Edward Morris

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Morris_(businessman)

Edward Morris (died 1913) was President of Morris & Company, one of the three main meat-packing companies in Chicago. In 1890, he married Helen Swift a member of one of the other big three meat-packing families. Their daughter Muriel became a renowned psychiatrist.

As president of Morris and Company, Edward Morris was involved in the decision, in 1902, to form the National Packing Co. This holding company was targeted by Arba Seymour Van Valkenburgh under the Elkins Act and eventually broken up in 1912.

His great-great-grandson, Edward Morris Jr., is one of New York City's most renowned preachers of the Jewish faith.

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Birth: Oct. 1, 1866 Chicago Cook County Illinois, USA Death: Nov. 3, 1913 Chicago Cook County Illinois, USA

Chicago Tribune November 4, 1913:

EDWARD MORRIS, PACKER, IS DEAD

End Comes as Surprise to Friends, Though He Had Been Ill Long Time.

ESTATE OF $40,000,000.

Funeral Will Be Held Tomorrow at Residence in Drexel Boulevard.

Edward Morris.

Born Oct. 1, 1866. Died Nov. 3, 1913.

Edward Morris, head of the packing house of Morris & Co., and one of the three leaders of the meat industry of the country, died at 6 o'clock yesterday morning at his residence, 4800 Drexel boulevard. Bright's disease was the cause of death. He had been ill for a long time.

Mrs. Morris and the four children were gathered at the bedside when Mr. Morris died. They had been notified by attending physicians several hours before that the end was approaching. Ira Nelson Morris and a sister, Mrs. Maurice L. Rothschild, also were present. The only other close relative is a sister, Mrs. Henry C. Schwab. Mrs. Morris is a daughter of the late Gustavus F. Swift, founder of Swift & Co.

Ira Nelson Morris was summoned home last week by cable from Italy, where he has been acting as United States commissioner general for the Panama Pacific exposition. Recently he was mentioned by United States Senator James Hamilton Lewis as likely to be appointed by President Wilson to a big diplomatic post. His brother's death may alter his political aspirations.

Wealth Put at $40,000,000.

Following the first shock of the packer's death, which had been unexpected by his friends, although it was generally known he was seriously ill, business men speculated as to the extent of his fortune and his probable successor at the head of the firm.

The estimates of his wealth varied from $30,000,000 to $50,000,000. An associate familiar with stockyard affairs placed the total at $40,000,000. None could predict who would take Mr. Morris' place as president of the company. His brother, Ira Nelson Morris, asked to be excused when an interview was requested.

The law firm of Judah, Willard & Wolf drew Mr. Morris' will. No member of the firm would intimate in advance of its reading the contents of the document.

The will is said to provide for the perpetuation of Morris & Co. under its present corporate title. The principal heirs are reported to be the widow, two sons, Nelson II., 21 years old; Edward Jr., 20, and two daughters, Ruth, 15, and Muriel, 12.

Funeral to Be Held Tomorrow.

The funeral will be held at 1:30 tomorrow afternoon from the Edward Morris residence at 4800 Drexel boulevard. Jenkin Lloyd Jones of All Souls' church will preach the sermon. The burial will be in the family lot at Rosehill. The body will lie in state on Wednesday from noon until 1 p.m.

The active pallbearers will be L. H. Heymann, C. H. McFariane, William Cassell, H. A. Timmins, Dr. Grabfield, William B. Farris, E. F. Bisbee, East St. Louis; George Collett, Kansas City; M. W. Borders and C. A. Alling. The list of honorary pallbearers includes many of Chicago's leading business men, friends, and associates of the packer.

One of Mr. Morris' close friends said last night that his breakdown in health began in worry over the federal indictment under the criminal clause of the anti-trust act. Mr. Morris and the other packers were acquitted after a hard fought trial, but the strain caused a general nervous breakdown.

Sketch of His Life.

Edward Morris was born in Chicago on Oct. 1, 1866, the son of the late Nelson Morris and Sarah Vogel Morris. He was educated in the Chicago public schools. He early indicated an aptitude for business and displayed a genius for organization. His career with his father's concern began when he was only 14 years old.

Mr. Morris' business activity was not confined to the packing industry, although since 1908 he has shared with J. Ogden Armour and Louis F. Swift the title of king of the world's packers.

Only recently it developed that Mr. Morris was the largest individual stockholder in some of the big financial institutions of Chicago. He was a director of the First National bank, the National Live Stock bank, the National Packing company, and many other corporations. He also personally looked after the finances of Morris & Co. His holdings in stock in various Chicago banks are placed in placed at $3,875,787.

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