The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-06-23
Hon. James Esstman Harrow.

will easily recall James Eastman Morrow,
who, about 1866, then red headed
boy, was employed by his uncle, Benja-
min Barrere, in the old Hillsboro Nation.
al Bank. Mr.. Morrow died at Pontiac,
Illinois, June Sd, and the following 10
part Of an extended account of his life
which appeared in the Sentinel Of that
city:
James Eastman Morrow was born at
Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio, on
September 90, 1885. In early life his
parents removed to Fincastle, Brown
county, Ohio, where he lived until he
was % years of age. His father having
removed to Illinois, Mr.. Morrow follow.
ed him and settled in Pontiac in 1867.
He was first engaged as q clerk at Hen.
ry Greenbaum at q store located near
the site of the present city hall, and af.
terwards clerk for Cassidy. Ladd and
Mcdonald in the building afterwards
occupied by Jacob Streamer, north of
the court house block.
In 1859, in company With Isaac Aerl,
II. G. Jones and Jesse Greene, he made
the overland trip California, walking the
entire distance and arriving at Shasta,
California, October 6, 1859 He was an
excellent shot with the rife and during
this trip kept his party provided with
game while they were engaged in the
more prosaic task OF driving an OK team
which drew their outfit.
He spent nearly three years in Cali
fornia engaged in gold mining, and re-
turned to Pontiac in July, in 1852, by
the Panama route. In August 1862,
he enlisted in Company q, 10th Hi.
nois Volunteers, Sd Division, Goth Army
Corps, Immediately went to the front
with his regiment and served till the
close of the war. During the war he
marched with Sherman to the sea and
afterwards north to Washington where
he took part in the grand review, where
he was mustered out June Sth, 1865, as
sergeant, having, including bis trip to
California, walked across the entire con.
tinent.
He was married September IL, 1866,
to Elizabeth Jane Maxwell, Who died
July 4, 1872 leaving one child, Elsie E,
now Mrs. Herbert J. Krum.
After the war Mr.. Morrow took a
clerkship with Messrs. Duff and Cowan,
leaving this employment to perform the
duties of circuit clerk of Livingston
county, to which Office he was elected
in 1868, and which he held one term
In 1874 he organized the National Bank
of Pontiac and has been its president
from it's organization to the time of his
decease. Within this time he has served
as mayor and alderman of the city of
Pontiac, has been member of the board
of supervisors of Livingston county for
twenty-one years, anda number of years
it's chairman. he was staunch Repub-
lican and filed many positions of i'm
portance in the party organization, acting
two terms az chairman of the Livingston
County Republican Central Committee,
and in 1888 was . delegate to the Re
publican National Convention that romi-
mated Benjamin Harrieon.
The experiences here outlined fall to
the lot of the few only. The many new
er know them. Mr.. Morrow's start on
foot from the northwest corner of the
court house square in Pontiac, in his
twenty third year, across a continent,
arid, and inhabited only by beast and
savage, was the act of brave hero, and
the forecast of successful career.
His return, three years later, from the
golden shore, the land of peace and plen.
ty in which he had cast his youthful
fortunes, to the scene of strife and blood
and his enlistment in the legions of lib
erty and national integrity we're splen.
did earnests Of his highborn American
ism and stalwart loyalty to the Saxon
principles of his fathers. His perform
ance, without complaint, of every duty
devolved upon him as soldier in the
field for three years proved thu high
graded purposes and principles OF the
man. His halt in the thick OF the bloody
charge at the battle of Pecah Tree Greek |
to give dying young Confederate sol.
dier, crying for water, drink from his |
canteen, testified louder than words to
his personal courage and the kindness
of his heart toward q fallen foe. His |
march with Sherman and the grand army |
to the sea, and from thence to Washing. |
ton for final review and discharge from |
the service at the close of the greatest |
civil war in all history, without Q MUIR
muir uttered or the missing of duty in |
camp or field are monuments to traits of |
heart and head and to powers of endu-
rance and fortitude not every day found
united in the same person.
In politics Mr.. Morrow was q Repub.
iican OF the most pronounced, uncom-
promising type on principles fixed by
bis natural traits of character He was
> partisan, but his partisanship was not
OF that blind, morbid sort that he could
see no good in Democrat. Friends and
enemies in politics we're alike welcome
to his mind, and he tested them all in
The crucible OF his reason. By his mas.
;uline understanding, steady persever-
ance in the right as he understood it he
rose above the malice and bitterness of
ignorance to higher plane than most
partisans.
In religion this stalwart citizen, friend
and neighbor was not orthodox in the
light of church creeds. but religion nev.
srtheless he had in a high aud excep.
.ional sense. His reason and consci-
once were his religion. 1t was his habit
20 submit everything to this test, He