My Genealogy Hound

B. C. Morrison is a member of the firm of Morrison, Decker & Co., manufacturers of tight barrel staves and hardwood lumber, at Newport. Mr. Morrison was born in Denmark, on the 11th of March, 1843, and until his twentieth year resided in his native land, and learned farming and tavern keeping of his father, who followed both occupations. Becoming imbued with the idea that better opportunities were offered to young men of push and energy in the New World, he determined to seek his fortune in the ‘‘land of the free,’’ and accordingly, in April, 1863, he took passage at Hamburg, and landed at Quebec in May. He immediately wended his way to Racine, Wis., where he hired out to a farmer, remaining with him four months, then entered a cooper shop to learn the trade, and this occupation received his attention until the fall of 1864, when he enlisted in the First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, United States Army, and was a faithful servant of his adopted country until July, 1865, when he was mustered out of service. He returned to his former home at Racine, where he worked as a journeyman for some time. In 1868 he is found at work in a cooper shop in Keokuk, Iowa, but, in 1873, he determined to embark in business for himself, and from that time until 1881 he successfully conducted a cooper shop of his own. In the latter year he removed to Newport, Ark., and began building his present mill, under the name of B. C. Morrison & Co., and on the 16th day of January, 1882, he raised steam in his engine, and began running his establishment, which is the largest concern of the kind in Northeast Arkansas. They handle a great deal of lumber, piling and staves, and give employment the year round to at least 300 men. With this mill they are clearing a farm of 1,700 acres, and in a few years they expect to have every acre of it under cultivation. The present partnership was formed in 1884, and, in connection with their stave and lumber factory, they own a large saw mill at Pond Switch, which furnishes employment to about fifty men. They also own two steamboats: the “G. W. Decker.’’ which is a passenger boat, and the ‘‘Bright Star,’’ a freight boat, both of which run regularly up as far as Cherokee Bay. These gentlemen may be termed benefactors of the community in which they reside, for they have done much to open up Jackson County, and have added materially to its commercial standing. They are building good houses, and have a railroad of their own, which is three miles in length. Mr. Morrison was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Prater, a native of Illinois, in 1868.