The Morris Families of Pickaway County, Ohio

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John Morris, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania and came to Ohio in 1802, settling as a pioneer in Walnut township, Pickaway County, where he later became possessed of 1,000 acres of land, 160 acres of which is now the property of Thomas J. Morris, our subject. He reared a family and left descendants who are now among the county's best citizens.

James Morris, son of John Morris and father of our subject, was born in Walnut township and here grew to manhood, cleared a farm of 160 acres and added several hundred more acres to his first purchase. He died April 22, 1896. For many years he was a justice of the peace and served as township trustee. In politics he was a strong adherent of the Democratic party. He married Mary Davis, who was also a native of Walnut township and a daughter of William Davis, who was one of the pioneer settlers of the township. She died January 7, 1904. Of their nine children, there are now living three sons — Thomas J., our subject; George W., the present treasurer of Pickaway County, a sketch of whom will be found in this work; and James M., a hardware merchant of Circleville, also represented with a sketch in this book — and four daughters — Mrs. Lydia Stein, of Circleville township; Mrs. Ella Stein, of Jackson township; Mrs. Alice Blacker, of Chillicothe; and Mrs. Clara Campbell, of Circleville. John and Jane are deceased.

The boyhood and youth of Mr. Morris were spent on the farm and in attending school. In 1875 lie entered the Worthington Normal School and enjoyed a thorough course of training there which fitted him for the profession of teaching, which he followed for 13 years. After his marriage, Mr. Morris operated a portion of the homestead farm during the summer seasons and taught school in the winter, until 1889, when he moved to Circleville and bought a one-half interest, with Henry Pontius, in a grocery business, the name of the firm being Pontius & Morris. One year later Mr. Morris withdrew in order to give his attention to other matters.

Mr. Morris married Clara K. Ritt, who was born in Walnut township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (McDowell) Ritt. They have four children, viz. Mary F., Emmett C., Clara Helen and Frances R. The family residence is located at No. 722 North Court street, Circleville.

In politics Mr. Morris has always been identified with the Democratic party. Prior to removing to Circleville. Mr. Morris had served as justice of the peace in Walnut township. In the year following his retirement from business, he was elected auditor of Pickaway County and served six years. He has always been active in party matters and fields considerable influence. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows, Foresters and Knights of Pythias.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

The Morris family is of English extraction. The great-grandfather was born there, emigrated to America and settled first in Pennsylvania, where the grandfather was born. John Morris moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia and then to Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1802. where he secured a section of land in Walnut township, becoming possessed of 1,000 acres of land in the course of time. He was one of the earliest and best known pioneers in this section and reared a large family, whose descendants are now among the county’s best citizens.

James Morris, our subject's father, was born in Walnut township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and here grew to manhood. He bought and cleared a tract of 160 acres and later at different times added several hundred more acres to his first purchase. He died April 22, 1896, on the homestead in Walnut township, now occupied by his son. Thomas J. Morris. For many years he was a justice of the peace and also served as township trustee, being a Democrat in politics. He married Mary Davis, who was born in Walnut township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and was a daughter of the early pioneer, William Davis. Mrs. Morris died January 7, 1904. Of the nine children born to James Morris and wife, seven are now fixing, Thomas J., a resident of Circleville; George W., the subject of this sketch; James M., a hardware merchant of Circleville; Mrs. Lydia Stein, of Circleville township; Mrs. Ella Stein, of Jackson township; Mrs.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

M. MORRIS, one of the prominent citizens of Pickaway County, and a representative business man of Circleville, conducts a large hardware store in this city and stands very high in public esteem. He was born in Walnut township, Pickaway County, Ohio, December 30, 1859, and is a son of James Morris, further mention of whom will be found in the sketches of Thomas J. and George W. Morris, in this work.

Mr. Morris was reared in Walnut township and spent his early school days there. Later he attended the Northern Ohio University one term and then began to teach school. This profession he followed in Pickaway County for about 12 years, becoming well and favorably known in many localities. He was appointed deputy auditor of Pickaway County and served in that position for two years and a similar period as deputy treasurer. I11 1899 Mr. Morris purchased the hardware business of Ainsworth & Brenner, at Circleville, and in the following year resigned his political position to assume sole charge of the business. He has continued in this line ever since and conducts one of the largest hardware stores in this section.

