FRANKLIN CO., GA - BIOGRAPHIES - John Morris ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Jean W. Page JWATTSPACE@prodigy.net ==================================================================== Submitted by Jean W. Pace (JWATTSPACE@prodigy.net) Newspaper article written February 28, 1890 in The Weekly Tribune, Carnesville, Georgia. Was reprinted April 16, 1920 in The Lavonia Times (Franklin County Georgia). The author of the article was J. S. Dortch, Editor and Proprietor, T. H. Morris, Publisher, A.N. King, Local Editor Carnesville, Franklin County, Georgia February 28, 1890 HISTORIC FAMILIES Names Which Belong to Franklin County and Make Its History John Morris, the grandfather of Prof. A. J. Morris, was born in Rutherford Co., N.C., before the revolutionary war. He came to Franklin before the beginning of the present century. He was living on Tom's Creek and had a family in 1806, having married Sarah White of Elbert County. In 1806 he sold his farm to Lewis Dortch and settled on Eastanalee creek in what is now Wolfpit District, and above the Moseley mill place. He moved from Eastanalee to Rabun Co., and from there came again to this county and settled on Middle River 3 miles from Carnesville, on land now owned by T.C. Hayes, just above H.A. Couger's [Conger?] farm. He died there April 10th, 1880 [note by Jean Pace - actually it was 1830, according to Bible record and his will]. His widow lived on the same place until her death 1855 or 1856. Mr. Morris raised a large family of children, the oldest being James Morris, once a very prominent man in this county. He held the office of Clerk of the Superior Court from the year 1822 to 1839 inclusive. He was for a long time a leading merchant of Carnesville. He moved to Murray Co., Georgia, about the year 1840, where he engaged in farming, merchandising and banking, being President of Planters and Mechanics bank at Dalton up to the breaking out of the war. He was engaged in the Indian wars in the early part of the century (He is mentioned on a historic marker on the Courthouse grounds at Carnesville), in one of which he served as captain. There may be some members of his company still living in this county, but hardly probable, as all those we knew who served with him have long been dead. Major Martin White, who lived and died on Tom's creek 10 or 12 years ago, was one of his Leiutenants. We have often heard Major White speaking of the battle of Pea Ridge in which they were engaged, at which time Mr. Morris acquired the proprietorship of an Indian boy that he brought home with him and raised. The boy went by the name of Tobe, and after reaching manhood he went back to the tribe of his nativity. Mr. Morris married Harriet Bell, in the town of Carnesville, and in the house in which the writer of this article now lives. They had no children. He acquired a large fortune which in 1857, was worth $250,000. He died in 1864 (12 June 1865) and his large fortune, which consisted mainly in cash and realty, melted away -- no one outside of the melting knew hardly how, his wife not receiving a fortune and his brothers and sisters, to whom large legacies were left, got nothing. John, the second son of John Morris, Sr., married Mary Harrison, a sister of John B. Harrison. They had no children. Mr. Morris acquired a considerable fortune, lived for many years on Middle River and on the farm recently owned by J.C. McConell, now owned by Mr. Terrell, where he died in 1853. His widow afterwards married M. Shackelford, and died a few years later. The next two sons of John Morris were General Eppy W. and Colonel Thomas Morris, who were twins, born in Wolfpit district on the 13th day of April, 1810. These two men probably fill a larger space in the history of Franklin Co. than any two men that ever lived in it. Major-General Eppy W. married Eliza Turman, daughter of James Turman, in this county in the year 1834. He moved to Murray Co., and back, twice, in the early years of his married life. He held the office of County Surveyor, and for a number of years represented the county in the State Legislature. He also held the distinguished office of Major-General of the State Militia, which was quite an honorable position at that time. He died of paralysis on the 26th day of October, 1857, living less than 36 hours after he was stricken. General Morris was a man of very superior ;mental capacity -- noble, generous, and clever to a fault. No public man has ever lived in this county who had fewer enemies, more friends, or whose death was more universally regretted. His hold upon the affections of the people was very strong, his influence over them abounded. Some ten or twelve years after the death of Gen. Morris his widow married Daniel Moseley, and some years later she was again left a widow. She died in this county in March, 1888, in the same house in which F.O. Burruss now lives, the same house, and probably the same room, in which her husband died; more than thirty years before. She was one of the most excellent women that ever lived in this county, and was held in the highest esteem by all. During the lifetime of Gen. Morris, owing to the position he held in public life, and to his open handed hospitality in which he joined, she was probably the best known and most highly esteemed woman of the county. General and Mrs. Morris raised six children to manhood and womanhood. One son, John, died when eight years of age. Thomas, the eldest son, died about the time he reached manhood, and Robert, the youngest, died a few years ago. A.J. Morris, the eldest son, now the principal of the Carnesville High School, has been twice honored with the important and responsible office of Ordinary, and is widely and favorably known. The second son, Dozier, (This was a nickname - his name was James Franklin Morris-my great-grandfather) lives in Rusk Co., Texas. The eldest daughter, Fannie, married Mr. Shackelford, and lives in this county. The second daughter, Mary, Married W.A. Manley, and is now living in Carnesville. Both are most excellent women. Colonel Thomas Morris, the twin brother of General E.W. Morris, married Mary Turman, the sister of his brother's wife, on the 20th of December, 1835. He was admitted to the bar in early manhood, and practiced his profession with success and ability for many years, but never devoted his attention exclusively to the law. He was engaged in merchandising in connection with various firms most of his life. He was the political head of the Democratic party in Franklin from the earliest recollections of the writer, or at least one of the most trusted and influential men of the party. Colonel Morris frequently represented the county in the State Legislature, and was always fully trusted by his constituents. He was kind, generous and manly ---a warm friend and an untiring opponent. He harbored no revengeful feelings, was quick to forget and forgive injuries. Colonel and Mrs. Morris raised only two children, Mrs. Emma Burruss, wife of T.O. Burruss, living near Carnesville, and Mrs. Lucy Bruce, of Toccoa. They were pleasant, clever women, and inherited the gentleness and suavity of their father. Col. Morris was stricken with paralysis in the brick building north of the Court House in Carnesville, on the morning of Feb., 15, 1875 (?), became unconscious in a few seconds, was carried home and died in less than 24 hours. The twin brothers were born on Eastanalee, lived most of their lives at or near Carnesville, lived useful lives, died highly esteemed and rest side by side in the grave yard at Cross Roads Baptist Church one mile west of Carnesville. Mrs. Morris, widow of Col. Morris is still living, and is greatly respected. Of the other members of the family of John Morris, Sr., the people now living in this county know but little. Frank, the youngest son, married Clarissa Buchanan, of Murray Co., Georgia, and died several years ago. There were 5 girls, all of whom lived to womanhood and married. Lucy married William Jackson. Mary married Elisha Coffee, and was the mother of John Coffee, late of this county, whose family lives in the western part of the county. Patsy married James Stonecypher, and was the mother of Rev. T.J. Stonecypher of this county. Elizabeth married John G. Parks. Milly married Middleton (Littleton) Meeks, and Susan married Mason Meeks. As far as we know, none of the children of John and Sarah Morris are now living. It is presumable, however, that they have many grandchildren and great grandchildren scattered over the Southern States, west of Georgia. Now [None?] in this county, except the descendants of Gen. and Col. Morris, Mary Coffee, and Patsy Stonecypher. They were a sturdy couple above the average people of the county, and transmitted superior qualities to most of their descendants. J. S. D. [Note: This article was again reprinted, in part, in the Lavonia Times in 1937.]