From "Genealogical History of the Families of McConnells, Martins, Barbers, Wilsons, Bairds, McCalls and Morris", by Newton W. McConnell, 1913

Pages 171 to 187:

The Morris Family.

This family was founded in America by David Morris, born in Pembrookshire, South Wales, August 1, 1774, and, Phoebe Lewis Morris, born in the same place. June 29, 1776. They were married in Wales, and their two oldest children, John L. and Levi Lewis, Morris, were also born there. The family emigrated from Wales and settled in. Utica, New York, shortly after the birth of Levi Lewis Morris.

There were born of this union, John L., March 12, 1797, and died March 5, 1857; Levi Lewis, March 9, 18oo, who died June 17, i84o; Mary, April 3, 18o2, died July 19, 1883; Martha, July 12, 1804, died October 29, 1891; Richard Francis, Feb. 3, 1807, died Aug. 13, 1893; Eleanor, April 5, 18o9, died April 8, 1897; Elizabeth, July 13, 1811, died September 9, 1873; Ann, January 27, 1814, died March 5, 1887; David, December 12, 1816, died May 18, 1897, and Jane, Morris, April 17, 1819, died April 30, 1891.

David Morris, the founder of the family, died February 29, 1856, and his wife, Phoebe Lewis Morris, died August 9, 1869.

DESCENDANTS OT LEVI LEWIS MORRIS AND NANCY McKNIGHT

There were born of the union between Levi Lewis Morris and Nancy McKnight, five children; David Sterrett; Mary Jane; Phoebe Elizabeth, James Lewis, and John Francis, Morris.

David Sterrett Morriss married Lydia Loy of Newcastle, Pennsylvania. They have one daughter, Annie Morris, (Butts). David Sterrett was born January 3, 1824. He is still living at the advanced age of 88 years but is almost blind. I knew him when I was living at Meadville. He was a lawyer of considerable distinction. As a man and a citizen he ranked among the best.

Mary Jane Morris married Almon Benson Richmond, September 7, 1848. She was born Jan. 27, 1828, and died February 5, 1894. Of this union there were born three sons, Lewis Lawton, Hiram Morris and Charles Eyre, Richmond.

Lewis Lawton Richmond married Winifred Day of Revanna, Ohio. They had three children, Mary Richmond (McFarland), George Day Richmond and Henry Richmond. Both sons are dead. There are no grandchildren now living to perpetuate the name of Richmond.

Since the above was written Lewis Lawton Richmond has died. The local paper at Meadville, his home, in noticing his death, says this of him:

"L. L. Richmond was one of the best known men in Meadville, and the last member of the family of Hon A. B. Richmond. * * * He was born in Meadville, and, with the exception of a few years spent in Pittsburg, passed his entire lifetime here. He was a genial man, generous and kind hearted to a fault, and a reveler in the memories of the old days, of which he always loved to talk.

Mr. Richmond was sixty-four years old and is survived by his wife and one daughter, Mrs. Harry McFarland."

Hiram Morris Richmond married Margaret Fowler of Meadville.

Of this union there was born one daughter, Marguerite Richmond. Hiram Morris died March 17, 1884. The daughter, Marguerite, married Charles Cowswell McCord. They reside in Rochester, New York.

Of this union there were born two children, Margaret Richmond McCord, and Samuel McCord H. Margaret Fowler Richmond received her primary education in the schools in Meadville. Afterwards she was sent to boarding school for four years, two years at St. Mary's Hall, New Jersey, and two more years at the Pennsylvania College in Pittsburg, of which institution she is a graduate.

Charles Eyre Richmond married Leona Magaw of Meadville.

Of this union there was born one daughter, Pauline Richmond, who is now about eighteen years old. Hiram Morris Richmond and Charles Eyre were both lawyers; the latter was very much like his father in this respect. His death, January 5, 1901, cut short a brilliant career.

