My Genealogy Hound

DANIEL S. MORROW. It affords great pleasure to the biographical writer to incorporate in this volume an outline of the life of one who has been a prominent business man of Springfield for many years, but whose claim to respect is based upon the enduring qualities of character which he has manifested, and the manner in which he has wrought out a career of honor from a beginning of orphanage and poverty.

It will not be amiss to make brief mention of former generations before proceeding to the life of our subject, His grandfather, John Morrow, was born in Belfast, Ireland, but was of Scotch ancestry. He was reared in his native city, whence he came to America when a young man, accompanied by his brothers Jeremiah and William, all locating in Morris County, N. J. The two last named removed westward after the Revolutionary War, during which John Morrow fought in the interests of the Colonists. He was a farmer, his estate being close to Ft. Nonsense, which was built by Gen. Washington. His wife was a daughter of a Baptist minister named Price, a Welshman by birth. Both John Morrow and his wife died at their home in Morris County, where their son James had been born. The latter was reared on the home farm, and after reaching years of maturity, engaged in farming and lime burning. He was the owner of the Morris lime kilns. He resided at Morristown until 1820, when he came to Ohio with the intention of buying land and moving his family hither. He died on the trip, the circumstances leading to the belief that he was robbed and murdered. His wife whose maiden name was Adah Price, survived him a few years, dying in Morris County, in which she had been born. Their family consisted of seven children — Esther, Eliza, Sarah, Isaac, Alexander, Mary J., and Daniel S.

The subject of this biographical notice was born near Morristown, N. J., July 18, 1818, was two years old when his father died, and about ten when left motherless. He was then thrown upon his own resources, and making his way to New York City, he made his living as best he could until he was able to learn the trade of a brick and plaster mason. One can imagine the struggle for existence which would be endured by a boy of his years among strangers, and can readily believe that his bed was not always one of down, but more frequently a dry-goods box with the canopy of heaven as a roof. His inheritance of good sense directed him in the right path, and he avoided bad company and attended the Sunday-schools regularly. At thirteen years of age he signed the temperance pledge, and joined a temperance organization, his membership of such a society probably antedating that of any other resident of Springfield.

In the spring of 1837, young Morrow started for Ohio on foot, with his earthly possessions on his back. He walked to Delaware County, and worked at his trade there and in Columbus, until his marriage in the spring of 1841. He then went to Urbana, where he worked at his trade for a time, hoarding his resources until he was able to go into the grocery and produce business. In this branch of trade he continued in that city until 1848, when he became connected with Richard Brandriff, of Troy, in a stove foundry. In 1850, he came to Springfield, and here engaged with M. Steel, in the wholesale tobacco business, in which he continued five or six years. He then turned his attention to the real-estate business, buying and improving property, in which he has continued until the present time. For several years he was also engaged with his only son in the ice business. Ho has built several business blocks, and a number of dwelling houses which add to the attractiveness and value of various localities in his city.

The lady who on May 28, 1841, linked her fate to that of our subject, was Matilda Whitehead, who was born in Franklin County, January 26, 1822. Her father, Jonathan Whitehead, a native of Newark, N. J., was an honored pioneer of the county in which she was born. She has done what woman could to assist her husband in all his worthy ambitions, and with him instilled into the mind of their only child, the upright principles which animated their own lives. Their son Steward, married Elizabeth Rush, and has five children — Ellen, Bessie, Edith, Glennie, and Margarie.

Mr. Morrow has always been a great reader, and has not only kept himself well informed in the general news of the day, but has also familiarized himself with much good literature outside of the newspapers. He has always been a teetotaler and an advocate of temperance, and it was mainly through his efforts that the temperance hall in Springfield was built. He is now about seventy-two years of age, but in full possession of all his mental faculties, and physically strong, all of which may be construed as a good argument in favor of the temperance cause. He still leads the singing at his church, with a voice as clear as ever. He and his wife are numbered among the Adventists. During anti-slavery struggles he was widely known as an underground conductor, a position which he looks back to with great pride.