Tuesday, February 4, 2014

James Williams Morton, student 1861-1863

Morton enlisted on March 24, 1863 as a private in Co. K of the 2nd VA Cavalry less than 2 months after the college trustees announced that the school would close for the duration of the war.  Morton's horse was killed near Aldie, VA, on June 17, 1863. He was wounded in the left arm at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House on May 8, 1864 and sent to Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond, VA. He recuperated in private quarters in Richmond, located at the corner of Grace St. near Fourth St., and returned to his regiment later that fall.

After the war, Morton studied medicine at the University of Virginia in 1866-1867. He practiced medicine in Culpeper County, VA, then studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1869, practicing in Culpeper Count, serving for several years as Commonwealth's Attorney. He moved to Orange County, VA, where he is listed in the 1880 census as a farmer.  Morton was elected to the VA House of Delegates in 1887, serving one term. In 1891, he was elected county court judge and served from 1892-1904. The 1900 census lists him as county judge, while the 1910 census states he is a lawyer. He died June 18, 1913 and is buried in Graham Cemetery in Orange, VA.

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