Morris, John 1840-1923 & Ann Brash Family

MORRIS, BRASH, WILSON, TINSEL, BREWSTER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 5/20/2023 at 09:45:20

Morris, John 1840-1923 and Ann Brash Family
This biography was put together by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Information was gathered from the varies sources as cited. Sometimes information varies from one source to another and was stated as in the cited record. Example – the various names and dates of John’s mother Jean or Jeanette or Janet and various dates born.

John Morris was an early settler of Grant- Sheridan Townships of Sioux County IA. His center of trade and activities was based in Matlock early years. The John Morris family members headstones buried in Greenwood Cemetery at Matlock IA were, Annie Morris 1889-1907, Janet or Jeanette Morris mother of John 1808- 1890 (hard to read dates), John 1840-1927, Lillian Morris Walbridge 1880-1982, Margaret E. Morris 1912-1997 , Wm. Philip Morris 1907-1985, and Mary J. Morris Blaine 1885-1908.

RESEARCH NOTES : From a family report on ancestry.com public member trees that was submitted by other than this submitter.
John Morris was born 8 Nov 1840 Dunfernline, Fife, Scotland died 15 May 1923. His parents were John Morris and Jean Wilson 1806-1890. (John’s mother’s surname varies from Wilson to Tinsel) John married Ann Brash 1878. He came to USA in 1858.
Ann Brash was born 22 Aug 1839 Bedford Frontenac, Ontario Can. Died 6 Jul 1907 Boyden IA. Her parents were John Henry Brash 1807-1888 and Annie Brewster 1820-1896.

From the Sioux County Independent published in East Orange (Alton IA) on Nov 27th 1878 MARRIED Morris – Brash – At the residence of Mr. Erving in Grant Township Nov 20 1878 by Rev. Southworth of Sheldon, John Morris Esq. and Miss Annie Brash.

1860 census in Allegany Maryland, (father of John 1840) John Morris age 47, born Scotland and wife Jeanette 49, son John born 1840 born Scotland, William born 1843 Scotland and Jeanette born 1848 Scotland

1870 census of Boone County IA. Mother Jeanette Morris and son John 1840, were living with son William and wife Ellen.

1880 Census of Sioux County, the John Morris family was Living in Sheridan Township of Sioux County IA. John was 39, Annie 40, Annie L. 5 months, John a nephew, and Jeanette age 74 mother widow.

1885 Iowa State census John Morris 44 Scotland, living in Sheridan Tsp , wife Annie 44 Canada, Lillie 5 Iowa, Jennett 2 Iowa, Jennet Morris 76 Scotland.

1900 Census of Sioux County, the John Morris family was living in Boyden, Sioux County IA.
1905, 1910, 1915 and 1920 censuses John Morris was living in Boyden IA.

1894 in the 25th General Assembly of the House of Representatives John Morris was the 79th district was a Boyden farmer.

The 1908 Atlas of Sioux County has John Morris owning 320 acres of land in Grant township north ½ of section 30, about 5 miles SW of Matlock, just a few miles from Boyden in Sheridan Township.

Sioux County digital archives at siouxcounty.advantage-preservation.com records many tidbits of the life and political term as representative of Iowa about John Morris can be found.

CHILDREN listed were:

1. Annie Lillias Morris born 2 Jan 1880 Boyden, Sioux, IA died 19 Mar 1962, She married Otto Burdette Walbridge 1873-1947 on 21 Sep 1898 at Boyden IA. and they had children Leslie Morris Walbridge 1899-1953 and John Kenneth Walbridge 1910-1971. For many years they lived in the Chicago IL area. A Partial obit listed on the internet has Lillie Walbridge died March 1962 Chicago IL buried Matlock IA, children listed were Kenneth Leslie and Lote Leslie.

