The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-24
DEATH REMOVES GENERAL
THOS. ARMSTRONG MORRIS
Active Career of Oldest West
Point Graduate Terminated
in California.
HIS CAREER AS \ SOLDIER
From Beginning to Retirement He
Was Noted for. Activity-A
Prominent Citizen.
HIS CAREER AS A SOLDIE

Gen Thomas Armstrong Morris president
of the Indianapolis Water Company, after
living life of unusual activity and attend
ed with proportionate. success, died Tuesday
at midnight at the home OF his daughter,
Mrs. E. NJ. Chambers, at San Diego, Cal,
where he had gone, hoping that he might
prOlong the days of his already long and
useful career. Death was not unexpected,
for in the last year the infirmities of old
age began TO tell upon Mr.. Morris, and in
recent months his health became extremely
feeble, and the trip to California was for
the purpose of securing rest and of re-
cuperating his lost health. brought on by
an extreme old age.
The activities and energies of General
Morris were not alone centered along COM
mercial lines, for he was known and con-
ceded to be the best huntsman in the vi
cinity of Indianapolis, if not in the State
He took semi-annual hunting trips, which
were source of greater pleasure to him
than any other sport. These outings were
continued up until within the last few
years, and il was with the greatest reluc-
tance that the aged huntsman gave up his
annual outings. that he had been so long
accustomed 10 taking and from which he
had received so much pleasure. The de-
ceased was the oldest living graduate of
West Point, from where he was graduated
in 1884
The life of General Morris was one OF
constant activity from the time he left West
Point. boy not yet out of his teens until
the present day. His career was remark
able one in many respects. Long ago he es-
tablished a reputation a pubic-spirited
citizen whose presence has been a great
benefit to the community. He was a SOL
der of the first rank. civil engineer of the
highest class and a true sportsman a. from
the ground up Whenever he undertook
to do a thing he never failed to do it, and to
do il we'll whether 1T was experimenting
the building of bridge leading a band
of gallant soldiers against a fierce foe. or
shooting ducks i'm the Illinois river.
MANY BUSINESS INTERESTS.
There was scarcely period in his career
that has not had its enterprise calling for
active work. He first distinguished him.
self in the employment of his country then
in the employ of his State. and has since
that time been at the head of various rail-
roads and other great enterprises especial
ly in their construction and early manage
ment. all of them being of public import
anCe.
1t was he that engineered the building OF
the state ditch in the early days of Indian
apolis. when the city was constan ntly i'm dam
high waters of Fall cheek and il is TO him
that most of the credit is due for the con-
struction of the Statehouse within the orig:
inal appropriation.
In fact. the city and the State are ndebt-
ed to him for long list of benefits derived
from his active and useful life.
Thomas Armstrong Morris born In
Nicholas county. Kentucky. In 1921 his
parents moved TO Indianapolis. at that time
a settlement of few families, with moth
ing TO commend it the fact that il
was the capital of the State.
Two years after the Morris family haC
taken up it's home in the little Indiana vii
| lage Tom began to learn the printers
trade in the office of the towns newspaper
now the Journal For three years he con.
tinued at this work and became one of the
best printers in the State, though but
mere boy.
BEGINNING OF MILITARY CAREER.
| All of this time he had been dividing hi.
| attention between the schoolroom and tn,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 9, COL. p