The funeral of the late Mr. W.H. Morris was held at the ome of his daughter, Mrs. S. Brundidge at Searcy, Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock and was largely attended by the friends of the family in that city, where Mr. Morris had made his home with his daughter for the past year. The service was conducted by Dr. John H. Dye and Dr. C.C. Godden, both old friends of the deceased. The talks by the two ministers were beautiful tributes to the life of this splendid citizen, who was held in high esteem by all who knew him. Mrs. Emmett Snipes sand in her beautiful clear soprano "Death is Only a Dream," which was preceded by an old hymn.
Mr. Morris had been confined to his bed fifteen weeks, passing away Saturday morning at 10:30, aged 79 years.
The casket was covered with beautiful floral pieces, some coming from friends in Newport, others from Search. The remains were laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery in that city.
Newport Daily Independent
May 26, 1913
---
Son of
William Henry, II & Eliza [nee Proctor] Morris
Brother of
Catherine - 1824/1834
Mary Frances [Joseph...Gracie...Williford]
Gouvernour - 1828/1831
Randolph Hunt
Elenor 18436/1836
Benjamin Proctor - 1840-1840
Maria Louisa [Grider]
Step-Mother
Timmandria Garner
Half-Brother of
Robert
Anna Eliza [McClure...Akers]
John
Married
30 Nov. 1857, Jacksonsport, Jackson co., Ar.
Amelia C. Hamilton
Father of
William Randolph
Marguerite "Nellie" [Brundidge]
Isaiah
Savannah Harriet "Vannie"
[Garrison...Carpenter]
Went back to her maiden after last divorce
Charles Montell
William was born in or near Philadelphia according to his own biography. He moved with his family to Arkansas when he was about 5. He served in the Civil War with the 47th Arkansas Cavalry Co D. He enlisted age 31 in 1865 eyes hazel, hair black, complexion Dark, ht 5'7" born in Pennsylvania. Paroled at Wittsburg, Ark 25 May 1865(Wittsburg was on the St. Francis River east of the present Wynne, Ar. The 47the was evidently a mounted infantry Regt.-sort of like a Cavalry regiment and was form in 1864.Also called Crandalls.
Ref: Goodspeeds Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas page 888. On the Census in Arkansas 1840,1850,1860,1870,1880, 1900, 1910. In 1840 he was listed in Little Rock, Pulaski census with parents and the rest in Jackson County Arkansas.
William went to California during the gold rush. He is on the 1850 census of Jackson Co, but by family information, we know that he went to California soon after that and did not return for about 3 years. He told my father, his grandson, that he rode a horse out to California and rode the same horse back home. He went with a wagon train, but my father couldn't remember from where they left. He told that they only met Indians one time and no trouble and had an uneventful trip to Calif. I suspect a Mustain went with him, an maybe several others from Jacksonport area. On the California state census for 1852 , there is a Mustain and Morris in Angels Camp California and both from Arkansas. This probably could be them. He seems to have come home with the death of his brother and father all within about 6 months of one another. He brought back a gold ring with 3 garnets in it that is still in the family and came from California had this ring on a picture taken about 1857. Also a small gold bead necklace. He was a constable in Jacksonport and had too much land and was land poor.
The family story says that William Morris came back when he heard that his brother died and when he arrived back from California he found that his Father had died also. His is back in 1855 or early 1856 and he got married in 1857. When he arrived back the estate was being taken over by his brothers in law William Akers and John Grider with Timmandria Garner Barnes Morris, his stepmother as administrator. A long bitter battle over the estate begins and goes on for a number of years. In fact the estate isn't settled until about 1870. According to the family, he and Maria became unfriendly and the other children seemed to all be separated by this fight among relatives. There are many papers in the courts about this situation. William challenged the right of Timmandria Morris to administer the estate and to be guardian of the minor heirs.
There is an interesting court order in which the slaves of the family were ordered to be sold and over 3000.00 was obtained in this manner and distributed among the children, share and share alike. Property was ordered sold and the court ordered share and share alike in this also and tried to settle the arguments.
On Nov 30 1857, William Henry Morris III married Amelia C. Hamilton, daughter of Isaiah Hamilton and Frances Blagg. They were married at the residence of her brother, John Jospehus Hamilton in Jefferson Township, Jackson Co. Arkansas.
I have in my possession the pair of white satin high button shoes that Amelia wore at her wedding and the white lace fan she carried. the family states that these were ordered from St. Louis for the wedding.
Beginning in 1858, William H. Morris III began selling land in Jacksonport. He sold a number of lots that had belonged to his father. He had lots of land in the Jacksonport area and in Jackson county.
William was also a Postmaster on July 10 1879 and served until 12 Jan 1881. and He was also an agent for receipt of money for funds for relief of soldiers families during the Civil War. He is listed many times in the history of Newport as he was on of the founders.
