Horton/Morrison
The Horton/Morrison family is perhaps the most influential group of citizens to be buried in Hillside. There have been books written about this family and the mansion in Middletown that they built which is now SUNY Orange. In brief, the story begins with Webb Horton (1826-1908) who was in the leather tanning business in Middletown. Webb bought land in western Pennsylvania which was needed for its hemlock trees. The tannins in these trees were crucial to the tanning process. Ultimately, the land was found to have significant oil reserves lying beneath, and after a short time, Webb Horton became a very wealthy oil magnet. Webb Horton ran other businesses in Middletown as well. Most notably The Howell Hinchman Company (leather production) and the Madden-Morrison File Company. Webb built the mansion referred to above and died shortly after the building was completed. He never spent a night in the mansion. At Webb’s death, his youngest son and last surviving member of the Webb Horton family, Eugene Horton (1856-1918), inherited the family’s vast fortune and carried on the heritage of business owner and philanthropist. During Eugene’s life, he built the Elizabeth Ann Horton Memorial Hospital in memory of his mother, and the Webb Horton Memorial Church in memory of his father, as well as supporting numerous other charitable organizations. When Webb Horton’s son, Eugene, died in 1918, he left the entire fortune and the mansion to his cousin and employee, John H. Morrison, Sr. (1881-1946). After the reading of Eugene Horton’s will, John Morrison instantly became one of America’s wealthiest individuals. It is reported that this former hard working farmer and tanner turned office worker was unaware of his inheritance until the reading of the will. Morrison went on to participate in, and financially support, many charitable organizations including Horton Hospital that his relatives built, and the Middletown State Homeopathic Institute which opened in 1874 and continues to function at a greatly reduced capacity. John Morrison, Sr. also provided a significant capital infusion of cash and guidance as an officer to one of the only local banks that survived the stock market crash in 1929. Orange Bank & Trust, formally Orange County Trust Company, still functions today as a result of Morrison’s commitment to the community, and has grown to $2.5 billion in assets. Shortly after John Morrison Senior’s death, his wife Christine moved out of the mansion and into a family home directly across South Street from the mansion. The Morrisons, with the help of numerous community leaders who had a vision for higher education, transformed the Mansion into the state’s first community college, Orange County Community College. This is currently SUNY Orange, and is now part of the State of New York’s university educational system. The legacy of support and charitable donations from these two families continues to this day. William Morrison, John Morrison Senior’s grandson, currently serves as a member of the board of Hillside Cemetery.
The Horton/Morrison family is perhaps the most influential group of citizens to be buried in Hillside. There have been books written about this family and the mansion in Middletown that they built which is now SUNY Orange. In brief, the story begins with Webb Horton (1826-1908) who was in the leather tanning business in Middletown. Webb bought land in western Pennsylvania which was needed for its hemlock trees. The tannins in these trees were crucial to the tanning process. Ultimately, the land was found to have significant oil reserves lying beneath, and after a short time, Webb Horton became a very wealthy oil magnet. Webb Horton ran other businesses in Middletown as well. Most notably The Howell Hinchman Company (leather production) and the Madden-Morrison File Company. Webb built the mansion referred to above and died shortly after the building was completed. He never spent a night in the mansion. At Webb’s death, his youngest son and last surviving member of the Webb Horton family, Eugene Horton (1856-1918), inherited the family’s vast fortune and carried on the heritage of business owner and philanthropist. During Eugene’s life, he built the Elizabeth Ann Horton Memorial Hospital in memory of his mother, and the Webb Horton Memorial Church in memory of his father, as well as supporting numerous other charitable organizations. When Webb Horton’s son, Eugene, died in 1918, he left the entire fortune and the mansion to his cousin and employee, John H. Morrison, Sr. (1881-1946). After the reading of Eugene Horton’s will, John Morrison instantly became one of America’s wealthiest individuals. It is reported that this former hard working farmer and tanner turned office worker was unaware of his inheritance until the reading of the will. Morrison went on to participate in, and financially support, many charitable organizations including Horton Hospital that his relatives built, and the Middletown State Homeopathic Institute which opened in 1874 and continues to function at a greatly reduced capacity. John Morrison, Sr. also provided a significant capital infusion of cash and guidance as an officer to one of the only local banks that survived the stock market crash in 1929. Orange Bank & Trust, formally Orange County Trust Company, still functions today as a result of Morrison’s commitment to the community, and has grown to $2.5 billion in assets. Shortly after John Morrison Senior’s death, his wife Christine moved out of the mansion and into a family home directly across South Street from the mansion. The Morrisons, with the help of numerous community leaders who had a vision for higher education, transformed the Mansion into the state’s first community college, Orange County Community College. This is currently SUNY Orange, and is now part of the State of New York’s university educational system. The legacy of support and charitable donations from these two families continues to this day. William Morrison, John Morrison Senior’s grandson, currently serves as a member of the board of Hillside Cemetery.