My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography from the book, History of Kentucky, Edition 1 by J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin and G. C. Kniffin and published by F. A. Battey Publishing Company in 1885.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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WILLIAM W. MORRIS was born February 16, 1844, in Holmes County, Miss., and is the seventh of nine children, six boys and three girls, born to Noah and Martha (Erwin) Morris, born in South Carolina and Louisiana, respectively. His grandparents were Benjamin Morris of Irish origin and a farmer, and Joseph Erwin of English descent, also a farmer. William W. Morris was reared on a farm, receiving a good English education and was attending school at Monticello, Ark., at the time the war broke out, when he and all his brothers enlisted in the Confederate Army. He enlisted in July, 1861, in Company B, Ninth Arkansas Infantry, under Capt. Iron, Bradley commanding colonel, and engaged in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Barnsville, Port Hudson and Vicksburg, and was in Gen. Loring’s division from Dalton to Atlanta, and was also in the Nashville and Franklin fight; was in Forrest’s command on Hood’s retreat and afterward went to Mobile and South Carolina, to join the army of Virginia; his last fight was in Bentonville, N. C., and in April, 1865, surrendered. He was wounded at Shiloh in the right side, and at Bentonville in the left side. After the close of the war, he returned to Goodman, Miss., engaged in the drug business and studied medicine for two years. In 1868, he came to Ballard County, where he taught school for fifteen terms and preached, having been licensed in February, 1872; about 1882, he turned his entire attention to farming. His only ally in life has been his wife, and he has a farm of 123 acres, 100 improved. He was married September 21, 1876, to Miss M. H. Reeves, of Ballard County, daughter of W. H. and Penelope (White) Reeves, natives of Kentucky and of Irish and Scotch descent. To this marriage have been born four children: William W., Charles C., Fannie E., and Nellie W. Mr. and Mrs. Morris are members of the Christian Church, and he is a Mason. He cast his first presidential vote for Seymour, and he is still a Democrat.

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This family biography is one of 186 biographies included in the Ballard County, Kentucky section of the book, The History of Kentucky, Edition 1 published in 1885 by F. A. Battey Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: History of Kentucky, Edition 1

View additional Ballard County, Kentucky family biographies here: Ballard County, Kentucky Biographies

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