Phoebe Elizabeth Morris was born March 21, 1830, and died January 30, 1912. She never married. She was the brides-maid at the marriage of Nancy Elizabeth McCall and the writer on the 25th of February, 1856. James Lewis Morris was born November. 23, 1832, and died January 7, 1904. He married Anna Torbett of Meadville, Pennsylvania. They have two daughters, Maude Torbett Morris, and Katharine Ewing Morns. The widow and her two children are now living in Meadville.

John Francis Morris married Elizabeth Otterstotter. Of this union there were born five children: Harry Cullun, Marie, Blanche, Ruth, and John Donald Cameron, Morris. Harry Cullun Morris is now living in New York City; Marie Morris is also living in New York City; Blanche Morris (Taylor) is living at DeLand, Florida; Ruth Morris (Burrows) is now living at East Orange, and John Donald Cameron Morris is living at Datona, Florida.

The following is the notice of the life and death of Almon Benson Richmond, the husband of Mary Jane Morris, published at the time of his death and incorporated in substance- in a series of resolutions adopted by the Bar of Crawford County, Pa.

I knew Mr. Richmond personally, while I was at College at Meadville, Pa., and the account of him given below is not too strongly drawn. He was quite a wonderful man.

The Hon. A. B. Richmond died at the home of his son, L. L. Richmond, Park Avenue and Randolph St., about 6:30 Wednesday evening, at the age of 81 years.

Mr. Richmond, for many years, one of the most conspicuous men in Meadville, and for nearly half a century one of the foremost lawyers of this section of the state. was born in Switzerland County, Indiana, April 26, 1425, a direct descendant of John Richmond, the Puritan, who came over in the Mayflower. His grandfather, William Richmond, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and his father Lawton Richmond, was physician and surgeon in the war of 1812. The family later located in Chautauqua, N. Y., and A. B. Richmond attended Allegheny College, later taking a medical course and practicing three years in Meadville, during which time lie studied law. He was admitted to practice in 1851, and in all his long and successful experience as a lawyer he found his medical education of great value.

He attained marked distinction in the law, and for a quarter of a century of his active practice he was recognized as one of the leading and most successful criminal lawyers in the country. He was seldom found an the side of the prosecution, but most always on the defense, and his ability and success in defending criminal cases gave him a practice which extended over several States. The History of Crawford County, published in 1885, credits Mr. Richmond with having been engaged in over 4,000 criminal cases up to that year, of which 65 were homicides. Before he retired in 1903, he had been engaged in the trial of over l00 homicide cases, hence it is safe to say that his list of criminal cases alone was more than 5,000.

He was endowed with a fine mind, and being a close student, he acquired a superior education. He was well versed in mechanics, and in 1853 he was appointed assistant director of machinery of the Crystal Palace. He was also a student of science, and delivered many lectures on philosophy, physiology, and chemistry, making his own apparatus.

Mr. Richmond was all his life a strong advocate of temperance. He delivered many lectures on the subject, and through nearly all his literary works there was strong and eloquent argument, and always practical, against the evil of intemperance. This is especially observable in his "Leaves From the Diary of an Old Lawyer," "Intemperance and Crime," "Court and Prisoner" and "A Hawk in an, Eagle's Nest," books that have been widely read. He was also the author of numerous other works, and in all he displayed a fine literary taste and easy flow of language.

He was a gifted speaker as well as fine scholar, and was noted as one of the most effective pleaders before a jury of his day. His close study of human nature, his superior command of the English language, his easy eloquence and skillful weaving of an argument, arid the` manner of its delivery made him a power for defense before a jury. His tastes were refined, and as a beautiful seasoning for his store of literature, his memory was rich in choice poems and verses, with apt quotations always ready.

Politically Mr. Richmond was a Republican, but he had little to do with politics, living in his busier years the life of a lawyer, lecturer, author and student, and in his later life enjoying to the full the broad Knowledge with which his mind was stored. He was a genial, wholesome, companion and kind friend, a polished gentleman and an honored citizen."

