Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1902-06-12
In MemOriam,

Ill N0It1Of ldIil.
The death of Hon. b. F. Morris,
which occurred at his home in
Lewiston on Wednesday, June 4,
came as a shock to the many friends
of this sterling citizen in Idaho
county, where he spent the best
and busiest days of his life. He
was born near Richmond, Ray
county, Mo-, 60 years ago, came
west at an early age, and after I'M
dergoing the various vicissitudes
of life on the far western frontier
he finally located in 1868 at War
rem, the then county seat of Idaho
county, where for many years he
filed the position of auditor and
recorder, and incidentally taught
school and worked as clerk.
Later ON he acted as deputy clerk
for Idaho county, in this judicial
district, filling that position for
many years. In 1873 he removed
to Camas Prairie and in time be-
came possessed of the handsome
property of 276O acres now owned
by the Denver syndicate, upon
which the town site of Denver is
now located. Here he INDUCED
his penchant for raising fine horses
and cattle. In 1892 he was elected
state senator from Idaho county by
the largest majority ever given any
candidate since its organization,
and during his legislative career he
succeeded in securing the appro-
priations for the state wagon road
from Clearwater to Newsome and
for. the Salmon river wagon road
In 1894 he was appointed registel
of the Lewiston land Office and helt
that position for four years, max
ing a competent and obliging Off
cial.
Mr.. Morris was regarded as Oh,
of the strong men of the demo
cratic party in this state, and hat
he lived in the southern countle
he would undoubtedly have file,
the governors chair. His loyalt,
and devotion to the affairs of TIL
state were generally appreciate
by his fellow citizens, whose conf
dence he enjoyed in very grea
degree. During his residence j
Lewiston he gave much time t
the affairs of the Lewiston norma
school, for the establishment c
which he secured the first apprt
priation during his legislative ca
reer. At the time Of his death h
was one of the trustees of the stat
insane asylum. He was very prom
inent in Masonic circles, having r.
, ceived all the degrees up to tt
Knights Templar on the one bar
: and the 32d in the Scottish Rit
!, in all of which he had occupied II
highest positions. He was all
: affiliated with the Royal Arcanu
and A. o. U. w. beneficiary $
cieties.
r Up here in Idaho county NJ
n Morris leaves a large circle of o
r and tried friends who, but for Il
i condition of the roads, would ha
IS attended the last sad obsequies
J. their old friend and comrade in t
J. troubled times which have mark
g the development of this secti'
l. from a virgin wild to well-settl'
'e country. His name was synoni
n for open-handed hospitality, al
,r every visitor at his home was ma
- welcome by himself and wife
:, true southern style. He was ge
ID erous and affectionate to gre
/" degree, and it was partly this ira
.. added to his genial disposition a
sterling virtues, which made HI
81 SO universally liked by his cid
"a sociates. Thus one by one 60
r their long rest the pioneers W
III have redeemed these lands from
IL condition of primeval solitude il
re a country of happy people and pr
K porous homes. "Mors omnibus
ir communis." 'sRequiescat in pac
III "Resnrgam in pacem.'