The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-02
A LONG AND USEFUL LIFE
Death of Samuel Morrison, the Man Who
Made the First Nap of Indiana.
his Life Ends on His Ninetieth Birthday
The Valuable Assistance He Rendered
URiOn Generals in the Late War.

The death OF Samuel Morrison at his resi-
dence, No. 131 Christian avenue, yesterday
morning, closed life that was interviewer with
many OF the incidents marking the development
OF the State. Mr. Morrison was very near man
hood when Indiana's territorial government
ceased, and, as his means of useful and scien-
tifc knowledge increased, they answered a need
at that time which but very few persons,
and those mostly from the East, could sup
ply. Me. Morrison died the anniversary
OF his birth, which occurred In 1898,
IN Dearborn county. Two years before that his
parents came from Kentucky into Indiana Ter
ritory. settling at Tanners Station. now Peters
burg. They bad first come out of Pennsylvania,
directly after the Revolutionary war. in which
Samuels father took part. At Tanners Station
the Morrisons had ferfy-boat, or what served
as such-a canoe The people were rowed
over, bat their horsea had to swim the stream.
But the Morrisons were not satisfied with
tbs western part of the Territory, and moved
the year Samuel was born TO where Aurora now
stands
The father and mother died before the son
was eight years old, but an uncle at Dayton. O..
took charge of him for g while. At Dayton he
got bis first introduction to q spelling-book. Il
was only fragment, but it served to give him
start in self-education which he pursued
siduousiy until he Became a draughtsman and
surveyor This knowledge was picked up little
by little as chance threw books or instructors
in his way. He left Dayton after few months
stay and returned to Lawrenceburg. where he
lived with his half-sisters When he became
old enough TO work Captain Gran
dali, retired sea captain, employed
him. The Captain gave him free access
to books on navigation and other sciences. In
1920 he opened q school at Utica. Clark cou nty.
into which neiRhborhood he went with BROTH
er. In Louisville be secured for himself further
tuition. for which he paid by taking care of the
school building Going to Utica again he taught
Tor three years. after which. in 1924, he returned
TO Lawrenceburg, where he remained eight
years as a teacher. In 1888 he entered the ofico
of Micajah T. Williams, the surveyor general of
Ohio, Indiana Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and
Iowa. He remained there thirteen years. This
was In Cincinnati and during that period he was
one of the trustees of the city schools
In 1916, when there we're only thirteen coun-
ties in the State, Mr.. Morrison drew the first
map of Indiana. In lS45 he published another,
together with synopsis of the Indiana land
system and her school Laws He also published.
in 1885, the first map CT Wisconsin. which name,
until that time, was spelled Ouisconsin. The
next year he issued map of Iowa
MIR. Morrison was a student of military mat
ters and during the civil war he took great
interest in the strategic movement of the
armies. With the Vicksburg country he be-
came thoroughly acquainted when young man.
This knowledge he always thought he turned to
good account by making map OF the VIcks-
burg region for fifty miles around, which he sent
to General Grant Recently Mr.. Morrison said
ION this map located all the points of prom
inence. I-wrote on the margin: Grand Gulf
and Bruinsburg the places to capture and
hold; then destroy the bridges over Big Black
river and Bayou Pierre; these streams will
guard your TANKS. Then march out and capt
ure jackson; this done, you can take Vicksburg
at your leisure sent this TO General Grant,
and afterward the canal project which he
working abandoned and my plan
adopted. / also made map OF eastern Virginia
for secret war movements. It was laid off in
sections base line drawn through fortress
Monroe and meridian line through Richmond.
By means of this an officer could be ordered TO
occupy any section as it appeared on this map
and if the instructions fell into the hands of the
enemy they could not be understood General
Butler told me that his movements In eastern
Virginia were planned and carried out by this
map"
Mr.. Morrison was twice married. but no
children came to him. Throughout his life he
abstained from tobacco and liquors His death
was due to old age. The long term OF his life
gave him the distinction of being the Oldest
native-born resident of Indiana. The remains
will be buried at Lawrenceburg, where they
will be taken Saturday. At $50 A. NJ. to-mor-
row the Tlppecanoe Club will assemble at the
corner of Plum street and Christian avenue to
attend the remains to the depot This after
noon, from to o'clock, the friends will have
an opportunity to see the remains.