The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-12-27
DEATH OF SPLENDID CITIZEN

| his home in this city, at 10 o'clock
Saturday night, Dec. 21, drew down
upon this entire community pail of
deepest gloom. 1t was with deep and
profound regret that such depressing
news was rapidly spread, as the death
of this good man came as personal
loss to all.
While the coming of the grim mon
ster was not unexpected, everyone
was hoping that "Uncle Jacks" time
had not yet arrived for his final de-
parture, and that he would be spared
to them yet awhile longer. For "Un-
| Gle jack, as he was affectionately
called, was known to everyone in this
community, and was universally loved
for his many commendable traits of
character.
While he had passed his four-score
years, he was, until sickness over
took him, daily visitor down town,
where he was always joyfully hailed
by many friends. He was a natural
leader, in any business in which he
was engaged; hence his remarkable
business success in life was generally
accepted as a matter Of course. He
was truly a ''man among men,, whom
to know was to honor and to respect.
One who knew him intimately, and
for years, has prepared for The Times
the following obituary, which is print
ed just as it was turned over to this
paper:
John M. Morris was born in Louisa
county. Virginia, October 81, 1888,
and died at his residence in Farming
, ton, Mo-, December 81, 1918, being 80
years and months old.
He served four years in the Civil
War as Confederate soldier, and was
in most all the great battles, under
Gems. Lee and jackson (StonewalD,
from Bull Run to Appomattox, sur
rendering with Gen. Lee on April 10,
1865; he came to Potosi, Mo-, in 1866,
and went to work for "the Clarksons"
at their milling camp, having arrived
at Potosi with only one dollar in cash;
he later moved to Des Arc, Iron
County, Mo-, and began his long and
successful career as merchant and
lumberman; his wife died in 1886, and
he never remarked, but, securing his
niece to keep house for him, he de-
voted the rest of his life to raising
his children, George NJ, James c.,
Walter Lee, and Mrs. Masie Morris
Washburn, all of whom survive him,
together with his niece, Miss Mollie
Perkins, whose devotion to him during
thirty years has endeared her to him
and his children.
He moved to Pennington in October,
1899, and brought with him his entire
family; his three sons having estab-
lished the mercantile firm of Morris
Brothers.
He was a man of untiring energy,
fine business ability, absolutely hon
est in all his dealings, a member of
the Baptist church, and while pos
sessing very positive character and
having the ability and willingness to
defend his position on all questions,
was very kind and charitable.
In business he was very successful.
But it is not this standard that must
measure his worth; rather is it that
he devoted his life to his family
their success and proper training was
his sole earthly ambition; and he had
that firm faith in his Savior which
caused him to believe that his err
rors of Judgment, his mistakes and
sins, though deeply regretted, were
all forgiven; in his last illness he Of
ten expressed the wish that he might
not be a charge upon his loved ones,
but, as his life had been long, and now
at its close, he might be permitted to
fall asleep in the arms Of his Savior.
Absent from us, in the flesh, yet ever
present with us in example and in
fluence that enobles every life with
whom he came in contact sufficiently
close to enable one to really under
stand him.
His funeral was conducted from his
late residence Monday afternoon by
his pastor, Rev. o. H. L. Cunningham,
assisted by Revs. Boyd and Duggins;
his remains were inferred in Park
view cemetery.
Times advertisers have enjoyed a
splendid and satisfying Christmas
trade. and are this week confininp