MORRIS, Martin 1837-1934

MORRIS, ROTHCHILD, FALKENSTEIN, DAVIS

Posted By: Michael Kearney (email)
Date: 11/24/2002 at 13:44:08

The Clinton Herald Saturday August 4, 1934 p. 5 Martin Morris, 60, 733 Fifth avenue, South, prominent local clothing merchant since 1900, died at 3:15 o'clock Friday afternoon in Jane Lamb hospital where he was taken Thursday following a long illness. The body reposes in the family home where friends may call. Private funeral services with a brief prayer will be held at 8 o'clock Monday morning in the home, after which the funeral party will leave for Chicago where burial will be in Rosehill cemetery. Although he had been able to be about most of the time Mr. Morris had been a patient sufferer with a chronic illness over a period of years. Despite his condition he had taken active part in business and civic affairs and retained the genial, friendly spirit which had made him one of the city's best liked and most highly respected business men. At the time of the removal of his store from 506 South Second street to new and larger quarters at 231 Fifth avenue, South. Mr. Morris was known to be in a serious condition but he supervised the remodeling of the new store and the removal of stock and fixtures from the old location. His efforts were rewarded with the satisfaction of knowing he had opened to the public one of the most attractive stores in the middle west. Mr. Morris had been engaged in some branch of the clothing business since 1888. He first went to work in the E. Rothchilds and Brothers clothing factory at the age of 14 years in Chicago. While there he learned much about the materials used in clothing manufacture which information proved of inestimable aid to him as a buyer in later years. Mr. Morris was employed by Maurice L. Rothchild in Minneapolis, Monn., five years from 1890 to 1895. Martin was also associated with his brother, Emil, in the Great Western Mercantile Co., Toluca, Ill., before coming to Clinton in 1900. He always cherished a picture of this store which at the time was one of the largest in the vicinity. It was from St. Joseph, Mo., where he operated the Palace Clothing Co., that he moved to Clinton. Soon after his arrival in Clinton he became associated with a Mr. Einstein in an organization known as the E. and M. store. This was in 1900. The Chicago Clothing Co. was purchased by this new organization at that time. Then July 1, 1907, Martin Morris & Co., had its official beginning when Martin Morris bought out his partner Einstein and renamed the firm. Emil Morris entered the firm with Martin in 1919. Martin Morris, son of Marx and Sophie Morris, was born Nov. 2, 1873, in Hechingen, Germany. At the age of 14 years he came to the United States with his cousin, Maurice L. Rothchild, now a well known State street clothier in Chicago. He was married June 6, 1906, in Chicago, to Miss Elizabeth Falkenstein of Chicago, who with a son, Mark Nelson Morris, survive, also one brother and two sisters, Emil Morris of this city, Mrs. Jennie Morris Davis of Chicago and Miss Rosa Morris of Northfield, Minn. Mr. Morris was a member of Western Star lodge, 100, A.F. & A.M., DeMolay Consistory, A.A.S.R. Masons, Kaaba Shrine of Davenport and Clinton lodge, 199 B.P.O. Elks. He was also a member of the Wapsipinicon club.