In the spring of 1861, John F. Morris enlisted a. company of volunteers for the Civil War and was elected Captain and was attached to the 23rd Pennsylvania volunteers as Company "B." He was mustered into service August 15, 1861. He served until after the battle of Gaine's Mill. He was wounded in this battle three times and captured. He was kept at Gaine's Mill a short period and then taken to Savage Station and from thence to Richmond, Virginia. He was exchanged in August, 1862, and discharged from the service by reason of incapacity from his wounds. He was taken to the Episcopalian Hospital at Philadelphia. He held the following official positions: Register and Recorder of Crawford County, for three years; Prothonatary a number of years. In February, 1878, he was appointed Postmaster at Meadville by President Hayes. He was, :for several years, an aid of Major General Huidekoper with rank of Major, and as such, was in active service at Scranton, Pa., in 1878. He was badly wounded in the spine by a spent cannon ball 'and was never well again. He was lame and always suffered great pain.

Mary Morris, married Roderick Frazier, May 4; 1826. To them were born the following children: Nancy Ann, March 30, 1827, Joseph Dickson, October 30, 1828; David Morris, January 30, 1831; William, August 1, 1833, and died September 9, 1833; Mary Ellen, September 22, 1834; Elizabeth A., December 4, 1836; Jane Osborne, July 8, 1839; James Francis, May 16, 1841, and Levi Morris, Frazier, December 28, 1847.

Nancy Anne Frazier, married Elbridge Garry Taylor, August, 13, 1868, who died October, 1905. They had no children.

Mary Ellen Frazier married Dr. George Elliott, June 13, 1867. They had no children.

Jane Osborne Frazier married Dr. Charles Dean Elliott, a brother of Dr. George Elliott, of Franklin, Pa., September 15, 1869.

Of this union there were born three children, to wit: Morris Frazier, May 17, 1871, died August 31, 1912; Mary Alice, August 19, 1873, died February 18, 1875; Dorothea, Elliott, May Io, 1881.

Morris Frazier Elliott, married May Belle Harrall of Lancaster, Pa., October, 15, 1902. They had no children.

Nancy Ann Taylor, died December 30, 1911; Joseph Dickson Frazier died March 9, 1863; David Morris Frazier died May 16, 1835; Mary Ellen Elliott died November 19, 1909; Elizabeth A. Frazier died November 30, 1911; James Francis Frazier died November, 1892. This family are all dead except Jane Osborne Elliott, and her daughter Dorothea.

Eleanor Morris married Eseck Jones.

Of this union there were born Phoebe, who married. John Osborn, Margaret, who married Elijah Potter; Martha, who married Totham Adams; David, who married Mary Meyers; Warren, who married Annie Hazen, and Alice, who married Aaron Leary. These children are all living except Phoebe and Margaret.

I regret not being able to give the descendants of these people.

Some time in the winter of 1886, I visited the home; of David Jones, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was married and had a family of some two or three children. He was traveling out of Cincinnati for a large silk house.

Elizabeth Morris married Carpenter Osborn, no relation of John Moreland Osburn, in the city of Meadville.

Of this union there were born three children, Edward, Thomas Andrew, and Sarah, Osborn. Sarah died young. Edward Osborn never married. Thomas Andrew Osborn rose to distinction. He was educated in the public schools in Meadville, Pa. He was a printer by trade when a youth. He went west with his cousin, Morris Osburn, in January, 1856, and studied law at Michael Crowfoot's in Pontiac, Mich. His mother was living at the time at Orchard Lake with George Howard's family. She lived with her sister, Jane Morris Osburn, at Owosso, for a number of years. She became a widow, and subsequently married Hezekiah Reeder. They went to Tennessee and Reeder taught school at the male academy in Hartsville, Trousdale County.

