes and chronic lung disease. Theodore'soccupation was listed as maintenance. He was attended by Dr. PhilipStiff, Jr. Funeral services were handled by Dale Funeral Home, Inc.,of Toledo, OH. Theodore does not have a headstone.
Newspaper Obituary: Theodore R. Morton, 74 (78) of the 3400 block ofWhitegate Drive, died Friday in St. Vincent Hospital. He was amaintenance worker for 33 years at the former Bunting Brass and BronzeCompany, retiring in 1973. He was a Trustee, Deacon, and SundaySchool Superintendent at the Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church.
Surviving are his wife, Martha B.; daughters, Mrs. Theodosia Murdock,Marguerite and Cheryl; brothers Booker T., Warren and Calvin, andsisters, Mrs Princella (Princess Ella) James and Mrs. Frances Alston.
Services will be at 1 PM Tuesday in the church. The body will be inthe Dale Mortuary after 1 PM Monday, where wake services will be at 7that night.
Reverend Samuel Coleman officiated and provided the eulogy forTheodore. Mrs. Ora Braddy sang a solo. The obituary stated thatTheodore attended Roger Williams University in Nashville, TN and thathe was active in many public affairs.
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