In 1873, he and Theodore H. Phillips rebuilt a bridge on an abandoned stretch of road between Elizabeth and Newport.
Real estate transactions are numerous in the city of Newport and there is an addition there today still called the Morris addition. Lots were in block 29.
On the day of election 1 April 1879, the voters gathered for the town meeting to find that the county clerk had failed to appoint judges for the election. Mark Cohn, William Bailey and Wm. H. Morris III were appointed to serve as judges, and they took their oaths and appointed Hugh Grimes and Nick Robbins to serve as clerks.
In 1873, the Cairo and Fulton railroad company acquired a site in Newport and William H. Morris III gave the railroad additional lands for the railroad yard. I have an original drawing of the land he gave and the dimensions.
According to family history they had a large house near the river, in Newport. One would think that after the Elizabeth disaster with flooding they would not build so near the river, but they did and my grandmother told me stories of how the flood waters would come into the home and in 1884, she remembered the water getting so high that they took her beautiful walnut piano and hoisted it up and tied it high near the second floor of the home so that it would not be ruined the piano was used for many years in the family. I am not sure when they moved, but probably about 1895 or so.
William built the house at 500 Laurel St. Newport, Ark and it is still standing 2002. My father and his sister Doris were born there. This area is away from flooding.
A couple of interesting little stories were also passed down about William III . He told of selling some valuable land in Jackson county and hurrying down to the bank so he wouldn't lose the money and depositing it and to awake next morning to find the bank had failed and he had lost all the money.
Another story that my grandmother told me was about her remembering riding in the carriage with her father William to collect rents from his property. They went many places around the area and he was always lenient with the people who couldn't pay. He had a gentle heart it seems. They used to always collect rent from a Miss Minnie, who rented some houses from Morris. Miss Minnie was a favorite of my grandmother when the were collecting. and later she found out that Miss Minnie was a Madam of Newport. William Morris II was land poor according to my grandmother.
I have in my possession a small booklet in which William H. Morris III had filled out his name and birthrate and wrote the following, which to me indicates his personality and I think it is something for the family to know.
"I have always used economy , had lived poor and have tried to
make friends and live honest and never oppressed anyone and failed in my expectations, but I hope there is some reward for me" 1905
In Co G 32nd Arkansas Infantry the following men are listed; Captain Charles Montell, 1st Lt. Jesse Grider and t. J. Blagg, Corporal. All of these names become of interest in the study of William Morris. William and Amelia named their son Charles Montell Morris and William's sister Maria married the nephew of Jesse Grider(John Grider). T. J. Blagg was also a cousin of Amelia Morris.
William H. Morris is listed among the soldiers that were surrendered at Jacksonport in May 1865 and as I visited Jacksonport State Park and looked at the old courthouse and monuments,, I could well imagine the scene that took place that day. I could almost feel the presence of the troops and the solemnity of the day and as I stood there in the quiet of the park and watched the White River flow swiftly and quietly by and I realized that I was probably standing on land that was owned by W. H. Morris II and III. It is hard to imagine a busy port and town on the now quiet deserted location.
According to land records, the Morris family owned land on the river front about where the steamboat Mary Wood's is now moored as part of the Jacksonport Museum.
It must of been hard for William to surrender, but I wonder if he had thoughts about his Pennsylvania and New York background and his strong family Northern ties during the Civil war , William had cousins serving on the Northern side, A Col. Orlando H. Morris who was killed at Cold Harbor, Virginia.
In May 1913, William H. Morris III died at the home of his daughter in Searcy. The funeral was held at the Brundidge home on Market street, now demolished and according to the obituary he had asked to be buried in Searcy. I cannot find a burial record for him in Searcy and am surprised that he is not buried with the other members of the Brundidge family in Searcy. His obituary states that he left l sister Anna Eliza Morris Akers of Little Rock who was married to William Akers, former Union officer and carpet bag officer of Jackson county and Clay county. According to family information they were not on friendly terms over the fight of the will of their father.
Today , in front of the last Morris house at 500 Laurel, Newport, Arkansas stands a large beautiful Gingko tree that was planted by Wm.H. Morris many years ago. In the fall it is beautiful with colorful leaves. He had mailed away for this tree and planted in on Laurel Avenue. It is a reminder of his love of nature and his own gentle soul.
Morris Family bible in the possession of Richard Akers of Texas gives the date of birth for Wm. H. as Feb 5 1834, but Wm gives his birth date at Jan 1, 1834 in his biographical sketch. Also the family bible gives the name of the town as Manasim, but this is an area in West Philadelphia. This sectin was north of Market St. between 40th and 49th and bounded by Fairmount and considered a good upcoming suburb in 1830, when they lived there.