Thomas Andrew Osborn was born in Meadville, Pa., October 26, 1836, and died in the same city February 4, 1898, after about five hours sickness of hemorrhage of the stomach.

After getting his license he went at once to Lawrence, Kansas, in November, 1857. When he arrived, two dollars was all the money he had. The next morning after the night of his arrival he went to the Herald of Freedom and got a position as compositor, and within a week he was installed as temporary editor during the absence of the regular editor.

In the spring of 1858, young Osborn went to Doniphan County. In December of the same year he was elected state senator from that county.

In 1862 he was elected President pro tern of the Senate over John J. Ingalls. In the same year he was nominated and elected Lieutenant Governor over Mr. Ingalls and others.

In April, 1864, he was appointed by the President, United States Marshal for the District of Kansas. In the fall of 1872, he was nominated and elected Governor of the State.

In 1874 he was a candidate for United States Senator and received a large vote but was defeated by Ex-Governor Harvey. In the same year he was re-nominated, and elected Governor for a second term. In 1877, Governor Osborn was again supported by a strong faction for United States Senate, but Plumb was elected. In the same year, he was appointed Minister to Chile, and left for his post of duty on June 21, of that year. In 1880, he presided over the peace conference on board the United States steamship, Lackawanna, to secure peace between the governments of Chile on the one side and Peru and Bolvia on the other. Later, he was promoted to the position of Minister to Brazil.

In 1881 he received the public thanks of Chile for having settled the difficult question of the boundary between that country and the Argentine Republic. This work brought him much praise at home and among those interested in South America, and stamped him as a diplomat of a high order of ability. Upon the coming in of the Democratic Administration of President Cleveland he returned home and devoted himself to a quiet business life. He was a director in the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company, and continued this position until his death. He married the daughter of judge M. W. Delahay.

Of this union one son, Edward D. Osborn was born, who survives both his parents, and now resides at Topeka.

Governor Osborn was a man of pleasing personality. I became acquainted with him shortly after I went to Meadville to Allegheny College. I was four years his senior. In 1873, while he was Governor, he made a trip to Hartsville, Tennessee, to see his mother. She was in her last sickness and died a few days after his arrival. She was a woman of high class, quiet, pleasing in her manners, intelligent, with the same general characteristics that her son inherited, and which served him so well during his lifetime. She died a triumphant death. The Governor and I stood side by side by her bedside and witnessed her departure. I remarked to the Governor, after it was all over, that he had had his triumphs of life, but that he never had had one equal to the triumph his mother just passed through. He replied, "that is true."

The body of Mrs. Elizabeth Osborn Reeder reposes in the cemetery at Hartsville.

David Morris married Catherine Dunham, who died February, 1878. David died in May, 1897.

Of their family, five are living, to-wit: Cynthia, Emma, Charles, Maria, and Pearl, Morris. Louise died in January, 1887, and Arthur in the same month in 1903, Cynthia married Chauncey B. Caldwell, and of this union. there are two children. This family reside in Los. Angeles, California.

Richard Morris died August 13, 1893, at the age of eighty-four years.

Jane Morris, the youngest child of David and Phoebe Lewis Morris, was born January 17, 1819, married John Morland Osburn, who was born January 23, 1812.

Of this union there were born seven children, Morris, James, Charles G., Emma, Arianna, Arthur, and. Fred, Osburn.

Morris Osburn, born January 31, 1838, married May 2, 1862, Mary Gould.

Of this union there were born Harry Gould Osburn, July 4, 1864, who lives at Seewickly, Pa. and who married Matilda Laubengoye, of Owosso, and of this union there were born two children, Marie, and Charles G., Osburn, Jr. Marie Osburn married Frederick Adelbert Smart, October 19, 1912.

Roy Osburn, the second child of Morris and Mary Gould, Osburn, married Marian Davidson, of Bay City, Michigan, and have two children, one daughter, Elain, and one son, Davidson. Roy Osburn lives at Janesville, Wisconsin.

