Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1913-03-07
JOHN 7. MORRISON.

AuiiiS AOTilsOu, One OF tue
well known resident Of this city, and
an early settler Of the county, died
'ere TUESDAY evening at II o'clock,
aged 20 years, 9 months and s days
after an illness of several weeks du.
ration. Mr.. Morrison had been in
rather poor health for many years
past, having a disorder which con-
stantly grew worse as time went BY
until he became in such condition a
few weeks ago that an operation was
deemed imperative as a last resort Of
prolonging his life, but on account Of
his advanced age and the sunerings
he had previously gone through his
vitality was at such low state that
he was unable to recuperate.
Mr.. Morrison was born in Guernsey
county Ohio, May 27, 1912, the fam
lily removing few years thereafter
to Wayne county, Iowa. At the out
break Of the Civil War in 1861 he
volunteered in defense of his coun.
try and Joined the 18th Missouri cav
airy, serving for the greater part of
the time through the war on the
frontier to protect the settlers against
raids by the Indian tribes, but also
engaged in several of the important
battle of the war. In 1866 he was
stationed as one of the soldiers at
Fort Zarah, just east Of this city, and
has seen this part of the state de-
velop from a practically barren des-
ert to one of the finest agricultural
regions of the world, and he could
relate many interesting stories of the
country and the happenings of the
early days, when outside of the SOL
diers at the various forts the prin-
cipal inhabitants were the Indian and
the buffalo.
He returned to Iowa when muster.
ed out of the service, and on Janu-
airy 26, 1868, was united in marriage
to Miss Clarissa E. Ormsby, of
Wayne county. Five sons were born
to the union, DR.. E. E. Morrison, of
this city, T. C. Morrison of Hoising-
ton, Sidney NJ. Morrison who died in
1903 from exposure received while
serving his country during the Span
ish war, John c. Morrison, a civil en-
gineer now in the Klondyke country,
and Clarence E. Morrison, of this
city.
The Morrison family moved to Bar.
ton county in 1878, settling on a farm
in Fairview township near Galatia,
where they lived until 1896 when
they moved to this city where they
have since made their home.
Mr.. Morrison was man highly hon
ored and respected by all who knew
him for his manly life and character
and his true, sterling worth as a
man and a citizen. He was Of ra-
ther retiring disposition but took a
keen interest in the affairs of the
community and country and was a
close student and reader on all pub
lie affairs. He was a member of the
Methodist church of this city and
also a member of the G. A. R. and
Masonic lodges. AS a man he was
upright in all his dealings with his
fellow men, charitable to all and
with malice toward none; a citizen
who has done his full share in the
upbuilding and the prosperity of the
nation and in its protection; a true
and good husband; father who, by
his own actions and examples taught
to his children the meaning Of true
and good manhood, and a friend
whose generous assistance and kind
ly counsel has been the means of as
sisting and bettering all with whom
he came in contact. He has lived
faithfully and well, and while the
hosts of friend unite with the family
in deep grief over his death, yet he
has gone to that greater reward than
the material life, the reward of all
who live the Just and upright life
and have followed in the footsteps Of
the lowly Nazarene, who suffered
the agonies Of the death upon the
cross that through his death we migt
be saved.
The funeral services, conducted by
the G. A R., were held at 2 O'Clock
this afternoon at the late residence
and interment made in the Great
Bend ceetery.