1880 Cemsus of Newport, Jackson Co Ark have Wm H. Morris age 46 living in a boarding house with his family living inSearcy. I don't know the reason for this. I have a letter he wrote to his daughter , Savannah telling her when he was coming to see them and how much he missed them.
Information provided by Charlotte
Mr. Morris had been confined to his bed fifteen weeks, passing away Saturday morning at 10:30, aged 79 years.
The casket was covered with beautiful floral pieces, some coming from friends in Newport, others from Search. The remains were laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery in that city.
Newport Daily Independent
May 26, 1913
---
Son of
William Henry, II & Eliza [nee Proctor] Morris
Brother of
Catherine - 1824/1834
Mary Frances [Joseph...Gracie...Williford]
Gouvernour - 1828/1831
Randolph Hunt
Elenor 18436/1836
Benjamin Proctor - 1840-1840
Maria Louisa [Grider]
Step-Mother
Timmandria Garner
Half-Brother of
Robert
Anna Eliza [McClure...Akers]
John
Married
30 Nov. 1857, Jacksonsport, Jackson co., Ar.
Amelia C. Hamilton
Father of
William Randolph
Marguerite "Nellie" [Brundidge]
Isaiah
Savannah Harriet "Vannie"
[Garrison...Carpenter]
Went back to her maiden after last divorce
Charles Montell
William was born in or near Philadelphia according to his own biography. He moved with his family to Arkansas when he was about 5. He served in the Civil War with the 47th Arkansas Cavalry Co D. He enlisted age 31 in 1865 eyes hazel, hair black, complexion Dark, ht 5'7" born in Pennsylvania. Paroled at Wittsburg, Ark 25 May 1865(Wittsburg was on the St. Francis River east of the present Wynne, Ar. The 47the was evidently a mounted infantry Regt.-sort of like a Cavalry regiment and was form in 1864.Also called Crandalls.
Ref: Goodspeeds Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas page 888. On the Census in Arkansas 1840,1850,1860,1870,1880, 1900, 1910. In 1840 he was listed in Little Rock, Pulaski census with parents and the rest in Jackson County Arkansas.
William went to California during the gold rush. He is on the 1850 census of Jackson Co, but by family information, we know that he went to California soon after that and did not return for about 3 years. He told my father, his grandson, that he rode a horse out to California and rode the same horse back home. He went with a wagon train, but my father couldn't remember from where they left. He told that they only met Indians one time and no trouble and had an uneventful trip to Calif. I suspect a Mustain went with him, an maybe several others from Jacksonport area. On the California state census for 1852 , there is a Mustain and Morris in Angels Camp California and both from Arkansas. This probably could be them. He seems to have come home with the death of his brother and father all within about 6 months of one another. He brought back a gold ring with 3 garnets in it that is still in the family and came from California had this ring on a picture taken about 1857. Also a small gold bead necklace. He was a constable in Jacksonport and had too much land and was land poor.
The family story says that William Morris came back when he heard that his brother died and when he arrived back from California he found that his Father had died also. His is back in 1855 or early 1856 and he got married in 1857. When he arrived back the estate was being taken over by his brothers in law William Akers and John Grider with Timmandria Garner Barnes Morris, his stepmother as administrator. A long bitter battle over the estate begins and goes on for a number of years. In fact the estate isn't settled until about 1870. According to the family, he and Maria became unfriendly and the other children seemed to all be separated by this fight among relatives. There are many papers in the courts about this situation. William challenged the right of Timmandria Morris to administer the estate and to be guardian of the minor heirs.
There is an interesting court order in which the slaves of the family were ordered to be sold and over 3000.00 was obtained in this manner and distributed among the children, share and share alike. Property was ordered sold and the court ordered share and share alike in this also and tried to settle the arguments.
On Nov 30 1857, William Henry Morris III married Amelia C. Hamilton, daughter of Isaiah Hamilton and Frances Blagg. They were married at the residence of her brother, John Jospehus Hamilton in Jefferson Township, Jackson Co. Arkansas.
I have in my possession the pair of white satin high button shoes that Amelia wore at her wedding and the white lace fan she carried. the family states that these were ordered from St. Louis for the wedding.
Beginning in 1858, William H. Morris III began selling land in Jacksonport. He sold a number of lots that had belonged to his father. He had lots of land in the Jacksonport area and in Jackson county.
William was also a Postmaster on July 10 1879 and served until 12 Jan 1881. and He was also an agent for receipt of money for funds for relief of soldiers families during the Civil War. He is listed many times in the history of Newport as he was on of the founders.
In 1873, he and Theodore H. Phillips rebuilt a bridge on an abandoned stretch of road between Elizabeth and Newport.
Real estate transactions are numerous in the city of Newport and there is an addition there today still called the Morris addition. Lots were in block 29.
