James Morrison (abt. 1755 - 1813)

Born about 1755 in Greene, Pennsylvania [uncertain]

Ancestors

Died 14 Nov 1813 at about age 58 in Virginia, United States

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Biography

"(8) James, youngest of the family of Guyon Morrison, Sr., was born in 1755. He inherited that portion of the homestead on which his father had lived and died. After the formation of Washington county, he was commissioned as captain of a company of the Washington Rangers, who were organized for defense against the intrusions of savage foes. In 1791 he married Mary Gibson, daughter of William Gibson, Sr., of Lancaster county, and sister of the wife of James Bradford, Jr., of Strabane township. He was a member of the first board of trustees of the Chartiers (Presbyterian) Church, over which Dr. John McMillan so long served as pastor. He resided on the homestead until his death, November 14, 1813, and was buried in the graveyard on his own farm beside the remains of his father. His wife died August 23, 1834, at the age of sixty-five years. Her remains were deposited beside those of her husband, in their quiet resting place. A few years ago their remains were removed, and were interred in the cemetery at Washington. They had issue: William, Margaret, John, Elizabeth, James, Jr., Guyon and Mary.

1. William, the eldest of the family of James, Sr., was born March 19, 1793; in 1833 he married Sarah Munce, and resided, for a time, on a portion of the homestead; afterward, he purchased an adjoining tract to which he removed, and on which he resided until his death, on May 13, 1853; his wife died February 26, 1885, aged about eighty years; they had issue: Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth, Margaret, James G. and Anna.
   1. Of the family of William, Mary, Margaret and James G. are unmarried, and reside in the borough of Washington. James G. owns his father’s portion of the Morrison homestead.
   2. Sarah, daughter of William, married John B. Miller, late of Canton township, but died a number of years ago, without issue.
   3. Elizabeth, daughter of William, married John Russell in 1864, and resides in Chartiers township; she survives her husband, who died in January, 1893, leaving issue: Lula (wife of Rev. J. R. Hosick), Anna and J. Mack (a student of medicine).
   4. Anna, youngest of the family of William, married John Gibson Johnson, and has since resided in Cross Creek village; they have issue: George V., William M. and Ernest.
2. Margaret (daughter of James, Sr.) was born January 2, 1795; in 1818 she married James Bradford, and removed to Cadiz, in Harrison Co., Ohio, where her husband died in October, 1826, at the age of thirty-seven years. They had issue: James M., David and Elizabeth (surname Bradford). Afterward she returned to the home of her kindred in Washington county. In 1832 she married David Watson, and resided in Chartiers township, where her husband died May 22, 1843, at the age of fifty-one years. They had issue: John M., Mary and George Newton (surname Watson). Afterward she removed to her inheritance in Peters township, where she resided until her death, January 17, 1875.
   1. James M. Bradford (eldest of the family of Margaret) was born in February, 1820; on reaching adult years he returned to Harrison county, Ohio, where he has resided ever since; in 1844 he married Juliana Lewis, who died in December, 1890; they had issue: Ann Eliza, born in 1845, who married Dr. J. G. Kennedy, and, secondly, Marion Coats, and died in April, 1890, leaving issue, Wilbur W. Kennedy.
   2. David Bradford* (son of Margaret) was born December 24, 1821; on July 14, 1859, he married Rebecca Ann Bell, and has resided in Chartiers township ever since; for many years he was engaged in the mercantile business, but, latterly, he has retired from that employment, and for some time has resided in Houstonville; politically, he has been honored, by the people of Washington county, with a term as county auditor, and with a term as county commissioner; they have had issue: John and Mary.
      1. John, who was born August 22, 1860, is unmarried, and resides with his parents;
      2. Mary died October 5, 1889, in early womanhood.
   3. Elizabeth Bradford (daughter of Margaret) resided with her mother in her declining years; after the death of her mother she removed to Scio, Harrison Co., Ohio, where she still resides; she is unmarried.
   4. John M. Watson (son of Margaret) was born January 31, 1834; in 1866 he married Sarah Borland, and resided on the homestead in Peters township for some years; afterward he purchased a tract in North Strabane township where he has since resided; they have no issue.
   5. Mary Watson (daughter of Margaret) was born about 1836; in October, 1859, she married Peter Martin, and has since resided in Chartiers township; they have issue: Eva (wife of John Jamison), Anna, George and Elizabeth.
   6. George Newton Watson (youngest of the family of Margaret) was born in December, 1839; in 1876, he married Margaret Palpier, and removed to Washington county, Iowa, where he resided until his death in May, 1891; they had issue: two daughters.
3. John (son of James, Sr.) was born March 19, 1797. He inherited that portion of the homestead on which his father and grandfather had lived and died. In 1867 he removed to Harrison county, Ohio, where he resided with his nephew, James M. Bradford. In 1870 he sold his inheritance in Chartiers township, in Washington county, to his brother Guyon. Afterward he returned to Washington county, where he resided at the home of his nephew, David Bradford, until his death, November 25, 1880. He was unmarried.
4. James, Jr. (son of James, Sr.) was born November 28, 1800. He settled on the portion of the homestead, which he had inherited from his father, where he resided until his death September 27, 1875. He left his inheritance to his son James, who still owns the property. James, son of James, Jr., was born April 26, 1835. On December 11, 1866, he married Elizabeth McPeak, and for a time resided on the homestead. Some years ago he removed to Canonsburg, where he has resided ever since. They have no issue.
