Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1898-12-28
DEATH OF DANIEL MORRIS
A Noted Citizen of Atlantic
City Passes Away.

Col. Daniel Morris, one of the best
known citizens of Atlantic City, died on
Wednesday afternoon, OF pneumonia,
after an illness of weeks duration.
We CODY from the Re9iezO the follow
ing. in part of it's extended article;
"He came to Atlantic City in the latter
Forties, driving across the State, the
first railroad not being completed for
several years thereafter. On his trip to
the sea-shore he passed through Mays
Landing, then q very live village, and
| frequently in latter years spoke OF the
culture of the settlement in the midst OF
the Jersey pines. and its inhabitants,
among them Judge Moore and thefather
of this city's present Mayor, Joseph
Thompson, who he met and learned to
know well.
He was Atlantic City's first surveyor
and laid out the resort as it is to-day, q
lasting monument to his memory and
good WORKS At one time he owned all
the beach-front from North Carolina
to Michigan avenue. extending back to
Atlantic avenue, an erea worth to-day,
at the least calculation. $15 700, 900.
and by industry and good business tact
amassed fortune worth, it is supposed,
half a million dollars.
From young manhood Colonel Morris
kept diary, which with his will is in the
possession of Pierce Archer, Esq, his
legal adviser and close friend for many
years, and If the contents of the book
could be published, even in part, they
would be extremely interesting to people
who to-day know little of what Atlantic
City was in the early days when Colonel
Morris first knew it.
The deceased was a devout Catholic,
and donated the ground upon which St.
Nicholas, the first Cathohc Church in this
city, was erected. Prior to and after the
coming of Father Fedigan, Col. Morris
helped the struggling congregation and
to mis- gnancial assistance the wealth and
prominence of the church to-day is large
ly due. When the edifice, not then near
ly so pretentious as now, was completed
| the funds had run short and there were
no seats within for worshippers. Col.
Morris told Father Fedigan to have the
seats built and send bim the bills for
labor every Saturday night and so it
was that ST. Nicholas actually became a
church. He never missed a Sunday or
holiday service when his health permit
ted him to attend, and when funds were
u0eu0u OOi.MUTFtS w an OH FCdAJ w AionO
a generous donation.
About year ago Colonel Morris start
Cd the erection of the immense Catholic
Orphansge at Hopewell, N. J. He stated
a few weeks ago that he had already ex-
pended $4,000 and expected to make
additions and erect chapel at an addl-
tional cost of $25, 700. 1t IS believed
that the bulk of his fortuneis bequeathed
to the Orphanage.
And when number of young men Or
ganized military company something
like ten years ego and were struggling
along as best they could, Colonel Morris
came to their assistance and erected the
present handsome armory on New York
avenue. south. The company was named
in his honor, the Motifs GUARDS, ana he
was made it's honorary colonel. Colonel
Morris was always charitable and willing
to assist those who deserved it. AS he
never sought public approval OF his good
works, only those who he assisted, know
his real worth"