On the day of election 1 April 1879, the voters gathered for the town meeting to find that the county clerk had failed to appoint judges for the election. Mark Cohn, William Bailey and Wm. H. Morris III were appointed to serve as judges, and they took their oaths and appointed Hugh Grimes and Nick Robbins to serve as clerks.
In 1873, the Cairo and Fulton railroad company acquired a site in Newport and William H. Morris III gave the railroad additional lands for the railroad yard. I have an original drawing of the land he gave and the dimensions.
According to family history they had a large house near the river, in Newport. One would think that after the Elizabeth disaster with flooding they would not build so near the river, but they did and my grandmother told me stories of how the flood waters would come into the home and in 1884, she remembered the water getting so high that they took her beautiful walnut piano and hoisted it up and tied it high near the second floor of the home so that it would not be ruined the piano was used for many years in the family. I am not sure when they moved, but probably about 1895 or so.
William built the house at 500 Laurel St. Newport, Ark and it is still standing 2002. My father and his sister Doris were born there. This area is away from flooding.
A couple of interesting little stories were also passed down about William III . He told of selling some valuable land in Jackson county and hurrying down to the bank so he wouldn't lose the money and depositing it and to awake next morning to find the bank had failed and he had lost all the money.
Another story that my grandmother told me was about her remembering riding in the carriage with her father William to collect rents from his property. They went many places around the area and he was always lenient with the people who couldn't pay. He had a gentle heart it seems. They used to always collect rent from a Miss Minnie, who rented some houses from Morris. Miss Minnie was a favorite of my grandmother when the were collecting. and later she found out that Miss Minnie was a Madam of Newport. William Morris II was land poor according to my grandmother.
I have in my possession a small booklet in which William H. Morris III had filled out his name and birthrate and wrote the following, which to me indicates his personality and I think it is something for the family to know.
"I have always used economy , had lived poor and have tried to
make friends and live honest and never oppressed anyone and failed in my expectations, but I hope there is some reward for me" 1905
In Co G 32nd Arkansas Infantry the following men are listed; Captain Charles Montell, 1st Lt. Jesse Grider and t. J. Blagg, Corporal. All of these names become of interest in the study of William Morris. William and Amelia named their son Charles Montell Morris and William's sister Maria married the nephew of Jesse Grider(John Grider). T. J. Blagg was also a cousin of Amelia Morris.
William H. Morris is listed among the soldiers that were surrendered at Jacksonport in May 1865 and as I visited Jacksonport State Park and looked at the old courthouse and monuments,, I could well imagine the scene that took place that day. I could almost feel the presence of the troops and the solemnity of the day and as I stood there in the quiet of the park and watched the White River flow swiftly and quietly by and I realized that I was probably standing on land that was owned by W. H. Morris II and III. It is hard to imagine a busy port and town on the now quiet deserted location.
According to land records, the Morris family owned land on the river front about where the steamboat Mary Wood's is now moored as part of the Jacksonport Museum.
It must of been hard for William to surrender, but I wonder if he had thoughts about his Pennsylvania and New York background and his strong family Northern ties during the Civil war , William had cousins serving on the Northern side, A Col. Orlando H. Morris who was killed at Cold Harbor, Virginia.
In May 1913, William H. Morris III died at the home of his daughter in Searcy. The funeral was held at the Brundidge home on Market street, now demolished and according to the obituary he had asked to be buried in Searcy. I cannot find a burial record for him in Searcy and am surprised that he is not buried with the other members of the Brundidge family in Searcy. His obituary states that he left l sister Anna Eliza Morris Akers of Little Rock who was married to William Akers, former Union officer and carpet bag officer of Jackson county and Clay county. According to family information they were not on friendly terms over the fight of the will of their father.
Today , in front of the last Morris house at 500 Laurel, Newport, Arkansas stands a large beautiful Gingko tree that was planted by Wm.H. Morris many years ago. In the fall it is beautiful with colorful leaves. He had mailed away for this tree and planted in on Laurel Avenue. It is a reminder of his love of nature and his own gentle soul.
Morris Family bible in the possession of Richard Akers of Texas gives the date of birth for Wm. H. as Feb 5 1834, but Wm gives his birth date at Jan 1, 1834 in his biographical sketch. Also the family bible gives the name of the town as Manasim, but this is an area in West Philadelphia. This sectin was north of Market St. between 40th and 49th and bounded by Fairmount and considered a good upcoming suburb in 1830, when they lived there.
1880 Cemsus of Newport, Jackson Co Ark have Wm H. Morris age 46 living in a boarding house with his family living inSearcy. I don't know the reason for this. I have a letter he wrote to his daughter , Savannah telling her when he was coming to see them and how much he missed them.
