MORRISON, Claire E. 1897-1919

MORRISON

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/8/2011 at 20:46:56

Claire Morrison Dies Of Fever In France

Another Star Turns to Gold and Another Grundy Boy Pays the Supreme Sacrifice

Dies Of Typhoid Fever Jan. 16th

Parents Receive Message Last Friday Conveying the Sad News of Their Son's Death

Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Morrison, of this place, received a message last Friday evening giving in brief the sad news of the death of their son, Claire E. Morrison, and stating that he died of typhoid fever, January 16th, 1919, in France.

The news came as a great shock to the family as they had not heard of his illness, and as yet have no particulars. The message came from Adjutant General Harris at Washington. Their last word from their son was received shortly after Christmas and he was feeling well at that time. He wrote the letter on Christmas day and mentioned the fine Christmas box he had received from home.

Claire was born here November 16th, 1896, and has lived here all his life. He attended the Grundy Center high school and was one of the stars in the Grundy Center team, when the local team was at its zenith. He was extremely popular with his school companions and with all who knew him. He joined the Methodist church in this city under the ministry of Rev. W. C. Keeler, March 10th, 1912. He was also a member of the Sunday school from earliest childhood and an attendant of the Epworth League and of the varied activities of the church.

He left here September 5th last and was one of the contingent of fifty-one boys sent at that time to Camp Dodge. Two months later--November 12th--the next day after the signing of the armistice, he sailed for France. He was in the medical department of the army.

He leaves besides his parents, four brothers and two sisters to mourn his death.

The many friends of the family will extend sympathy to them in their great sorrow.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 20 February 1919, pg 1

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TWO MILITARY FUNERALS FRIDAY

Remains of William Dickinson and Claire Morrison Arrived On Early Train Friday Morning - the Funerals Held That Afternoon

The Bodies Lie in State With Soldier Guards Until Time for Services - Morrison's Body Interred in Grundy Cemetery, Dickinson's at Morrison

The bodies of Claire Morrison, of this place, and William Dickinson, of Morrison, arrived here last Friday morning on the early train, and were met by relatives and a company of former soldiers of the world war. The remains of Claire were taken at once to the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Morrison, south of town, but those of Dickinson were taken to the Methodist church here, and a soldier guard was detailed to the post until time for the funeral services in the afternoon.

The services for Claire were held at 1:30 o'clock from the parental home, and was conducted by Rev. Fred P. Fisher, pastor of the Methodist church here. It was a military funeral and the services were held in the yard. A very large number of the friends and acquaintances of the young man attended, and nearly one hundred automobiles filled with relatives and friends followed the body to its last resting place in the cemetery west of town. At the grave the American Legion paid the last rites of the Order to the remains of their departed comrade.

Claire Morrison was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Morrison, and was one of Grundy Center's most popular young men. He entered the service of his country September 6, 1918, and died at a hospital in France on the 16th of January, 1919. Clifford Maugh, of Belle Plaine, Ia., accompanied the body here. The young man was a "buddy" of Claire's and was with him in the hospital in France, giving him the last food of which Claire partook before passing away.

Others from out of town who attended the funeral services were Mr. and Mrs. John Beckman, of Traer, Mrs. Beckman being a sister of the deceased boy; Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, of Hampton, an aunt and uncle of boy; also Mrs. Maugh, mother of Clifford Maugh.

Immediately after the funeral of Claire Morrison, the members of the American Legion of this place, accompanied by the Grundy Center band and a large number of others, went to Morrison where brief funeral services were held in church over the remains of the Dickinson boy. A strictly military funeral was conducted in his honor. Rev. David Alexander, pastor of the First Baptist church here, making a brief address. After the services the remains were interred in the Morrison cemetery, to which place the American Legion, followed by the band and the members of the Woodman Lodge, of which the young man was a member, marched. At the grave the Legion administered the last services of that Order.

The record of this departed soldier boy does not seem to be completed in the county recorder's office, and if he has any relatives at Morrison they should attend to the matter at once. He entered the service in the late war May 28th, 1918, but no record of further service and death has been made.

These young men have paid the price of liberty for the word, and the people of Grundy county should never neglect the graves in which their bodies rest.

--The Grundy County Dispatch (Grundy Center, Iowa), 22 June 1921, pg 1