The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-09
LIFE OF NOBLE WORK
SANFORD MORRIS, FIRM FRIEND OF
THE FALLEN, PASSES AWAY.
Died at the SheIbyvilIe Home, Where
He Had Accomplished Much for
the City-His Life Work.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
SHELBYVILLE, Ind. Jan. S. = Sanford
Morris died at the Gordon ORPHANS Home
this morning. Several years ago Mr.. Nor
ris suffered a stroke of paralysis. A sec
ond stroke followed short time ago, but
even from this it seemed his strong con-
stitution would rally. After a few days he
was able to be about the house, with the
assistance of nurse, but, left alone for a
short while, he attempted to walk and fell,
receiving a shock that again sent him to his
bed. and from which he did not recover.
Before his removal to Shelbyville Mr.
Morris was a well-known resident of In
dianapols.
Sanford Morris was a son of Judge Beth
mel and Elizabeth John Morris, was born
in Indianapolis April a. 1926. Two years
later his father built a house where the
corner of North and Tennessee streets is,
which was surrounded by eight acres of
ground. In 1891 this was sold
to James Blake and became what
was afterwards known as the Blake
homestead. Mr.. Norris attended the
first seminary Indianapolis ever had
and always appeared at the meetings
of the "Old Seminary Boys" While quite
young Mr.. Morris married, and his wife
died of cholera few weeks after In a few
years he married Elizabeth Turner and
moved to Texas. There Ernest Morris, the
eminent explorer, was born, and the mother
died. About the time of the civil war Mr.
Norris came back to indianapolis, and for
number of years he worked for M. H.
Spades. In September, 1874 he married
Lydia Bond, daughter of DR.. e. p. Bond,
of Lawrenceburg, and came to Shelbyvile
IN 1876 to engage in business with Mr.. S. b.
Morris. Eight years ago he became almost
incapacitated for work by i'll health, and
when the Gordon Home was built he and
h rrvffn wxrar hon h 20 H.
heads of the institution which position they
have since filled with honor to their work
Mr. Norris has done noble service to the I'M
fortunates here, and his influence in the
chapel built under his care has been for the
upbuildng of Gods cause. He will be sadly
missed by rich and poor, good and bad.
Mr.. Morris began his rescue mission work
in Indianapolis over twenty years ago. At
the close of a hard days work Mr. Morris
would go to his home. eat his supper and
then start on his mission of rescue. Where
the worst type of men and women met was
where Mr.. Morris went. He was small in
stature, possessed a kindly face, per-
suasive voice and manner that could be
suited to all conditions and circumstances.
He was an elder in the Second Presbyterian
Church. but he did not talk sect or creed to
sinners. He went among fallen women and
their companions, telling the story of Christ
He went to the county poor farm, the sta
where he could learn of sin, sorrow and suf-
fering, bearing the word of God. Finally
he was overtaken with disease, and for a
year he was helpless.
When Sanford Morris recovered from his
severe illness in Indianapolis in the fall of
1879, he went to Shelbyville to live. He at
once united with the First Presbyterian
Church there, and found the congregation
in a lethargic condition. His coming in
fused new life into it. He was made an
elder. 1t was then he began his career as
an evangelist among the degraded and the
poor in that city. What he accomplished
would fill a volume. In single year his
visits to the bedside of the sick and the
dying numbered 761; meetings with persons
in their homes, AS: cottage prayer meet
ings. 81; services held In the chapel, 267;
funerals, 16; gospel temperance meetings. TO-
These make a total of 1881 visitations and
meetings during the year. the visits being
In homes where no minister went. In addi-
ton to this work in this particular year
Mr.. Morris visited every home in Shelby
vile, took the church enumeration as well
as the population OF the city, learned how
many persons attended church regularly or
occasionally, how many went to Sunday