Mother, son write books about founding fathers
By CARL E. FEATHER Lifestyle Editor
CONCORD TOWNSHIP - Like mother, like son.
Concord Township resident Elaine Lillback, 81, is the author of three
books, the most recent dealing with John Morton, a "forgotten" signer
of the Declaration of Independence. Her son, the Rev. Dr. Peter
Lillback of Bryn Mawr, Pa., co-wrote with Jerry Newcombe "George
Washington's Sacred Fire," an exhaustive (nearly 1,200 pages) biography
of George Washington that defends Washington's religious convictions.
The book is a national nonfiction best seller with more than 21,000
sold.
Elaine's expectations for her John Morton biography are much more
modest: She bore the expense of producing and printing 500 copies of
the 128-page book.
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ELAINE
LILLBACK, 81, of Concord Township, holds a copy of the John Morton
biography she wrote and published. A retired elementary teacher with a
Finnish background, Lillback has been fascinated with Morton, also of
Finnish background, since childhood. This is her third book.
CARL E. FEATHER / The Star Beacon |
For
Elaine, a retired fourth-grade teacher, writing Morton's biography was
about heritage. The Perry native is of Finnish ancestry - her father,
John Henry Tikka, was from Sortavala, Finland. His birth home was in
Karjala, Finland, which is adjacent to Savolaani, where John Morton's
ancestors originated.
Morton (1724-1777), was born in Ridley, Pa.
His parents were second cousins; their great-grandfather was Marten
Martenson, who was born in Finland and later moved to Sweden. His son,
Marten Jr., was the father of John Morton Sr., whose son, also named
John, was born after his father died. A few years later, John Morton's
mother married again, to John Sketchley, a well-educated surveyor from
England. He took a great interest in his step-son and made sure he
received a sound education.
The junior Morton filled numerous civil offices in Pennsylvania and was
elected to the Provincial Assembly in 1756. He attended the Stamp Act
Congress in 1765 and was appointed associate judge of the Supreme Court
of Pennsylvania in 1774.
His place in national history was secured when he cast the decisive
vote for independence as a Continental Congress delegate from
Pennsylvania. He died shortly after that, but the personal
ramifications of his action haunted his family throughout the war for
independence. His son, a medical doctor, was taken prisoner by the
British and died aboard a prison ship in New York Harbor. His wife fled
their home in advance of the British, who destroyed Morton's house.
Elaine says it's a story of courage and sacrifice that needs to be told to contemporary readers.
"I think it is something that is important to every American," she
says. "Our America is America because these people dared to stand up to
the king and the Red Coats who were in the country. All these signers
lost their homes, wealth, families."
Morton's accomplishments and heritage were often discussed in the Tikka home as Elaine grew up.
"My father was always very proud of anybody who had Finnish ancestry,"
Elaine says. "He liked to talk about it and share their stories with
us."
Elaine carried this interest into adulthood and, as a teacher,
incorporated the stories of Finnish immigrants into her social studies
lessons. She often wondered why Morton's life had not received a
complete treatment in a book - his biography appears in books devoted
to signers of the Declaration of Independence, but a dedicated volume
appeared to be lacking.
Then, in 1998, Elaine purchased a book, "New Sweden on the Delaware,"
by C. S. Weslager. The book provided historical background on the
events that resulted in Morton's family coming from Sweden to the New
World.
Elaine
says after Finland came under Sweden's control in the 1500s, thousands
of Finnish farmers, who used the slash-and-burn method of establishing
farms, moved into Sweden to clear the forests and create farms.
However, when copper was discovered in Sweden, the king threatened the
farmers with imprisonment for cutting the forest, which was needed to
smelt the metal. Their lives closely tied to their farming methods,
many of these Finns opted to leave Sweden and colonize "New Sweden" on
the Delaware River.The Swedes built Fort Christina on the Delaware
River in 1638 and laid claim to the area. The Morton family was part of
the wave of settlers who followed.
Elaine tracked down both English
and Finnish books about Morton and his ancestors. She says her ability
to read Finnish (she translated the Finnish novel "Elma" by Charles
Potti into English) was of great benefit.
Peter
assisted her research by obtaining copies of the Journals of the
Continental Congress from the Library of Congress. Indeed, she asked
her son to write the book. "But he said, 'Mom, I'm so busy, I think you
should do it,'" Elaine says. Peter did agree to edit the manuscript.
In
addition to reading books, journals and letters, Elaine researched
Morton's life by visiting Finland (she's been there six times) and the
New Sweden area of the United States. Photographs from those travels
illustrate the book, along with 15 drawings by Elaine.
She
wrote the book with both junior and senior high school students and
adults in mind. Elaine took liberties in the narrative so, at times, it
reads more like a historical novel than a straight biography. She
emphasized the struggle Morton experienced as he tried to reconcile his
faith's message of submission with his personal passion for freedom and
justice.
"John Morton was a man who cared
about other people," she says. "He learned law and was able to help
people. He was always doing deeds of mercy, helping the poor."
Elaine's
book sells for $25. Sellers include Artful Hands on Main Street in
Painesville, Treasures of Finland on High Street in Fairport Harbor and
the Finnish Museum, also on High Street. She will hold a book signing
at Borders in Mentor Feb. 10 and plans to be at the FinnFest USA in
Ashtabula this summer. Peter is scheduled to be a speaker at the
festival, as well.
She also sells the book by mail for $27. Send check to Elaine Lillback, 10487 Johnny Cake Ridge, Painesville, OH 44077.
Elaine
is already thinking about a fourth book, which will be about the family
of her late husband, Eugene, a math professor at Kent State
University-Ashtabula Campus. She says the book would focus on the
experiences of his Finnish ancestors in Fairport Harbor and
Painesville. The family's home in Fairport Harbor was a popular
gathering spot.
"They used to entertain
all the time," she says. "Grandpa said 'She's got too much company and
I can't afford it and I'm going to move her to Painesville.'"
For
information on Peter Lillback's books, go online to
providenceforum.org. Lillback is president of the forum and senior
pastor of Proclamation Presbyterian Church.
Star Beacon Print Edition: 1/4/2007
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