My Genealogy Hound

Ira Lain Morris, a wealthy farmer of Sebastian County, Ark., is a son of Enoch and Mary (Sexton) Morris, both of whom were born in North Carolina, the former in 1794 and the latter in 1796. The family first came from Wales at an early day, and located in North Carolina, where the Sextons, who were of English birth, had also settled. Here the parents were married, and lived until 1827, when they moved to DeKalb County, Ga., and that State their home the remainder of their days. The father was an expert carpenter, and was very handy with tools of all kinds, and in connection with his trade carried on farming. He died while visiting his children in Texas, in 1884, his wife having died in Paulding County, Ga., in 1868. They were devoted members of the Methodist Church, and were the parents of eleven children, six of whom are living. Four sons served in the Confederate army during the late war. The fifth child of the family, Ira Lain Morris, was born in Davidson County, N. C., April 17, 1826, and was reared on a farm, but received but little early education, as his boyhood days were spent on the Cherokee Purchase in Georgia, there being very few schools in the region at that time. He afterward acquired a sufficient knowledge of the common English branches to enable him to acquit himself creditably in the transaction of business, and he is now considered one of the most intelligent men of the community in which he resides. In 1847 he was married to Miss Nancy J. Simes, who was born in De Kalb County, Ga., January 14, 1829, and by her is the father of twelve children: Mary J., Sarah A., James W., William J., Martha E., George L., Frances O., Amanda M. (deceased), Enoch H., Nancy C., Charles H. (deceased), and Jennie L. In 1853 Mr. Morris moved to Texas, and during thirteen years in that State was a resident of the following counties: Cass, Wood and Upshire. In 1866 he came to Sebastian County, where he has since made his home, and is the owner of 220 acres of fertile land. The family are all members of the Methodist Church, and he is a Democrat and Mason. In February, 1863, he enlisted in Company R, Texas Volunteer Cavalry, Confederate States Army, and served until the close of the war. The chief battle in which he participated was Yellow Bayou, and he was neither wounded nor taken prisoner during his service.