Joe Corliss Osburn the third child of Morris and Mary Gould, Osburn, married Grace Woodard, July 9, igoo, and have one daughter, Jane Osburn, born July 9, 1904. They reside at Owosso, Mich.

Stafford Osburn, the fourth child 'of Morris and Mary Gould, was born August 18, 1867, and died March 31 1869.

James Osburn, the second child of John Morland and Jane Morris, Osburn, was born May 21, 1840, and married first Jennie Hendrick, and second Ella Lazlier; who was born January 4, 1888, and have one son, James Osburn, Jr. There were no children by the first marriage.

Charles G. Osburn, the third child of John Morland, and. Jane Morris, Osburn, was born August 26, 1842, died February 5, 1892, married Lena Gould, a sister of Mary Gould. There were no children of this marriage. The wife died May 5, 1888.

Charles G. Osburn entered the army, during the Civil War, August 30, 1862, as sergeant major, Fifth Michigan Cavalry; was promoted Second Lieutenant, August 18, 1863, and first lieutenant, November 2, 1863, was severely wounded at Haw's Shop, Virginia, May 28, 1864. He was again promoted to captain, August 9, 1864; was breveted colonel for gallant conduct in action and honorably discharged for disabilities, September 28, 1864.

The Fifth Michigan Cavalry, was commanded at the time these services were rendered by Colonel R. A. Alger, Secretary of War, under President McKinley, and afterwards United States Senator from Michigan. This regiment was in General Custer's Brigade. In the report of General Custer, July 4, 1864, as it appears in the Rebellion Records, Series 1, Vol. 36, page 821, of the Battle of the Wilderness this language is used:

"Our loss in this battle was greater than in any other engagement of the campaign, * * * Osburn, and Mothersill, of the Fifth were seriously wounded."

Again, R. A. Alger, Colonel of the Fifth, in his report of the engagement, at Haw's Shop, says:

"Lieutenant C. G. Osburn, acting adjutant, was severely wounded." Same Volume, page 830.

Young Mr. Osburn had the warm personal friendship of both his Colonel and General.

After the war was over, the late Senator Alger, frequently told the brothers and friends of Charles G. Osburn, "That he had no fear, and was almost reckless: when sent out on raids, and was always on the front when on duty."

I knew him well, when I was at college in Meadville, Pa. He was a handsome youth, of pleasing personality, and had a beautiful tenor voice.

He was appointed to the office of Revenue Collector at Marquette, Michigan, and both he and his wife died there.

Emma F. Osburn, the fourth child of John Morland and Jane Morris Osburn, born March 19, 1845, and died September 19, 1869.

Arianna Osburn, the fifth child of John M. and Jane Morris, Osburn, was born January 2o, 1848, and died August 5, 1877.

Arthur Osburn, the sixth child, was born in June, 1852, and died December 5, of the same year.

Fred Osburn, the seventh child, of John M. and Jane Morris, Osburn, was born May 11, 1850, and died June 27, 1912. He married Carrie Hathaway, in 1875. Of this union there was born one daughter, Arianna, in 1878, who married Robert Baxter, of Chicago, and of this last union there was born one daughter, Carlyle, June 8, 1909.

Fred, at the time of his death was a member of the firm of Osburn & Sons, in Owosso, Michigan, who were dry goods merchants.

Emma Osburn, married Rodley Mann. There were .no children of this union. The husband is still living in the city of Boston.

Arianna Osburn married Guerdon Dimmack. There were no children of this union. He has married again and lives in Owosso.

John L. Morris married Hope Still Jones, who was born in 1802, and died in 1887.

Of this union there were born Eliza S., who married John Latimer; Thomas F., who married Barbary Sweet; Phoebe Lewis, who married Henry Hartman; William, who married Rose Stroud; Richard, who married Elizabeth Frazer; Levi, who never married; Margaret, who married William C. Hay; Mary, who married William Johnstone; Jane, who married Calvin Cole, Nancy, who married James Johnson; Sarah Ann, who married James Jones.

