Samuel Morrow

Headstone in the Morrow Cemetery in Jack County, TX provides his birth and death dates.

The following is from his autobiography: Samuel C. Morrow was born in Barren County, Kentucky in the year 1828 in July, the 9th, and stayed there until the spring after, when his mother emigrated to Taney County, Missouri. Staying there until the spring of 1848, then traveling throught the north part of the same state. Paid a visit to his old native land, and spent a winter there and came back to Missouri. Stayed there until the Spring of 1851. Stayed in Marion County, Arkansas nearly one year. Emigrated to Oregon Territory and stayed there until the spring of 1856, then moving through California, and back to Missouri the same year. Stayed there until October 16, 1858, then to Texas. Stopped in Jack County, Texas, stayed there until August 19, 1864, ran off from the Rebels and went to New Mexico. Through many narrow places, through many dangers, to the Federals on the Rio Grande. At a place called Saclezaro (San Elizaro), where satisfaction was given and then we got free transportation to Santa Fe, the capitol of New Mexico. A lonely looking place, but was well treated by all we met on the way. We stayed there but a few days. When I started a foot Eastward, being five men when leaving Texas.

But we scattered at Santa Fe, one man with me went to Fort Union, 110 miles east of Santa Fe, there I found some of my old friends. I went to work for the Government. Stayed there until the 14th of February, then started off to the States. And drove an ox team to Fort Leavenworth. Soon after I leanded (sp) at that place where peace was made. Then I started homeward by Gibson and Smith. The line road through to Texas. Came home and found the Rebels badly whipped.

The following information is provided by Ben Morrow to his nephew, Doyle Morrow, on Nov 18, 1957:

In 1864 Samuel C. Morrow was forced to leave Texas again to New Mexico. His uncle, George Morrow, was on the Militia forces and had hid him out from the soldiers for sometime, but were on him so close he was forced to leave this part of the county. He last returned to Texas after the Civil War. He settled in the edge of Wise County and Jack County. In the year of 1866 he was married to a 19 year old girl by the name of Sarah Booth. Samuel was then 38 years old. He had spent nearly 20 years as a scout to Oregon, California and over several dangerous territories, such as the bad lands of New Mexico. His house was built about 200 yards west of Cliff Morrow's home in the low ground well concealed from marauding Indians. He cleared land and raised cotton, corn, and wheat. Their coffee was made from parched sweet potatoes. The nearest towns were Jacksboro and Decatur. As for their meat, there was fish in the river (West Fork of Trinity) and deer, turkey, and some bear along with other smaller game. He raised hogs; mostly let them run wild and raise. Sarah and Samuel's married life ended after 10 years of marriage. Samuel died October 24, 1876 of pneumonia. In this time they had born to them eight children, five girls and three boys.

Research by W.W. Bill Dennis (letter dated 11-7-1990 to Erin Moore) stats that Sam and Sarah are listed in the 1877 Scholastic Census. He also indicated that there was some probate information listed in late 1878. He also stated that Samuel was County Commissioner from 1862 and he never missed a meeting; actually most faithful member of the court. He attended the February 22, 1864 meeting and then disappears from the records. Next he appears in the records in July 9, 1866 in the list of qualified jurors (or voters with his brother, George. (Samuel left the area during the Civil War -- see above notes.)

From the Diary of Samuel C. Morrow:

Travel from Missouri to Oregon: (March to May 1852)

Left Taney Co. Missourei Marth 20, 1852; The State line April 27; The Caw River May 4; Bermilion May 10; Big Blue May 11; Little Blue May 15; Fort Carney on Plat May 20; Crost South Plat May 27

June 1852: To the Chimney Rock June 3; To Fort Larima June 6; Crost the North Plat June 15; The Independence Rock June 18; Persiffick Spring June 23; Crost Green River June 28

July 1852: To Bear River July 2; Sody Springs July 6

So ends the account of that trip.

May the 14th 1855, in the Big Bend of Cow Creek, O.T. (Oregon Territory)

1856 Trip from Oregon to California

Started through the Kanyon March 10; Cow Creek March 11; Grave Creek March 12; Rougue River March 13; Jacksonville March 14; Syscue M.T. March 16; Yreke March 18; Scottes Mountains March 24; Trinity M.T. March 26; Shasty March 27; Road Bluff on the Sackramento River March 30; Jahama March 31

April 1856: To Feather April 2; To Yuba City April 3; and Lade by for a company.

May 1856: Travel from California to MO. Started May the 3; Feather River, snow 6 feet; Buck Ranch 5; The American valley 6; Snow on theground; Sernivada Mts. Inden valey 7; Last of the Sernivada; Hinery lake valey 8; Susen River, Hony Lake Valey 9th; rabit hole springs; On the Nolel Desert 2 days 11 and 12; The Humbolt River, 14th; Stoney Point on Humbolt 22; Thousand Springs valley 24; To Goose Creek 25; Left it Stepel Rock 29; Crost Raft River 31.

June 1856: Portnuf River 2nd; Sody springs on Bear River 3rd; Left Bear River to Hams Fork of Green River 5th; Crost Green River 7th; Past the Persifick Springs 9th; The Devils Gate Independence Rock 11; North Plat Bridge 13th; Past Fort Larama 17; Scots Bluffs, Chimney Rock 19; Ash Holler on Plat 21; Crost South Plat 23rd; Ded buffalo; Past Fort Carna 26th; Left Plat, to Little Blue 27th; Alone crost little Blue 27th.

July 1856: Crost Big Vermillion 1st; To Caw River 2nd; Catholic Mission; Crost Walkarusha 3rd; to Missouri at Santa Fe 5th.

January A.D. 1864

Fri 1, Cold. Sat 2, Cold. Sun 3, Cold. Mon 4, Cold. Tues 5, Cold. Wed 6, Cold. Thurs 7, Cold. Fri 8, Cold. Sat 9, Cold. Sun 10, Mod. Mon 11, Warm. Tues 12, Clear. Wed 13, Fine day. Thurs 14, plea. Fri 15, clear and warm. Sat 16, cool wind. Sun 17, Clear. Mon 18, Frost. Tues 19, Weath. Chim. Wed 20, Frost. Thurs 21, clear warm, finished chimney. Fri 22, clear & warm. Sat 23, still clear. Sun 24, Indian sign at the pen. Mon 25, pretty, clear and warm. Tues 26, warm and clear today. Wed 27, clear, pleasant and fine. Thurs 28, weather for winter. Fri 29, warm and dry, organized. Sat 30, cool and cloudy. Sun 31, light shower, warm.