St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-04-09
Biographical.
CAPT. LEONARD NJ. MORRIS.

CAPT. LEONARD NJ. MORRIS.
1t has been said that the allotted
space of mans life upon earth is seven
ty years. 1t has also been said that a
large percentage of the children born
die before reaching ten years of age.
Natural science tells us of many of the
causes of both early death and long
life, but the full secrets of these things
are not yet divulged.
1t has ever been our belief that ante
natal conditions, physical, mental, or
both, have great deal to do with sub
sequent human life. This belief is be-
ing gradually entertained by scholars
and thinkers everywhere. Those per-
sons who are harmoniously born, are
fortunate indeed; while others seem to
have come under clouds, and are per-
petually fighting some passion, ap-
petite, or disease. Man must take
his chances among the physical and
spiritual elements of the universe if
they are propitiOus, and in harmony
with his constitution, he is enabled to
glide over considerable space of time :;
If otherwise, he must sooner succumb to
the inexOrable demands of natures law.
We are led to these reflections in
thinking of the mortality of so many
children and youth. and of the patli-
archs who have spanned four score
years and upwards, and who have
grown gray, wrinkled, and tottering, in
the long journey of life. The contrast
between these two conditions is very
marked, and we make no attempt to
explain mysteries. We take now the
extreme of old age for consideration.
The subject of this sketch, Captain
Leonard NJ. Morris, who is now alive
and well, was born in the town of Hol-
land, Mass, January 10th, 1890, and is,
therefore, 80 years of age. He lived in
his native town until 81 years old, when
he moved to Vermont. He travelled in
the west four years for the Fairbanks
Company, lived in Troy four years, and
in Canada one year.
Capt. Morris was one of the old time
"schOOlmasters," who taught large dis
trict schools eleven winters, and MANY
OF whose scholars were "men and wo-
men grown" At this early day, in
Massachusetts it seems that teachers
had to be examined before they were
allowed "to keep SCHOOL, The captain
tells us of several incidents which oc-
cured in these days, and with the en-
tiusiasm of youth. In going back to
early scenes and remembrances, he en-
tiers into the details and particulars in
remarkable degree.
Mr.. Morris was elected Captain of the
militia when twenty-one years of age,
ana the same year was chosen one of
the selectmen of the town in which he
was born, serving several years in sue
cessIon. While living in his native
town his occupation was that of farm
ing. He was member of the Massa-
chusetts Legislature one term, and has
been member of the Congregational
church since he was 35 years old. In
politics he informs us he generally act
ed independently, or in that way which
seemed the nearest right to him. The |
captain has voted in every presidential
election but one since he became a vot-
er, and that time was when he was liv-
ing in Canada. He voted for "Old
Jackson" for, said he, "JackSon lust
suited me.n
Mr.. Morris, like other men. went
through trials incident to his time.
but he faced them with a resolute
VIII, and with the spirit of independ-
ence. He lived when spirituous liquors
were freely used, but used them spar
lngiy himself. He informs us that in
early times considerable liquor was
drank when clearing the land, and then
no one thought any harm of it but on
The contrary it was considered a neces-
'lty, "for men put in and did a great