Mr. Morris was married in 1898 to Fanny Florence, who is the eldest daughter of Jonathan Florence and a representative of one of the oldest and most important families of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have two children, viz.: Donald F. and Ralph. Mrs. Morris is a member of the Presbyterian Church to which Mr. Morris gives a liberal support.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HENRY B. MORRIS, agent for the Cincinnati & Muskingum Valley Railroad Company, at Circleville, was born in Walnut township, Pickaway County, Ohio, February 19, 1841, and is a son of John Morris.

John Morris was born in Pickaway County, in 1806, and his whole life was passed as a farmer and public official. He served two terms as county commissioner of Pickaway

County. His father, John Morris, was one of the earliest settlers of the county.

Henry B. Morris was reared on a farm in Walnut township and was educated in the local schools. At the age of 24 years, in the spring of 1868, he came to Circle ville as bookkeeper for the firm of Morris & Loughry, with whom he remained until 1874, when he was elected to the office of auditor of Pickaway County. He served for two terms in this responsible office. After retiring from public life, Mr. Marris became bookkeeper for the firm of W. E. Delaplane & Company, and was later with Heffner & Company, with which firm he remained until January 1, 1880, when he accepted his present railroad position. He is well known all through this part of the State and has a wide circle of business anJ personal friends.

On October 5, 1869, Mr. Morris was married to Amelia Scothorn, a daughter of Thomas J. Scothorn, one of the early settlers of Walnut township. Her maternal grandfather Pritchett was a pioneer in Pickaway County. Mr. and Mrs. Morris are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

LEWIS IRVING MORRIS, a representative of a prominent pioneer family of Pickaway County, now lives retired at Circleville but still retains his valuable farm of 190 acres in Walnut township. He was born in Walnut township, Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1853, and is a son of John and Delilah (Bowman) Morris.

The Morris family was a very early and prominent one in New Jersey and the name is preserved in the city of Morristown. The founder of the-family in Pickaway County was Ezekiel Morris, who moved from New Jersey to Pennsylvania and then to Ohio and settled in Pickaway township, Pickaway County, where he entered land from the government, also entering some in Walnut township. Lewis I. Morris still owns the original papers, which bear the signature of President Thomas Jefferson.

John Morris, father of Lewis I., was born in Walnut township in 1806. He became an extensive farmer and stock-raiser and was very prominent in county affairs, serving as county commissioner, as township trustee and for 25 years was a justice of the peace.

Lewis I. Morris continued to reside on the old homestead, where he was born and reared, until he removed to Circleville. He was a successful farmer and for a time raised much stock and cattle, being interested in breeding Polled Angus cattle.

Mr. Morris has never married but has always taken care of his sisters and has been a devoted son to his mother. This.venerable lady, who wras bom May 11, 1814, passed away March 12, 1905. She was a daughter of John Bowrman, of Licking County, Ohio, who was born in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia.

Mr. Morris has never been much interested in politics but has served as township trustee when the office was almost forced on him. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Foresters.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ISAAC E. MORRIS,- one of Pickaway township’s representative agriculturists and prominent citizens, serving his second term as township trustee, resides on a valuable farm which is situated some seven miles from Circleville, on the Circleville and Kingston turnpike. Mr. Morris was born September 16, 1865, 011 ie famous Pickaway Plains in Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a son of Reason S. and Harriet (Pontius) Morris.

Both parents of Mr. Morris were born in Washington township, Pickaway County and now reside in Salt Creek township. Reason S. Morris is a son of Henry Morris, one of the early settlers of this county, in which the family has been one of standing for many years. To Reason S. Morris and wife were born 10 children, as follows: Daniel, of Salt

Creek township; Mary A., wife of Andrew Wilson, of Athens County, Ohio; Henry V., of Logan, Phillips County, Kansas; Isaac E., of this sketch; Mahlon, of Pickaway County; Evaline, of Salt Creek township; Charles E., of Walnut township; Clifton, of Logan, Phillips County, Kansas; Rosa E., wife of Claude W. Work, of Denver, Colorado; and Arthur, of Salt Creek township.

Isaac E. Morris was born in Pickaway township, this county, and was 11 years old when the family removed to Salt Creek township, where he attended school until he became interested in farming. His training in this direction was of a practical nature and he has always been interested in agricultural pursuits. He settled on his present farm, near Elmwood, 'in 1891, and in addition to carrying on general farming raises many horses, cattle and hogs.

On February 25, 1890, Mr. Morris was married to Ina Chrisman, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Jeremiah Chrisman, of that county.

In political sentiment, Mr. Morris is a Democrat and has been active in party affairs in the township. On several occasions he has been selected for office by his fellow-citizens and is now serving his second term as township trustee. He enjoys the confidence of the public and bears the reputation of being an excellent and industrious official.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.