Hon. James D. Morrison

MORRISON, LEE, CHAPMAN, WHITWOOD, ATWOOD

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/13/2011 at 10:50:43

HON. JAMES D. MORRISON. Grundy County is the home of a number of men whose lives have been more than ordinarily successful in worldly prosperity. One of this number is the Hon. J. D. Morrison, of Reinbeck, who, while not having attained a competency, has won an honorable record in Legislative halls. He has always been active in politics, and September 23, 1893, was nominated to represent the Republican party in the State Legislature, and the following November was elected by a large majority.

The paternal grandparents of our subject, James D. and Lyda (Lee) Morrison, were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Virginia and were farmers all their lives. The former was a soldier in the War of 1812, and in 1818, the year Illinois was admitted into the Union as a state, emigrated thither and entered a tract of Government land in Sangamon County. Later he removed to Morgan County, where he owned large estates, and after making various removals in the Prairie State went to southwestern Missouri, where his death occurred at the age of seventy-eight years. He was the father of a large family of children, twelve of whom grew to manhood and womanhood.

The parents of our subject, Hugh H. and Cynthia (Chapman) Morrison, were well-to-do farmers. The father was born in Sangamon County, Ill., March 12, 1824, and there received a good common-school education. He remained under the parental roof until reaching his majority, and three years later was married to the mother of our subject, who was the daughter of Wilson and Mary Chapman. After establishing a home of his own, he removed to Adams County, the same state, where he became the owner of a quarter-section of land, and there made his home until his decease, November 8, 1881. His good wife still survives and makes her home in Hazen, Ill. They were active members of the Baptist Church. Socially the father was a Mason, and in politics was a Democrat.

Our subject was born in Pittsfield, Pike County, Ill., December 4, 1850, and received his early training in the district school near his father's home. Later, when desiring to fit himself for a business career, he went to Quincy, Ill., and was graduated from the commercial school in that city, and on coming to Reinbeck was engaged as book-keeper in the lumber yards of Stewart & Moeller for six years. Prior to this, however, he taught several terms of school in Clinton County.

In 1874 Mr. Morrison came to Clinton County, this state, and there remained engaged in various pursuits until 1883. In the latter year he was married to Miss Carrie, daughter of Henry B. and Henrietta (Whitwood) Atwood, and removed to his present home in Reinbeck. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison have three children, Fred, Ruth, and Henrietta. In religious matters Mr. Morrison in nominally a Baptist, while Mrs. Morrison is a member of the Congregational Church at Reinbeck. Socially, he is a prominent Odd Fellow of this place, being connected with Lodge No. 386. In politics he is a pronounced and aggressive Republican. He is very popular throughout the county, and his record is that of a man interested in all public improvements and possessed of clear perception and decided character. He is liberal in his views in general and is well deserving of the high standing which years of intimate business and social acquaintance have brought him.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894