Claire E. Morrison

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Military Service
War:
Branch: U.S. Army
Entered: 6 September 1918
Company:
Rank:

Personal Details
Born: 16 November 1897
Died: 16 January 1919
Parents: J. Al. and Lulu () Morrison

Buried:
Remains later sent home and buried:
16 June 1921
Fairview Cemetery
Grundy Center, Iowa

Hubert Haren and Claire Morrison are sick with the Spanish Influenza at Camp Dodge.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 10 October 1918, pg 5

Mr. and Mrs. Al Morrison left last Thursday for New York. Word was received from Claire that he would soon be going across and they left to see him before he sailed.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 7 November 1918, pg 5

Claire Morrison, who is now at a Long Island Camp, is getting along fine and likes army life. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Al Morrison, returned Wednesday from a short visit with him at that place.

--Grundy County Dispatch (Grundy Center, Iowa), 13 November 1918, pg 5

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

Memorial Services Sunday

Memorial Services Will Be Held for Claire Morrison

On Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock in the Methodist Episcopal church in this city will be held the Memorial Services for the late Claire E. Morrison, who died of fever in France, January 16th, 1919, while in the service of his country.

Rev. J. C. Curry will give a talk on the young man's life from a personal acquaintance with him, and Revs. Fisher and Krome will also give talks appropriate to the occasion.

A male quartet will furnish the music and the Knights of Pythias lodge is expected to attend in a body.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 6 March 1919, pg 1

Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Morrison have received a letter from Mrs. C. B. Mall, of Belle Plaine, whose son was a companion and bunk-mate of the late Claire Morrison from the time they first entered Camp Dodge until the latter's death. Mrs. Mall's son, who is still in France, writes a splendid letter to his mother in which he tells how all the boys loved Claire and how deeply they mourn his death, which, he writes, was due to typhoid fever. He wrote that a crowed of his company went out to the cemetery Jan. 25th where are buried 180 American soldiers and two American nurses. The young man could not write all he would have liked, but intimated that the cemetery where Claire is buried was near or at Vichy in France, and that the graves are nicely kept up and cared for. The young man expects to return from France soon and has promised to pay Mr. and Mrs. Morrison a visit and relate more of what the saddened parents want to hear of their son's sickness and death.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 6 March 1919, pg 8

Claire Morrison Memorial

The M.E. church was filled to capacity Sunday afternoon by friends who came to attend the memorial in honor of Claire Morrison.

Rev. Krome offered the prayer and excellent talks were made by Revs. Fisher and Curry. Music was furnished by a male quartet consisting of Messrs. Geo. Robinson, D. R. Earl, Lewis Canfield and W. G. Strack.

The Knights of Pythias and Pythian Sisters attended in a body. The services were very impressive and many were the tributes paid to the memory of Claire Morrison who gave his life in defense of his country.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 13 March 1919, pg 1

Pictures of Morrison's Grave

J. Nye Bourne, who is a headquarters clerk of the army in France, has sent to Chas. Price and Al Morrison some snapshots which he took recently. They are of the grave of Claire Morrison, who died of typhoid fever in France January 6th. One picture shows the little graveyard crowded with white markers, and a couple others show the one white marker which bears the name of Claire E. Morrison and his number.

--Grundy County Dispatch (Grundy Center, Iowa), 4 June 1919, pg 1

Claire Morrison's Body Coming

Parents Receive Word That Remains Will Reach New York June 2

Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Morrison have been advised that the remains of their son, Claire, have been shipped from France and that they would arrive at New York June 2nd.

It is not known at this time just when they will arrive here, but probably some time the following week.

Claire was one of the Grundy Center boys to make the great sacrifice in the world war, and remains will be the first to be brought direct to this city.

No arrangements have been made at this writing for the services to be held upon the arrival of the body.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 26 May 1921, pg 1

Two Military Funeral 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