Information provided by Charlotte
The funeral of the late Mr. W.H. Morris was held at the ome of his daughter, Mrs. S. Brundidge at Searcy, Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock and was largely attended by the friends of the family in that city, where Mr. Morris had made his home with his daughter for the past year. The service was conducted by Dr. John H. Dye and Dr. C.C. Godden, both old friends of the deceased. The talks by the two ministers were beautiful tributes to the life of this splendid citizen, who was held in high esteem by all who knew him. Mrs. Emmett Snipes sand in her beautiful clear soprano "Death is Only a Dream," which was preceded by an old hymn.
Mr. Morris had been confined to his bed fifteen weeks, passing away Saturday morning at 10:30, aged 79 years.
The casket was covered with beautiful floral pieces, some coming from friends in Newport, others from Search. The remains were laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery in that city.
Newport Daily Independent
May 26, 1913
---
Son of
William Henry, II & Eliza [nee Proctor] Morris
Brother of
Catherine - 1824/1834
Mary Frances [Joseph...Gracie...Williford]
Gouvernour - 1828/1831
Randolph Hunt
Elenor 18436/1836
Benjamin Proctor - 1840-1840
Maria Louisa [Grider]
Step-Mother
Timmandria Garner
Half-Brother of
Robert
Anna Eliza [McClure...Akers]
John
Married
30 Nov. 1857, Jacksonsport, Jackson co., Ar.
Amelia C. Hamilton
Father of
William Randolph
Marguerite "Nellie" [Brundidge]
Isaiah
Savannah Harriet "Vannie"
[Garrison...Carpenter]
Went back to her maiden after last divorce
Charles Montell
William was born in or near Philadelphia according to his own biography. He moved with his family to Arkansas when he was about 5. He served in the Civil War with the 47th Arkansas Cavalry Co D. He enlisted age 31 in 1865 eyes hazel, hair black, complexion Dark, ht 5'7" born in Pennsylvania. Paroled at Wittsburg, Ark 25 May 1865(Wittsburg was on the St. Francis River east of the present Wynne, Ar. The 47the was evidently a mounted infantry Regt.-sort of like a Cavalry regiment and was form in 1864.Also called Crandalls.
Ref: Goodspeeds Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas page 888. On the Census in Arkansas 1840,1850,1860,1870,1880, 1900, 1910. In 1840 he was listed in Little Rock, Pulaski census with parents and the rest in Jackson County Arkansas.
William went to California during the gold rush. He is on the 1850 census of Jackson Co, but by family information, we know that he went to California soon after that and did not return for about 3 years. He told my father, his grandson, that he rode a horse out to California and rode the same horse back home. He went with a wagon train, but my father couldn't remember from where they left. He told that they only met Indians one time and no trouble and had an uneventful trip to Calif. I suspect a Mustain went with him, an maybe several others from Jacksonport area. On the California state census for 1852 , there is a Mustain and Morris in Angels Camp California and both from Arkansas. This probably could be them. He seems to have come home with the death of his brother and father all within about 6 months of one another. He brought back a gold ring with 3 garnets in it that is still in the family and came from California had this ring on a picture taken about 1857. Also a small gold bead necklace. He was a constable in Jacksonport and had too much land and was land poor.
The family story says that William Morris came back when he heard that his brother died and when he arrived back from California he found that his Father had died also. His is back in 1855 or early 1856 and he got married in 1857. When he arrived back the estate was being taken over by his brothers in law William Akers and John Grider with Timmandria Garner Barnes Morris, his stepmother as administrator. A long bitter battle over the estate begins and goes on for a number of years. In fact the estate isn't settled until about 1870. According to the family, he and Maria became unfriendly and the other children seemed to all be separated by this fight among relatives. There are many papers in the courts about this situation. William challenged the right of Timmandria Morris to administer the estate and to be guardian of the minor heirs.
There is an interesting court order in which the slaves of the family were ordered to be sold and over 3000.00 was obtained in this manner and distributed among the children, share and share alike. Property was ordered sold and the court ordered share and share alike in this also and tried to settle the arguments.
On Nov 30 1857, William Henry Morris III married Amelia C. Hamilton, daughter of Isaiah Hamilton and Frances Blagg. They were married at the residence of her brother, John Jospehus Hamilton in Jefferson Township, Jackson Co. Arkansas.
I have in my possession the pair of white satin high button shoes that Amelia wore at her wedding and the white lace fan she carried. the family states that these were ordered from St. Louis for the wedding.
Beginning in 1858, William H. Morris III began selling land in Jacksonport. He sold a number of lots that had belonged to his father. He had lots of land in the Jacksonport area and in Jackson county.
William was also a Postmaster on July 10 1879 and served until 12 Jan 1881. and He was also an agent for receipt of money for funds for relief of soldiers families during the Civil War. He is listed many times in the history of Newport as he was on of the founders.