5. Guyon Morrison, whose portrait appears in connection with this sketch of the Morrison family, and who is a son of James Morrison, Sr., was born August 5, 1804. He attended Jefferson College for some time, but did not graduate. On May 23, 1833, he married Jane Johnston, daughter of Richard and Jane (Bradford) Johnston, and removed to Belmont county, Ohio, where for a time he was engaged in mercantile business. In 1836 he removed to the adjoining county of Harrison, and resided on a farm near Franklin until 1870. In that year he purchased from his brother John the homestead inheritance, in Chartiers township, Washington county. In the same year he returned to the home of his boyhood, where he resided until his death, December 11, 1876. The death of his wife occurred June 2, 1888, at the age of seventy-seven years. They had issue: John. In a brief reference to the life of Guyon Morrison, it may be stated that from his youth he was a diligent student of science, history and literature. In regard to public improvements and public issues, his views were liberal and progressive. In accord with the history and traditions of his kindred, he was a Whig, and, later, a Republican. In his religious belief, he was a strict constructionist. He had been reared under the ministry of Dr. John McMillan, who, during his long pastorate, had rigidly adhered to the use of the Scripture Psalms in the worship of the sanctuary. After his removal to Ohio, he became a member of the Associate Reformed Church, and retained his connection also with its successor the United Presbyterian Church, until his death. He was chosen a ruling elder in the Associate Reformed Church of Franklin, and served in that capacity until his removal from that region. He was tolerant of the opinions and prejudices of his fellow-men. He died as he had lived, a consistent Christian.
   1. John, son of Guyon, was born November 18, 1848. He completed a classical course at Monmouth College, at Monmouth, Ill., where he graduated in 1869. In January, 1879, he became associated with Rev. A. G. McCoy in the publication of the Christian Instructor, which they had purchased, and removed from Philadelphia to Chicago. He was engaged in this work for sixteen months, when he disposed of his interest in the publication and retired from the management. Afterward he was, for some time, engaged in mercantile business in Chicago. After disposing of this property, he entered upon the study of medicine. He completed the course at Rush Medical College, where, in 1887, he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Afterward he removed to Canonsburg, Penn., where he has since resided. He is a life member of the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society, Historical Society and University Extension Society. He is still in possession of the Morrison homestead in Chartiers township.
6. Mary Morrison (youngest of the family of James, Sr.) was born November 16, 1806. In 1829 she married Marshall McCall, and removed to Belmont county, Ohio. From there she removed to the adjoining county of Harrison, where she resided until her death, September 17, 1849. Her husband married a second time, and removed to Wenona, Marshall Co., Ill., where he resided until his death, September 29, 1873, at the age of sixty-eight years. They had issue: John A., James M., Mary Jane and Margaret.
   1. John A., eldest of the family of Mary, was born probably in 1830. He attended a course at Franklin College, New Athens, Ohio. He studied law at Cadiz, Ohio, where he was admitted to the bar. Soon afterward he married Margaret Henderson, and removed to Wenona, Ill., where he resided for a number of years. Afterward he removed to Kansas, where he has since resided. They have issue: Marshall, Elizabeth, Sarah, and perhaps others whose names are not known.
   2. James M., son of Mary, was born probably in 1832. He accompanied his brother John on the removal of the latter to Wenona, Ill. .where he has resided ever since. He is unmarried.
   3. Mary Jane, daughter of Mary, was born about 1835. About 1854 she married Leonard D. Rowley, and resided some years in Harrison county, Ohio. Afterward she removed to Mendota, Ill., where she resided until her death about 1876. Her husband, who survived her, removed to Akron, Ohio, where he has since resided. They had issue: Catherine (wife of Mr. McGalliard, of Akron, Ohio) and John (who resides at the same place).
   4. Margaret, daughter of Mary, was born about 1838. About 1858 she married Dr. After, of Carrollton, Ohio. After a residence of some years at that place, she removed to Canton, Ohio, where she has since resided. They have no issue.^[1]

James Morrison died on 14 November 1813, aged 57 or 58 years old, in Washington County, Pennsylvania; and is buried at Washington Cemetery in Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania.^[2]

Sources

Footnotes

1. ↑ Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, 665a-667a.
2. ↑ Find a Grave.

Bibliography

• Family Tree, James Morrison Sr (before 1760 - 1825), G6XT-M17.

• (Anonymous Authors), Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, and of Many of the Early Settled Families (Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co, 1893). Also accessible at: Chartiers.com.

• Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 05 August 2023), memorial page for James Morrison (1755–1813), Find a Grave Memorial ID 180907518, citing Washington Cemetery, Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Shane (contributor 48869130).

Acknowledgement

This profile was created by Terri (Wahlberg) Crowell 22 Sep 2010 through the import of Crowell1_2010-09-21_01.ged.