My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM MORRIS, farmer and stock-raiser, post-office Sarcoxie, was born in Butter county, Ohio, Feb. 21, 1809; his parents, John and Elizabeth Morris, were natives of the Old Dominion. When nine years of age our subject came west with his parents to Knox county, Ind.; there the father purchased land and commenced to improve it. Shortly after, however, he started on a trip and was supposed to have been drowned; subject being the eldest of the family of children necessarily had to take charge of the affairs, although, of course, directed by his mother in many things. Remained there engaged in farming until twenty-three years of age, during which time he received a limited education. In 1834 he moved to Davis county, same state, but soon after returned to the old homestead; came to Missouri in the spring of 1869, locating in Jasper county about nine miles southeast of Carthage. He then purchased land and engaged in farming until February, 1880, when he came to his present location. Mr. Morris was married in Knox county, Ind., April 16, 1829, to Miss Lavina, daughter of Noah and Mary Roberts, formerly of the Empire State. From this union there were three children, John, Mary, and William C. Mrs. M. died in the summer of 1834; subject was again married in the following November to Miss Rebecca, daughter of Ephraim and Margaret Thompson of Davis county. They have been blessed with five children; Mary, Lavina, Margaret, Elizabeth, and William T.; Mrs. M. died in October, 1858; again married in Knox county, Ind., July 24, 1859, to Mrs. Mary E. Robbins, daughter of Wm. and Elizabeth McGovern. Form this union there have been nine children: Marcellus, born June 19, 1860; Elmer E., born Oct. 24, 1861; Louis, born June 21, 1864; Oliver P., born April 9, 1867, died Jan. 26, 1875; Benjamin F., born Dec. 31, 1868, died Feb. 7, 1869; H. A., born May 23, 1870; Etta May, born April 3, 1872; James M., born Feb. 14, 1874; and Hugh H., born March 3, 1877, died Sept. 14, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. M. are members of the M. E. Church; they have a good farm and pleasant home, situated about two mile east of Sarcoxie.