In 1873, he and Theodore H. Phillips rebuilt a bridge on an abandoned stretch of road between Elizabeth and Newport.
Real estate transactions are numerous in the city of Newport and there is an addition there today still called the Morris addition. Lots were in block 29.
On the day of election 1 April 1879, the voters gathered for the town meeting to find that the county clerk had failed to appoint judges for the election. Mark Cohn, William Bailey and Wm. H. Morris III were appointed to serve as judges, and they took their oaths and appointed Hugh Grimes and Nick Robbins to serve as clerks.
In 1873, the Cairo and Fulton railroad company acquired a site in Newport and William H. Morris III gave the railroad additional lands for the railroad yard. I have an original drawing of the land he gave and the dimensions.
According to family history they had a large house near the river, in Newport. One would think that after the Elizabeth disaster with flooding they would not build so near the river, but they did and my grandmother told me stories of how the flood waters would come into the home and in 1884, she remembered the water getting so high that they took her beautiful walnut piano and hoisted it up and tied it high near the second floor of the home so that it would not be ruined the piano was used for many years in the family. I am not sure when they moved, but probably about 1895 or so.
William built the house at 500 Laurel St. Newport, Ark and it is still standing 2002. My father and his sister Doris were born there. This area is away from flooding.
A couple of interesting little stories were also passed down about William III . He told of selling some valuable land in Jackson county and hurrying down to the bank so he wouldn't lose the money and depositing it and to awake next morning to find the bank had failed and he had lost all the money.
Another story that my grandmother told me was about her remembering riding in the carriage with her father William to collect rents from his property. They went many places around the area and he was always lenient with the people who couldn't pay. He had a gentle heart it seems. They used to always collect rent from a Miss Minnie, who rented some houses from Morris. Miss Minnie was a favorite of my grandmother when the were collecting. and later she found out that Miss Minnie was a Madam of Newport. William Morris II was land poor according to my grandmother.
I have in my possession a small booklet in which William H. Morris III had filled out his name and birthrate and wrote the following, which to me indicates his personality and I think it is something for the family to know.
"I have always used economy , had lived poor and have tried to
make friends and live honest and never oppressed anyone and failed in my expectations, but I hope there is some reward for me" 1905
In Co G 32nd Arkansas Infantry the following men are listed; Captain Charles Montell, 1st Lt. Jesse Grider and t. J. Blagg, Corporal. All of these names become of interest in the study of William Morris. William and Amelia named their son Charles Montell Morris and William's sister Maria married the nephew of Jesse Grider(John Grider). T. J. Blagg was also a cousin of Amelia Morris.
William H. Morris is listed among the soldiers that were surrendered at Jacksonport in May 1865 and as I visited Jacksonport State Park and looked at the old courthouse and monuments,, I could well imagine the scene that took place that day. I could almost feel the presence of the troops and the solemnity of the day and as I stood there in the quiet of the park and watched the White River flow swiftly and quietly by and I realized that I was probably standing on land that was owned by W. H. Morris II and III. It is hard to imagine a busy port and town on the now quiet deserted location.
According to land records, the Morris family owned land on the river front about where the steamboat Mary Wood's is now moored as part of the Jacksonport Museum.
It must of been hard for William to surrender, but I wonder if he had thoughts about his Pennsylvania and New York background and his strong family Northern ties during the Civil war , William had cousins serving on the Northern side, A Col. Orlando H. Morris who was killed at Cold Harbor, Virginia.
In May 1913, William H. Morris III died at the home of his daughter in Searcy. The funeral was held at the Brundidge home on Market street, now demolished and according to the obituary he had asked to be buried in Searcy. I cannot find a burial record for him in Searcy and am surprised that he is not buried with the other members of the Brundidge family in Searcy. His obituary states that he left l sister Anna Eliza Morris Akers of Little Rock who was married to William Akers, former Union officer and carpet bag officer of Jackson county and Clay county. According to family information they were not on friendly terms over the fight of the will of their father.
Today , in front of the last Morris house at 500 Laurel, Newport, Arkansas stands a large beautiful Gingko tree that was planted by Wm.H. Morris many years ago. In the fall it is beautiful with colorful leaves. He had mailed away for this tree and planted in on Laurel Avenue. It is a reminder of his love of nature and his own gentle soul.
Morris Family bible in the possession of Richard Akers of Texas gives the date of birth for Wm. H. as Feb 5 1834, but Wm gives his birth date at Jan 1, 1834 in his biographical sketch. Also the family bible gives the name of the town as Manasim, but this is an area in West Philadelphia. This sectin was north of Market St. between 40th and 49th and bounded by Fairmount and considered a good upcoming suburb in 1830, when they lived there.
