Oliver P. Morton’s name is especially recognized in Centerville and among Civil War buffs, but the other half of the power couple is rarely mentioned.
A Cambridge City author’s new book aims to spotlight Lucinda Morton’s little-known contributions to the state and nation, and Morton’s adventures with her famous husband.
Copies of “She Never Failed Me: Lucinda Burbank Morton, Indiana’s First Lady of the Civil War” are now available.
Carolyn Lafever, former Wayne County historian, will greet visitors and sign books from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at Centerville’s library, 126 E. Main St., during the town’s Christmas festival.
Lafever notes that Lucinda and Oliver both grew up in Centerville and went to school together before their marriage. During Oliver’s political career, Lucinda contributed help and ideas during the war.
When Oliver was paralyzed by an 1865 stroke, Lucinda was right beside him. He became strong enough to be appointed a U.S. senator in 1867 and served for 10 years. Lafever said Lucinda’s courage and faith made the difference to his success in both roles, calling her an important woman in state history.
Oliver had a second stroke and died in 1877, but Lucinda lived for 30 more years and continued to be steadfast in her own pursuits such as women’s rights, securing voting for all citizens and memorials for her husband.
The book’s title came from a deathbed conversation when Oliver told his family, “In all these years of sickness, she never failed me.”
Lafever discovered two photos of Lucinda that inspired her to spend years researching and writing.
The first photo was in Centerville’s Mansion House Museum. After the frame was repaired and hung next to Oliver’s picture, Lafever decided to learn more. A few weeks later, she saw a picture in the history room of Cambridge City’s library in a small frame on a shelf.
Lafever said she’s only found five photographs of Lucinda, and even the couple’s descendants had no photos.
“It was such a lucky thing that right here in Wayne County I found the best ones,” she said.
Lafever said James Fuller’s 2017 book “Oliver P. Morton and the Politics of the Civil War and Reconstruction” had more details about Lucinda than any other book, and his footnotes and information helped her a great deal. She also gathered information from several Indiana history books, Wayne County Historical Museum, Mansion House, local and state libraries and archives, and newspapers from around the country.
Lafever has written five books, including “The Pictorial History of Wayne County, Indiana.” She retired as Wayne County’s official volunteer historian after 20 years, but still seeks new stories.
Lafever served on the boards and as a volunteer for Hagerstown Museum, WCHM and Mansion House. She’s written many articles for magazines including “Antique Week” and Indiana Historical Society’s “Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History.”
A version of this article appeared in the December 4 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.