Margaret Hay and William Morris are the only children living.

Richard Francis Morris was twice married. His first wife was Catherine Shumaker.

Of this union there were born, Elizabeth, who married Isaac Mason, Susan, who married Calvin Kingsley, and Catherine, Morris, who married Thomas Clark. These are all living.

Richard Francis Morris' second wife was Catherine: Barrett. Married November 12, 1848.

Of this union there were born the following children:

Levi Lewis Morris, born Sept. 15, 1849. Married Gertrude Barber Sept. 27th, 1882. Levi Morris died May 21, 1890. Gertrude Morris died Sept. 13, 1903. No children.

David Francis Morris, born January 23rd, 1851. Married Jane Parker. No children.

John Charles Morris, born February 25th, 1853. Married Minnie Esther Mead, October 6, 1882. Minnie Morris born April 26, 1862. One child. Juvia Gertrude. Morris, born July 6th, 1884.

Jane Morris, born February 13th, 1855. Married John Kendall. Three children Monte, Harry and Blanche Kendall.

Emma Morris, born June, 1857, married Cornelius. J. Lane in 1892. No children.

Phoebe Morris, born February, 1859. Married Clark Perkins in 1886. Two children-George and Bertha Perkins.

Jessie Morris born October 21, 1861, married Josephus Fields. Four children-James, Mina, Carl and Lyle.

Maggie Morris, born February 22nd, 1863, married George F. Wood in 1886. Three children-Lloyd, Kathleen and Wales.

George Andrew Morris, born June 29th, 1867. Died October 19th, 1884.

Maude Morris, born August 28th, 1872. Married Bert A. Rice June 3, I901. No children.

My wife was Scotch Irish and Welch; in about equal proportions. Her father, Samuel McCall, was Scotch-Irish. Her mother, Martha Morris McCall, was of pure Welsh descent. Her father and mother were born, reared and married and had two children born to them in South Wales. Both these families were well-to-do, intelligent upright people. On both sides of the house we belong to that great body of plain substantial people, whom Lincoln said were God's people, otherwise He would not have made so many of them.

The McCall house was my second home while I was at college.

Father McCall was a member of the Methodist Church. He was of Presbyterian ancestry, but he could not subscribe to certain doctrines of that church. The Morris family were all Presbyterians as far as I am informed.

I knew Grandfather David Morris personally. I was a number of times at his home. He had a good farm about five miles from Meadville. He was a very intelligent, strong, dignified man. Grandmother Morris was low in stature, small in size; but in will power and spirit, she had the strength of an oak. She lived to be ninety-three years, one month and ten days old. Mrs. McCall made her home at my house for the last thirteen years of her life. When she first came to live with me I was residing in Tennessee. I incidentally learned that she had a fear lest if she died so far away from her home she would not be buried at Greendale Cemetery beside her husband and near her children, a number of whom had gone before her. I assured her that I would see personally that this was done if I survived her. When she died at Helena, Montana, in October, 18gi, I placed her remains in a casket and went with them personally to Meadville and saw that she was buried as she desired to be.

When I brought my family from Tennessee to Helena, Montana, in 1888, I had on the train representatives of four generations. Mother McCall, who passed her eighty-fourth birthday on the train, my wife, my slaughter, and my oldest son's wife and her child, about a year old, who is the author of "The Tale of an Aztec Temple," published in this book.

My mother-in-law, though old and somewhat feeble, when she resided with me was a source of the greatest pleasure to every member of my family. She died at the age of eighty-eight 'in the full possession of all her mental powers. As she grew older she grew wiser. The serious side of my wife's character has been made prominent in this book. She was decidedly mirthful and had a vein of humor ever and anon coming to the front, which made her at all times one of the happiest of companions.

Transcribed by Ernest E. Hunt IV

November 17, 2002