1880 Cemsus of Newport, Jackson Co Ark have Wm H. Morris age 46 living in a boarding house with his family living inSearcy. I don't know the reason for this. I have a letter he wrote to his daughter , Savannah telling her when he was coming to see them and how much he missed them.
Information provided by Charlotte
Mr. Morris had been confined to his bed fifteen weeks, passing away Saturday morning at 10:30, aged 79 years.
The casket was covered with beautiful floral pieces, some coming from friends in Newport, others from Search. The remains were laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery in that city.
Newport Daily Independent
May 26, 1913
---
Son of
William Henry, II & Eliza [nee Proctor] Morris
Brother of
Catherine - 1824/1834
Mary Frances [Joseph...Gracie...Williford]
Gouvernour - 1828/1831
Randolph Hunt
Elenor 18436/1836
Benjamin Proctor - 1840-1840
Maria Louisa [Grider]
Step-Mother
Timmandria Garner
Half-Brother of
Robert
Anna Eliza [McClure...Akers]
John
Married
30 Nov. 1857, Jacksonsport, Jackson co., Ar.
Amelia C. Hamilton
Father of
William Randolph
Marguerite "Nellie" [Brundidge]
Isaiah
Savannah Harriet "Vannie"
[Garrison...Carpenter]
Went back to her maiden after last divorce
Charles Montell
William was born in or near Philadelphia according to his own biography. He moved with his family to Arkansas when he was about 5. He served in the Civil War with the 47th Arkansas Cavalry Co D. He enlisted age 31 in 1865 eyes hazel, hair black, complexion Dark, ht 5'7" born in Pennsylvania. Paroled at Wittsburg, Ark 25 May 1865(Wittsburg was on the St. Francis River east of the present Wynne, Ar. The 47the was evidently a mounted infantry Regt.-sort of like a Cavalry regiment and was form in 1864.Also called Crandalls.
Ref: Goodspeeds Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas page 888. On the Census in Arkansas 1840,1850,1860,1870,1880, 1900, 1910. In 1840 he was listed in Little Rock, Pulaski census with parents and the rest in Jackson County Arkansas.
William went to California during the gold rush. He is on the 1850 census of Jackson Co, but by family information, we know that he went to California soon after that and did not return for about 3 years. He told my father, his grandson, that he rode a horse out to California and rode the same horse back home. He went with a wagon train, but my father couldn't remember from where they left. He told that they only met Indians one time and no trouble and had an uneventful trip to Calif. I suspect a Mustain went with him, an maybe several others from Jacksonport area. On the California state census for 1852 , there is a Mustain and Morris in Angels Camp California and both from Arkansas. This probably could be them. He seems to have come home with the death of his brother and father all within about 6 months of one another. He brought back a gold ring with 3 garnets in it that is still in the family and came from California had this ring on a picture taken about 1857. Also a small gold bead necklace. He was a constable in Jacksonport and had too much land and was land poor.
The family story says that William Morris came back when he heard that his brother died and when he arrived back from California he found that his Father had died also. His is back in 1855 or early 1856 and he got married in 1857. When he arrived back the estate was being taken over by his brothers in law William Akers and John Grider with Timmandria Garner Barnes Morris, his stepmother as administrator. A long bitter battle over the estate begins and goes on for a number of years. In fact the estate isn't settled until about 1870. According to the family, he and Maria became unfriendly and the other children seemed to all be separated by this fight among relatives. There are many papers in the courts about this situation. William challenged the right of Timmandria Morris to administer the estate and to be guardian of the minor heirs.
There is an interesting court order in which the slaves of the family were ordered to be sold and over 3000.00 was obtained in this manner and distributed among the children, share and share alike. Property was ordered sold and the court ordered share and share alike in this also and tried to settle the arguments.
On Nov 30 1857, William Henry Morris III married Amelia C. Hamilton, daughter of Isaiah Hamilton and Frances Blagg. They were married at the residence of her brother, John Jospehus Hamilton in Jefferson Township, Jackson Co. Arkansas.
I have in my possession the pair of white satin high button shoes that Amelia wore at her wedding and the white lace fan she carried. the family states that these were ordered from St. Louis for the wedding.
Beginning in 1858, William H. Morris III began selling land in Jacksonport. He sold a number of lots that had belonged to his father. He had lots of land in the Jacksonport area and in Jackson county.
William was also a Postmaster on July 10 1879 and served until 12 Jan 1881. and He was also an agent for receipt of money for funds for relief of soldiers families during the Civil War. He is listed many times in the history of Newport as he was on of the founders.
In 1873, he and Theodore H. Phillips rebuilt a bridge on an abandoned stretch of road between Elizabeth and Newport.
Real estate transactions are numerous in the city of Newport and there is an addition there today still called the Morris addition. Lots were in block 29.
