John Morris

Reference: Hazzard's history of Henry county, Indiana, 1822-1906, George Hazzard, 1906

John Morris, the seventh child and the fourth son of Lewis and Rebecca (Hoskins) Morris, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, April IS, 1824, and came with his parents to Henry County, Indiana, as above stated. At this time he was about nine years old and like all farmer boys of that early period, he worked manfully in assisting to clear the forest, destroy the wilderness and prepare the ground for cultivation. While thus laboring, he obtained a limited education in the old fashioned and oft described log cabin school house. His first teacher, according to his own recollection, was Joseph Williams, who had married Mr. Morris' sister, Julia Ann, in Ohio, and immigrated to Indiana with the Morris' family. All in all, John Morris lived the life of the real pioneer, the one who cut the first timber, helped to build the first log cabin, planted and garnered the first crop, endured all the hardships, shared all the joys, partook thankfully of the plain fare and gave praise to Him who guides and controls the destiny of all mankind.

At the age of manhood, following the custom of the period, when both men and women believed in early marriages, John Morris was united in matrimony with Hannah, a daughter of Elisha and Hannah Scovell, January 16, 1845. Elisha Scovell, born April 13, 1796, was one of the early settlers of Wayne Township, his home being situated about two miles north of Knightstown. There he lived until near the time of his death which occurred in Knightstown about 1862. There were several of the Scovell brothers, one of whom. Ezra, also of Wayne Township, born December 19, 1798, and died March 2, 1873, left a large estate which, under the administration of John Morris, increased in value from $44,000 to $120,000. The ancestor of the Scovells was Orr Scovell, who was an early settler in Henry County. He was a Revolutionary soldier, who served in a New Jersey or Connecticut regiment. He was the great grandfather of Judge John M. Morris, now of the Henry Circuit Court. At the time of his death, he was living on what is now known as the Graham farm, near the "Old Stone Quarry Mill," in Spiceland Township. The Morris and Scovell families were justly regarded as lively, energetic and successful business men and have left their impress upon the generations following, as is plainly discernable to those who have followed the careers of their descendants.

After their marriage, John Morris and wife commenced housekeeping in a little cabin on his father's farm, where they lived for about two years. He prospered and bought land of his own and continued to add to his holdings, from time to time, until he was the possessor of a considerable estate. After his father's death, in 1858, he acquired the several interests of the heirs in the old homestead and improved his property until in 1874 he was the owner of two hundred and twelve acres of highly improved land, located where the family first settled in 1833. In 1874 he moved to his present beautiful home, which is situated about one mile north of and in plain view of Knightstown and is surrounded by fifty five acres of splendid farm land, highly cultivated, which he had purchased in 1866. It is on this latter place with its beautiful surroundings that John Morris, now past eighty one years of age, is enjoying to the full the sunset of life. It is here that he delights to meet his numerous descendants, his neighbors and his friends, and it is from there that he expects to go some time to that "better land" and receive the reward promised those who have "kept the faith."

Politically, Mr. Morris, when he became of age, allied himself with the Democratic party. He cast his first vote for Lewis Cass and his last vote as a Democrat for the "Little Giant." Stephen A. Douglas. Since that time he has as a rule acted with the Republican party. In religion he adheres to the tenets of the Presbyterian Church and he is one of the ruling elders in the presbytery at Knightstown, and is ever faithful in the discharge of his church duties. He was, during the Civil War, a warm and active supporter of the Government and did all he could as a citizen of the Republic to restore the authority of the nation in the seceded States. He is a charitable man and many there be, who in the hour of need have been relieved by his helping hand. His estimable wife, the proud mother of his children, after a happy wedded life of more than thirty two years, died May 31, 1877, and is buried in Glencove Cemetery, near Knightstown.

To John and Hannah (Scovell) Morris were born the following children: Joshua Irving, born March 28, 1847, who resides in New Castle; Ann Elizabeth, born December 17, 1848, now the widow of Dayton L. Heritage, to whom she was married January 3, 1893, who lives with and keeps house for her father; Alpheus Orlando, born January 9, 1851; Elisha Pierce, born May 25, 1853, died November 20, 1883, and is buried in Glencove Cemetery; Josephine, born April 16. 1855. died August 26, 1898, and is buried in Glencove Cemetery; John Monfort, born April 22, 1857; Stephen Douglas, born January 5, 1861; Lew Wallace, born November 26, 1862, died October 15, 1863, and is buried in the Old Cemetery adjoining Glencove Cemetery; Rosa Belle, born February 26. 1866. died February 21, 1898, and is buried in Glencove Cemetery.

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Reference: History of Henry County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884. Wayne Township, pages 890-891

John Morris, a prominent farmer of Wayne Township, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, April 18, 1824, a son of Lewis and Rebecca (Hoskinson) Morris, his father a native of Maryland and his mother of Virginia. His parents were married in Virginia, and afterward moved to Ohio, and from there to Henry County, Ind., in the spring of 1833. They settled on a farm north of Knightstown, where they lived the remainder of their lives. They had a family of nine children, but three of whom are living. John Morris was reared on a farm in Henry County, and on reaching manhood engaged in agriculture and stock raising on his own account. He is one of the most successful stock-raisers in the county. He owns a fine farm of 210 acres, on which he lived forty years, but in 1874 moved to the farm in Wayne Township, where he now lives, somewhat retired. His homestead contains fifty-five acres of choice land, and his residence is a fine two-story frame building. Mr. Morris was married in 1845 to Hannah, daughter of Elisha Scovell, of Henry County. They have had a family of ten children, seven of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Morris are members of the Presbyterian church.