Major James Quin Morton

The old picture of Great-Grandpa Quin Morton that we saw years ago in Arkansas, was - sadly - lost. Recently, we were lucky to get another old picture of him, thanks to cousins Lee and Deana Thomasson of Aberdeen, VIA. This picture was owned by one of their relatives, who didn't know who the handsome Confederate major was. The old tintype had been handed down from some of Quin's descendants. This picture was probably taken in the field, cat 1864. The earlier one was taken in a studio, about the time Quin got his commission as a major, in August, 1862. We had trouble finding him, until discovering his name was James Quin Morton, on the 1860 Crawford Co. AR. census. Born in Madison Co. KY in 1828 - (some say 1830), he married a shy part-Cherokee girl - Charlotte Carlotta Baker, a descendant of a full-blood Overhill Cherokee woman. Her parents were Sherrod and Elizabeth Asbill Baker. Quin and Charlotte had one daughter and 5 sons. The youngest one - Richard, was today's Mortons' grandpa. He married Samantha Jane Campbell. We believe John and Joseph (Richard's twin brother), died young. Surviving were William, Sherrod and Alice, who married a Jim Bailey. She was the oldest child. We have Quin's C.S. A. records, marriage license, homestead application, and ,, tax records. He bought and sold land, often under the name of "Burchfield Farm. It was said he ran for the Arkansas State Legislature, but no record of it remains. This was about the time the Civil War started. He was the administrator of two estates north of Uniontown, in 1859 and 1867., and seemed to be respected by those who knew him. Old-timers said he had lots of land and cattle. Quin was in Clark's Regiment, 9th Missouri Infantry, Co. "I", and also in Buster's Arkansas Cavalry Battalion. His unit was at the battles of Prairie Grove and Pea Ridge, also Jenkins Ferry. In 1864, he sent his resignation as Major, to Confederate Secretary of War James Siddon. The consolidation of the 8th and 9th Missouri battalions left him without a command. Was Quin tired of war, or was the tuberculosis that would kill him in less than three years, weakening him? It is not known if he was assigned to other duties after this. Charlotte died in early 1863. A probate record for 1867, lists Nancy Morton - Quin's second wife - almost certainly Charlotte's younger sister - as "the widow Morton, now Mrs. Ramey." Quin, Charlotte, possibly two small boys, and Quin's parents - James Richard and Mary Eliza Reynolds Morton, are buried in the north-east section of Macedonia Cemetery, near their old homestead. Sons William, Sherrod and Richard were staying with their uncle Howard Richard Morton and family - Quin's younger brother. From what we know of him, Quin seems to have been an honorable man. We are grateful to all those cousins who have helped us tell his story. Note: James Q. Morton, major, appears on a Field and Staff Muster Roll - Clark's Regiment, Missouri Infantry, for March and April, 1863, as "Absent" - Detailed on Recruiting Service, March 6th, 1863." It would seem to indicate this was when Charlotte died, and Quin married Nancy, who took care of his children. After Nancy married a Ramey, Quin's three boys, William, Sherrod and Richard, were staying with their Uncle Howard Richard Morton and family. Quin's widow Nancy and his children were well-provided for in his will.