On the day of election 1 April 1879, the voters gathered for the town meeting to find that the county clerk had failed to appoint judges for the election. Mark Cohn, William Bailey and Wm. H. Morris III were appointed to serve as judges, and they took their oaths and appointed Hugh Grimes and Nick Robbins to serve as clerks.
In 1873, the Cairo and Fulton railroad company acquired a site in Newport and William H. Morris III gave the railroad additional lands for the railroad yard. I have an original drawing of the land he gave and the dimensions.
According to family history they had a large house near the river, in Newport. One would think that after the Elizabeth disaster with flooding they would not build so near the river, but they did and my grandmother told me stories of how the flood waters would come into the home and in 1884, she remembered the water getting so high that they took her beautiful walnut piano and hoisted it up and tied it high near the second floor of the home so that it would not be ruined the piano was used for many years in the family. I am not sure when they moved, but probably about 1895 or so.
William built the house at 500 Laurel St. Newport, Ark and it is still standing 2002. My father and his sister Doris were born there. This area is away from flooding.
A couple of interesting little stories were also passed down about William III . He told of selling some valuable land in Jackson county and hurrying down to the bank so he wouldn't lose the money and depositing it and to awake next morning to find the bank had failed and he had lost all the money.
Another story that my grandmother told me was about her remembering riding in the carriage with her father William to collect rents from his property. They went many places around the area and he was always lenient with the people who couldn't pay. He had a gentle heart it seems. They used to always collect rent from a Miss Minnie, who rented some houses from Morris. Miss Minnie was a favorite of my grandmother when the were collecting. and later she found out that Miss Minnie was a Madam of Newport. William Morris II was land poor according to my grandmother.
I have in my possession a small booklet in which William H. Morris III had filled out his name and birthrate and wrote the following, which to me indicates his personality and I think it is something for the family to know.
"I have always used economy , had lived poor and have tried to
make friends and live honest and never oppressed anyone and failed in my expectations, but I hope there is some reward for me" 1905
In Co G 32nd Arkansas Infantry the following men are listed; Captain Charles Montell, 1st Lt. Jesse Grider and t. J. Blagg, Corporal. All of these names become of interest in the study of William Morris. William and Amelia named their son Charles Montell Morris and William's sister Maria married the nephew of Jesse Grider(John Grider). T. J. Blagg was also a cousin of Amelia Morris.
William H. Morris is listed among the soldiers that were surrendered at Jacksonport in May 1865 and as I visited Jacksonport State Park and looked at the old courthouse and monuments,, I could well imagine the scene that took place that day. I could almost feel the presence of the troops and the solemnity of the day and as I stood there in the quiet of the park and watched the White River flow swiftly and quietly by and I realized that I was probably standing on land that was owned by W. H. Morris II and III. It is hard to imagine a busy port and town on the now quiet deserted location.
According to land records, the Morris family owned land on the river front about where the steamboat Mary Wood's is now moored as part of the Jacksonport Museum.
It must of been hard for William to surrender, but I wonder if he had thoughts about his Pennsylvania and New York background and his strong family Northern ties during the Civil war , William had cousins serving on the Northern side, A Col. Orlando H. Morris who was killed at Cold Harbor, Virginia.
In May 1913, William H. Morris III died at the home of his daughter in Searcy. The funeral was held at the Brundidge home on Market street, now demolished and according to the obituary he had asked to be buried in Searcy. I cannot find a burial record for him in Searcy and am surprised that he is not buried with the other members of the Brundidge family in Searcy. His obituary states that he left l sister Anna Eliza Morris Akers of Little Rock who was married to William Akers, former Union officer and carpet bag officer of Jackson county and Clay county. According to family information they were not on friendly terms over the fight of the will of their father.
Today , in front of the last Morris house at 500 Laurel, Newport, Arkansas stands a large beautiful Gingko tree that was planted by Wm.H. Morris many years ago. In the fall it is beautiful with colorful leaves. He had mailed away for this tree and planted in on Laurel Avenue. It is a reminder of his love of nature and his own gentle soul.
Morris Family bible in the possession of Richard Akers of Texas gives the date of birth for Wm. H. as Feb 5 1834, but Wm gives his birth date at Jan 1, 1834 in his biographical sketch. Also the family bible gives the name of the town as Manasim, but this is an area in West Philadelphia. This sectin was north of Market St. between 40th and 49th and bounded by Fairmount and considered a good upcoming suburb in 1830, when they lived there.
1880 Cemsus of Newport, Jackson Co Ark have Wm H. Morris age 46 living in a boarding house with his family living inSearcy. I don't know the reason for this. I have a letter he wrote to his daughter , Savannah telling her when he was coming to see them and how much he missed them.
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