Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 876
PATRICK MORROW

Patrick MORROW, a highly-esteemed pioneer of Raglan Township, residing on section 20, came to Harrison County in the spring of 1856. He first located at the point where he now lives, upon a quarter section of land without any improvements. He brought the sum of $6,000 with him, of which amount he deposited a $1,000 check in the bank of Council Bluffs for collection. Of this deposit he lost $200 by the failure of the bank. He paid $1.25 per acre for his land and at once commenced to improve his wild land by breaking and setting posts in the ground to which supports he nailed rough native boards. The lumber not being edged, large cracks were left, which he filled with mud. This pioneer palace was 16x24 feet and its roof was made chiefly from prairie grass. He lived in that one year and then erected a 16x24 foot house, to which was an addition 15x20 feet. He also provided himself with a barn 26x50 feet, also a grainhouse, cribs, etc. He did not forget the thing of beauty and utility, for it is found he planted an orchard and set out many a shade tree, which served as a wind-break against the roaring northern winds in mid-winter and as a cooling shade during the heated months of the year.

As one by one the years have slipped into oblivion, he has added to his original landed estate until he now owns one thousand and twenty acres of choice land.

Mr. MORROW was born in Ireland april 26, 1808. His parents were John and Jane MORROW, also natives of the Emerald Isle. Our subject was their only child.

Mr. MORROW was married April 26, 1834, to Elizabeth HASSON daughter of Hugh and Esther (ARMOR) HASSON, of Ireland, who children were James, William, Hugh, Mary, Elizabeth, and Esther. Our subject and wife are the parents of eleven children: Jane, William, Eliza, Rose Ann, Hugh P., Mary deceased; David, deceased; Joseph deceased; Salathiel and Matilda.

Both Mr. And Mrs. MORROW are believers in the Roman Catholic faith. The famly are highly respected people of the county. One son, William, is one of the present board of County supervisors, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.

The man for whom this memoir was written is but one of many examples of what may be accomplished by a foreigner coming to our shores with fair means and determination to work and win. A good share of his land was secured by his digging ditches for the county, to reclaim the swamp lands, he taking his pay in land.

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