Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-30
IUNTY MORRIS,A
BELOVED WOMAN,
IS CALLED HOME
neath Comes to Her After an
Illness of Two Months
With Pneumonia.
lived IN COUNTY 81 YEARS
Was the Friend and Good Angel Of
Hundreds, Especially During Per-
led Of Her WIdowhood.

Mrs. Abby L. Morris, long known
- hundreds as Aunty Morris, passed
,-ou this life at 5:35 Sunday morning
:, bar home. I0IS Second avenue.
p,eumonia. with which she had been
m for two months. brought about the
end
Had she lived one month more Mrs.
Norris would have attained her seth
year. For the IS years she had lived
IN Rock Island most of her time and
thought had been given to helping
others. So numerous were her good
deeds that those who knew. her were
nearly all at one time or another her
beuefciaries. while no one, not even
the nearest relative. knew more than
a small part of her many acts of
kindness and mercy.
Mrs. Morris was born April 90. 1928.
AZ Brimfeld. Ohio. Her maiden
name was Gardner, she being a
daughter Of John v. and Sarah
Spear Gardner. At the age of IS
she. in company with her sister. Mrs.
Julia \. E Price. came to Illinois.
travelling by steamer on the Ohio
river and by stage. She located in
a
as she secured funds TO do so. she at
tended Knox college, acquiring an
education considerably in advance of
that Of the average young woman of
the time.
Married In GaIesburs.
It was while teaching school she
net the late John Morris, who stop
ped at the house where she was
boarding while on cattle buying trip.
They were married in Galesburg on
the brides birthday. April 29. 1850,
and on the same day drove the so
miles TO Rock Island. Here they made
their home for two years, residing on
what is now Second avenue just west
Of where the New Harper house
stands. In 1852 the couple purchased
what was later known the old Morris
homestead in Bowling township and
removed to it. taking up the task of
making an improved farTl out OF the
rough prairie
In 1862 Mr.. Morris enlisted in the
18th Illinois infantry and served
with it till the end of the civil war,
Winning promotion to the rank of
major. Mrs. Morris remained on the
farm and for three years did a mans
work. So successful was she that she
paid of the remaining Indebtedness
On the land and brought the place up
TO q higher state of cultivation than
It was when she took charge.
Nr. Morris died Dec. s, 1874, and
two years later the widow removed to
Rock Island. building the residence at
1Ols Second avenue in which she spent |
the remainder OF her life.
No Children of Own.
The couple had no children of their |
own. but they took into their home !
TWO little girls to whom Mrs. Morris /
vas in every sense a mother. They |
we're Lizzie Catherine Eckhardt, wife
Of Robert Champion, now Of Bowling, |
and Maude Morris Montgomery. a |
niece OF Mr.. Morris. and now of
Newell. 5. d. The other survivors are
q half sister, me last of family of
y, Mrs. EsteIla F. Chase of Butler,
Pa, and four grand children, John
Morris Champion and Afford w.
Champion OF Rock Island. and Carl E
CHAMPION and Mrs. Martin Jahns of
Bowling There are also two great
grand children.
Mrs. Morris was affectionately
known as "Aunty". by many of the
men and women who were reared or
VINO spent their early lives in Rock
Island and who today have grown
ismilies. She was always fond Of re-
calling the part she had in the early
training OF Edwin II. Conger, who
became congressman and later min
iater % China, and who was pupil in
one Of the schools she taught in Knox
county. Mr.. COnger in late years visit
q her number of times at her home
70 Rock Island.
Mother or 126th.
Mrs Morris some years ago was ;
elected mother of the 126th regi- ,
nsnt and IS held in affectionate re-
gard by survivors OF that command.
On three occasions the 126th has held
reunions in Rock Island, the last one
'eing last summer. and always the
members went in a body to call upon
Mrs. Morris.
No one. perhaps. knew Mrs. Morris