Ralph Morton
ID # 5779, (1868-1951)
| Father | Ralph Morton (1829-1889) |
| Mother | Isabella Kinnaird (1837-1868) |
| Birth | Ralph Morton was born in February 1868. |
| Death | He died on 7 September 1951 at age 83. |
| Burial | He was buried at Westover United Church Cemetery. |
| Note | The inscription on the gravestone for Ralph Morton Jr. in Westover United Church Cemetery is on the reverse side of the stone for his step-mother Emma Misener Morton. He is evidently buried with her. The 1901 census in Beverly Township shows him living alone and shows his birth information as Feb. 1868. He will never have known his mother. An argument could be made that the birth information in the 1901 census is in error, for the 1911 census shows his birth information as Feb. 1869. This has problems, however, when taking other census into consideration. The 1871 census was begun on April 2nd of the year. This shows Ralph as age 3. The 1871 census was the first census wherein a person's age at the given time of enumeration was simply asked for. (The question for the 1851 and 1861 censuses was: What is your age as of your next birthday?) The 1881 census was begun on the 4th of April of the year and, with consistency, Ralph's age is shown as 13. The 1891 census in Beverly shows him as age 23. This census was begun on April 6 of the year, so again the information is consistent. Certainly this all works with the 1901 census which shows him as 33. (The 1921 census overstates his age at 54.) Ralph's gravestone in Westover United Church Cemetery is no help for his age is shown as 85 at the time of his death in September of 1951. This would place his birth year to 1866. His correct age was closer to 83. All of which is a rather long argument to say that Ralph's birth mother was Isabella Kinnaird. We don't have Ralph's exact date of birth, but it does appear that Isabella died in childbirth. Given that Ralph apparently chose to be buried with his step-mother, it does speak well of her capacity to nurture. The 1891 Farmers' Directory for Beverly Township places Ralph Morton on lot 33, concession 5 in Beverly. His post office is shown as Westover. The information is the same for the 1895 Farmers' Directory. |
| Last Edited | 31 Aug 2017 |