George Morris Family Reunion

MORRIS, EBERT, HULL, MADDIX, TAYLOR, FLEMING, DOWNARD, RALSTON, CHARD

Posted By: Betty Hootman-Volunteer
Date: 3/26/2014 at 11:17:02

GEORGE MORRIS FAMILY GATHER FOR REUNION

About 80 members of the Geo. Morris family gathered at the old George Morris home near Stockport for a family homecoming on Sunday. Aug. 25.

Family members are the children and grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren of George and Matilda Ebert Morris, who built the Morris home a mile and a half east of Stockport in 1854.

The couple had six sons and six daughters, of whom the youngest is still living. He is Delbert Morris, 86, a retired carpenter, living at 1605 South St., Burlington. Mrs. Ralph Hull of Burlington and Mrs. Roy Maddix of Mt. Pleasant, grandchildren of George Morris were also born in the same house.

George Morris was the son of Henry and Jane Morris, who settled near what is now Stockport in 1838. From that time on, the name of Morris has become almost synonymous with Stockport. It is perpetuated in the Morris Park, donated to the community by cousins of Delbert Morris. Spencer Cemetery was started by the Morris family when Margaret, the youngest daughter of Henry and Jane, died in 1840 and was buried in what was their back yard. Later a man named Spencer, acquired and gave his name to the property.

Delbert Morris’ brothers and sisters were born over such a long period of years that he never even saw some of them. The oldest child was a daughter, Lyda, who died in childhood.

Then came James, Alvin and Kim. Kim never married. She stayed home and looked after her parents and when they died, the homestead became hers. She in turn bequeathed it to nieces, who own it today. The house in unoccupied and unused, save for homecomings and reunions. Carrie was born following Kim. She married Sylvanus Taylor, whose brother Henry Taylor, was a one-time assistant Secretary of Agriculture in the cabinet of days-of-yore President.

After Carrie came Schuyler, Ingaba, Olive, who died in childhood, Jay, Talbert (everybody called him Tod), and Selma, who married Fred Fleming, whose sister, Myrtle, id Mrs. Delbert Morris. Ingaba married Joseph Downard.

Among the many interesting descendents is Bob Ralston, organist with Lawrence Welk’s orchestra. Mark Morris, of Ames, a former member of the Iowa Highway Commission, is another member of the clan and he is writing its history.

Sunday, Aug. 25, was a big day for the families, but the Saturday before was an even bigger one for Delbert Morris, 86, and Myrtle Morris, 85. It was their 66th wedding anniversary.

At the homecoming on Sunday, following a bountiful dinner, the day was spent in reminiscing and looking at pictures taken at reunions of the past years and taking new one to show in some future reunion years.

Delbert Morris, 86, was the eldest present and Becky Chard, 16 month old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dick Chard of Galesburg, Ill., was the youngest present.

Four generations of Morris’ were present. Relatives came from Orlando, Fla., Galesburg, Monmouth and Edwardsville, Ill., Burlington, Des Moines, Mt. Pleasant, Birmingham, Keosauqua, Danville, Donnellson and Stockport, Iowa.

Source: Scrapbook of Unknown Origin, page 145