In early manhood he engaged in farming on rented land with his father, who with his three sons rented and cultivated eight hundred acres of land for a number of years. The father owned and rented farm property. In 1889 Walter L. Morris purchased a part of his present farm and became owner of the remainder in 1902. He now has two hundred and forty acres of land lying on sections 27 and 34, his home standing on the latter section. The farm has been well improved by Mr. Morris and in its midst stands a comfortable modern residence, while other commodious and substantial buildings shelter grain, stock and farm machinery. The place is known as the Fairview farm and its name is well deserved. Everything about the place is kept in excellent condition and indicates the careful supervision and practical methods of a progressive owner. He raises the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and has also met with success in the breeding and raising of shorthorn cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs, having upon his place twenty head of registered shorthorns at the present time, while all of his hogs have been eligible to registry for the past fifteen years. He has been engaged in the breeding of shorthorns since 1898 and in addition to his herd he feeds from sixty to ninety head of cattle. In addition to his home property he owns a house and lot in Boone and his wife is the owner of residence property in Ames. He is likewise a stockholder in the Story County Fair Association and he is a charter member of the Breeders Association of Story county, of which he served as treasurer for a number of years.
On the 28th of November, 1895, Mr. Morris was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Rutheford, who was born in Ontario, Canada, June 26, 1863, and was brought to Story county in 1868 by her parents, Edward and Maria (Eckels) Rutheford, the former a native of New York and the latter of Ireland. Both were residents of Story county at the time of death, the father passing away April 4, 1875, when forty-six years of age, while the mother died January 27, 1896, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was a carpenter contractor and architect and practiced the profession of architecture in New York city for about ten years. Their family numbered six children, including Mrs. Morris, who by her marriage has become the mother of one son, Edward Leonard, born September 24, 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Morris are also rearing an adopted daughter, Eleanor Morris, born February 22, 1900. Their son at the age of twelve years was graduated from the rural schools with the first class that was graduated. He always displayed special aptitude in his studies and he is now successfully engaged in the breeding of Shetland ponies although but fourteen years of age.
Mr. Morris has always been a warm friend of the cause of education and was president of the township school board and one of the school directors of his district for a number of years. He also filled the office of assessor of Franklin township for twelve years and discharged his duties with promptness and ability during the entire period of his incumbency