The Newtown bee., 1901-11-08
ELI j. MORRIS.
His Death Occurs on Sum
day Evening.
A BROTHER OFTUEL LATE
GOV LUZON B.
NORRIS.
Had Represented Newtown In
the Legislature.


of years, passed away on Sunday night
His death was not unexpected, al
though he rallied last week, and seem
ed quite comfortable.
He was gentleman of the old school
kindly and of dignifed bearing, ant
belonged to that type of citizenship
that gave the country town it's high
character. Mr. Norris was highly es
teemed in the neighbOrhOOd where he
resided, and in the town at large.
Eli j. Morris was born December 20,
1921, at the homestead where he re-
sided at the time of his death. His
education was begun in the common
schools of ZOar district, NewtOwn
township, and he also attended an
academy at ROxbury, Conn.,, for short
time. At the early age of IL years he
took charge Of the farm, but during
the winter seasons he managed to find
time to pursue his studies for few
years longer. These meagre opportu-
mites were quite unsatisfactory to one
of his clever and active mind, and af-
ter leaving school he carried on an ex-
tensive course of reading, his fine
memory enabling him to acquire wide
range Of information. He always re-
sided at the homestead, which now
contains about ITO acres of land, and
In addition to the care Of the farm he
was engaged in the cattle business
from 1853 to 1869. In 1858 he shipped
the first car load of cattle from Stur-
ges, Ind, and during the period men,
toned he bought from 500 to LOCO
head of stock cattle per year in Mich
igan and Indiana for the home market.
His ventures in this and other lines
nave been rewarded with success, and
for many years he has been regarded
as one of the substantial men of the
town. He had always been active in
local affairs, and was influential in the
democratic organization in his active
years. For many years he held the
office OF justice of the peace, and for
some time he was Selectman of his
town, while for 10 years he served as
pOormaster. In 1859 he was sent to
the State Legislature as representa-
tive of his town. In religious faith he
was an Episcopalian; socially, he was
connected with Hiram lodge, No. Is,
+. & A. NJ, at Sandy Hook, of which
he was one of the Oldest members.
In 1850 Mr. Morris was married by
Rev DR. Burhans, then in his SD year,
to Miss Jane Elizabeth Chambers, who
was born February 6, 1925, daughter
OF Thomas O. Chambers Of Zoar dis
trict She died October 4, 1891 sincere
ly mourned by large circle Of friends.
Eli Gould Morris, the father Of the
subject of this sketch, was born June
8, 1888, in NewtOwn, and became a
successful agriculturist, being held in
high esteem among his associates for
his excellent judgment. In 1919 he
purchased from Mrs Curtis the farm
occupied by Eli J. Morris, which then
comprised 50 acres, but by subsequent
additions he increased it to 13O acres
lie was member Of the Baptist
church, and igpolitcs was a staunch
democrat, although he never aspired
to public office. His death occurred
January 3, 1856, and his wife, whose
maiden name was Lydia Bennett, sur
vived him many years, passing away
July ?, 1879. She was born in Trum-
bull, this county, June 4, 1793.a daugh-
ter Of Thaddeus Bennett, formerly a
prominent resident of Trumbull town
ship. Eli j. Morris was the eldest of
three children, and at the time of his |
death was the only survivor Hon |
LuZOn Burritt Morris, the second in |
order OF birth, was born April Is, lS2G |
He attended school in berkshire dis |
trict, NcwtOwn, having for some of
his early teachers, Peter Nash, c. G.
Warner and Charles Beers. At about
the age Of 10 he began to shift for him
self, and was apprenticed to black
smith at ROXbury. Later he was in
the employ of Raymond French of
Seymour. After this experience ne
attended Yale college, where he was
graduated, and year later he was
elected to the Legislature from
Seymour. In 1870 he represented New
Haven in The Legislature. and in 1874
he was in the State Senate. In 1876
he was again sent to the Lower house.
He served some time as judge of the
probate court. and in 1893 he was
chosen Governor Of Connecticut. His
death occurred August %, 1893.
(3) Miss Martha Jane Morris, born
Decembcg II, 1875, died June -, 1877,
after successful career as a teacher
in the public schools.
The family has been prominent from
an early day in this section, and is
noted not only for ability but for lon
gevity. BY a singular coincidence Eli
j. Morris grandfather, great-grand
father and great-grcat grandfather,
each of whom was named Daniel Nor
ris, attained the same age, -. The
great-grandfather was born May T.
IT'S, in Bridgeport, and on July 7, I'LL,
married for his first wife Sarah Mack
hard, who died April rs, 1851; his
death occurred March |, 1892. His
second union was with Il widow, Mrs
Jackson. BY his first marriage he had
seven children. whose names with
dates of birth and death are as follows:
Mary, December |, l742, November 3d.
177e. Sarah SeDtambar | 1745. March