2. Janet Drusilla Morris born 25 Aug 1882 Sheridan Township Sioux County IA died 1959 Iowa. She married William Joseph Peters 1875-1968 and they had children – Anna Margaret Peters 1913-2006 and Robert William Peters 1921-2011. Obituary of Janet D. Mrs. William J. 1882-1959. Peters, Janet D. born 1882 died 1959 Husb: William J. Peters buried in Greenwood Cemetery Matlock IA. Find a Grave lists Janet Drusella Peters nee’ Morris born 1882 Iowa died 1959 Matlock IA husband William J . Peters, he was born 1875 Wisconsin died 1968 Matlock IA. No obit was readily found. Note: in a report on ancestry.com (by others) William Joseph Peters was born oct 4, 1875 in Wisconsin he married Janet Drusilla Morris Dec 25, 1906. He died Nov 1968 and is buried in Matlock IA. Janet Drusilla Morris was born Aug 25, 1882 Sheridan Tsp Sioux County IA and died 1959 and is buried in Matlock IA. Her parents were John Morris and Anna Brash. They had two children.

3. Mary J. B. Morris born 16 Apr 1885 Iowa died 22 May 1908 Boyden IA. Boyden Reporter May 30, 1908 Mrs. John, Mary Jane nee’ Blaine Morris was born in Sioux Co , Iowa, Apr. 16, 1885 and died in Boyden, Iowa, May 22, 1908 after a brief illness. With her parents she resided on a farm two miles and a half northwest of Boyden until Feb. 1890 when the family moved to Boyden. She attended the Public School until 1903. She leaves to mourn her loss her father and two sisters, Lillie and Janet. It was with a feeling of great sadness that the people of Boyden learned in the early hours of May 22 that Mary Jane Blaine Morris had and answered to the call of God and had given up the cares of earth. It is a matter of consolation to her loved ones and friends that she had, even in her life time so many friends to speak of her kindness and cheerfulness. lt was not for her bier that flowers were reserved. It was a matter of common knowledge and comment that she performed well the duties that fell upon her since the death of her mother last July. What could we say more than that she did well the duties that devolved upon her? There may seem to be a mystery about her sudden removal from her friends, companions, and loved ones. There may be a feeling that the cord of life too soon was severed but there is One who understands all things and to Him Mary Morris' life was completed. As was said of Abel so can it be said of her. She being dead yet speaketh. She speaks to us all by her cheerfulness. She speaks by her unselfishness. She speaks by her readiness to, help others. She speaks by her devotion. We shall miss her but there is a satisfaction in knowing that she was ready to meet the great Friend in glory.

OBITUARY of John Morris 1181140-1923
Hawarden Independent of May 24, 1923
Hon. John Morris of Boyden passed away Tuesday morning, Mary 15th at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John C. Pryde at Boyden from a stroke of apoplexy. Funeral services were held from the Pryde home last Thursday afternoon.
John Morris was born at Hamilton Scotland Nov 8, 1840 and came to America in 1859 with his parents. The family lived in the eastern part of the country until his father’s death in 1862. They then moved to Iowa and settled in Boone county where he lived until he came to Sioux County in 1871. When he came to Sioux County it was all prairie land and he experienced many hardships. In 1878 he married Miss Annie Brash who preceded him in death several years ago. He is survived by two daughters. In politics he affiliated himself with the republican party and at one time was a member of the Iowa Hose of Representatives from Sioux County. He was held in high respect by all who knew him. He had reached the advanced age of 82 years.
The obit possibly in the May 17th issue of the Boyden Reporter was missing.

OBITUARY of Annie Brash Mrs. John Morris 1838-1907.
Alton Democrat of July 13, 1907 Boyden News
Saturday morning about five o'clock occurred the death of Mrs. John Morris at her home in Boyden. She was suffering from some time with neuralgia of the heart. She was sixty seven years old and leaves a husband and three daughters. Mrs. Otto Wallbridge of Chicago, Mrs. Janette Peters of Fargo North Dakota and Miss Mary at home. All were present at the funeral . She had been an attentive member of the Untied Presbyterian church in Boyden for twenty nine years. She was buried in the Grant township cemetery. The family have the sympathy of a host of friends in their sad bereavement.
(From John's obit in the May 24, 1923 Hawarden Independent it is revealed that her name was Annie Brash, they married 1878. John was born 8 Nov 1840 at Hamilton Scotland.)

No pictures of the family of John Morris 1840 were found in the local archives. If you have a picture to share contact out page coordinator to add it to this narrative.