MORRISON, Jefferson 1837-1919

MORRISON, TROUTMAN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/17/2011 at 21:46:36

Jefferson Morrison was born in Fayette County, Pa., April 20, 1837 and was therefore in the 83rd year of his age. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Mary Mutch, Grundy Center, Sunday morning as the bells were ringing out the call to devine service. He had not been very strong the last year, but his last illness really began about a month ago when they were at their summer cottage at Lake Okoboji. Mr. Morrison was one of the earliest settlers of Grundy County, coming here in the first year of the Civil War. A few years after coming here he acquired a large farm on which is now the town site of Morrison, the town itself taking his name. He had come to Iowa a year or so before stopping at Waterloo. He was married when 19 years of age to Miss Susan Troutman, of his native state, and they soon decided to come West to seek their fortune. Six children were born to this union, one of whom, Alice died in 1890. The mother passed away in 1894, after they had left the farm and moved to Grundy Center. Later he married Mrs. Caroline Morrison, who survives him. The children who are living are John W. Morrison and Mrs. Mary Mutch, both of this city, Mrs. Catherine Weir and Mrs. Letitia McWhirter, both of Spencer, Iowa and U. G. Morrison living at Granville, N.D. He leaves also seventeen grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren, besides two brothers, A. S. Morrison of Smithfield, Pa. and L. J. Morrison of Morrison, Ia.

"Uncle Jeff" as he was known by everybody, was a strong and sturdy character, who has left his impress upon the community where he has been so widely known for nearly sixty years. Coming here in the early days when the state was young, he experienced the hardships and privations of those pioneer days, and by thrift, industry and economy acquired a large farm and a sufficient competence to care for him in his declining days. He was a man of strong opinions and of upright character and was generally highly esteemed by a very large acquaintanceship throughout the country which he had formed in the more than half century of his residence here. For many years he had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was always faithful in his attendance and loyal in his support. For thirty years according to the records he has been a member of this church and for most of that time one of its official board, always interested in its spiritual and material progress. We shall miss his wise council, his personal presence and his helpfulness in many ways.

Those relatives and friends from a distance who attended the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. U. G. Morrison, of Granville, N.D.; Mr. and Mrs. John McWhirter and Mrs. Kate Weir of Spencer, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Will Mutch of Hampton; Mr. and Mrs. James Gardiner of Waterloo.