Yolo County CA Archives Biographies.....Morris, Asa W. 1857 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 22, 2006, 10:38 pm

Author: Tom Gregory (1913)

ASA W. MORRIS

    It would be difficult to discover, in a careful enumeration of the
progressive and prosperous citizens of Yolo county, one whose success has been
due in greater degree to his own unaided and resolute exertions than is the case
with Asa W. Morris, the owner of large tracts of farm lands and widely known as
a dealer in pure-bred registered Holstein cattle. Out of hardships and
discouragements, through obstacles disheartening to a man of less inflexible
determination, he has risen to a degree of success gratifying to himself and
indicative also of the opportunities offered by this county to men of his type.
When he came here he was without means and forced to work out by the day. Nor
had he received any of the higher educational advantages, as regular attendance
at academies had been precluded by reason of the necessity of self-support. In
spite of these and other handicaps he has achieved recognition as a farmer of
decided capabilities and a citizen of recognized worth.

   While having made Yolo county his home since 1879, Mr. Morris claims
Pennsylvania as his native commonwealth and was born near Waynesburg, Greene
county, May 8, 1857. From his early recollections he has been accustomed to
labor and thus he gained habits of self-reliance and industry valuable in his
later activities. His first marriage took place at Waynesburg, Pa., in September
of 1879 and united him with Miss Mary E. Call, who was born and reared in that
place. The young couple at once came to California and settled in Yolo county,
where he secured work as a farm hand. Significant of his persevering industry is
the fact that he worked on a farm for five years without missing a day. With the
savings of that period he was enabled to buy the equipment necessary for the
cultivation of land, and he then began as a renter. Later he bought three
hundred and twenty acres of land at a low price, and since then he has added to
the tract until he now has eight hundred and eighty acres in the home place.
Shade trees were planted, a neat residence erected and outbuildings put up, so
that the farm bore evidence of the prosperity of the owner and the thrift of its
occupants.

    An important addition was made to the previous holdings of Mr. Morris when
he bought ten hundred and twenty-one acres four miles northeast of Woodland,
where he built such houses as were necessary and made other desired improvements
for a modern dairy. On that place he keeps a herd of over two hundred and fifty
head of pure-bred Holsteins. He owns the celebrated Eiverside Sadie De Kol
Burke, which holds the world's record from seven days to six months for milk,
also owns Aralia De Kol, holding the world's milk record for one year. Think of
28,065 9-10ths pounds of milk in a year—over fourteen tons of milk! Competent
judges assert that Mr. Morris has one of the best herds of Holsteins in the
United States, the animals being uniform as to refinement of type and standard
of excellence. Utility has been made the chief desideratum of the herd, but
quality and size have not been sacrificed in the attempt to secure dairy
excellencies, and the drove therefore has a high standing among all admirers of
Holsteins. Mr. Morris is a member of the Holstein-Freisian Association of
America. In 1912 he completed his fine new residence on First street, Woodland,
built in mission style, and from here he continues the management of his ranches.

    The first wife of Mr. Morris passed away in 1905, and in March of 1911, at
Washington, D. C., he married Mrs. Cassia (Keller) Black, a native of
Waynesburg, Pa., and the widow of A. H. Black. They are prominent members of the
Woodland Christian Church and have a host of friends in this city. Politically
Mr. Morris has adhered to Eepublican principles ever since he attained his
majority, but he is not active in local affairs and takes little part in
campaign activities. His only daughter, Miss Zella, resides at home and is
popular in social circles. The four sons, Frank L., Charles C., Harry V. and Asa
J., are partners with him and aid him in the management of the business,
conducted under the firm name of A. W. Morris & Sons, which was incorporated in
1910. The two eldest sons are married and all are well educated, having had the
best opportunities offered by the Woodland schools, as well as the benefit of
study in business colleges.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA
WITH
Biographical Sketches
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth
and Development From the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
TOM GREGORY
AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913]


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