Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Morrison, Captain Robert J ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 5, 2008, 11:22 pm Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907 CAPTAIN ROBERT J. MORRISON. One by one the soldiers of the Civil war are responding to the last roll call and the ranks are fast becoming decimated. It behooves us, then, while they are yet among us, to pay our tribute of respect and honor to those who fought for the Union and maintained its integrity in the dark hours of the Civil war. More and more we realize our debt of gratitude to them and even at the time of the Civil war the country's obligation to her warriors found recognition in a banner which swung across Pennsylvania avenue at the time of the grand review and which bore the words, "The only debt which the nation can not pay is the debt which she owes to her soldiers." Captain Morrison, who enlisted when the smoke from Port Sumter's guns had scarcely cleared away, and who for four years served with the army, winning promotion from the ranks to the command of his company, is now a respected and valued resident of Joliet. He was born in Toronto, Canada, May 1, 1840, and is of Scotch descent, tracing his ancestry back to William Morrison, a Scotchman wrho removed to Manchester, England, and subsequently settled on a farm near Belfast, Ireland, where his last years were passed. His grandson, Robert Morrison, was born in Manchester, England, but was reared on the Emerald Isle, where he learned the painter's trade. In 1830 he wedded Elizabeth Bell, a native of Belfast, Ireland, whose father, David Bell, had removed from his native place near Glasgow, Scotland, to Belfast in order to establish a shoe factory there. In 1833, attracted by the broader business opportunities of the new world, Robert Morrison came with his bride to the United States and for some time followed the painter's trade in New York City. He was a resident of Toronto, Canada, between 1842 and 1845, after which he lived successively in Baltimore, Maryland; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and New York City. In 1847 he again went to Toronto and afterward to Baltimore. On the 26th of October, 1856, he removed with his family to Carter county, Tennessee, where he carried on farming and also engaged in business as a contracting painter. A man of strong Union sympathies, his home was a station on the famous underground railroad and one of his sons, William, was a conductor on that line, thus assisting many a negro refugee on his way to freedom in the north. Mr. Morrison was several times taken prisoner by the Confederates, but his fine business and personal qualifications, his genial manner, and his work as a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal church caused his life to be spared, but not so fortunate was his brother-in-law, James Bell, who, falling into the hands of the rebels, was shot twenty-six times and his brains beaten out. Two of his sons, William and David, slept outdoors every night during the four years of the war. When hositilities finally ceased the family removed to Carroll county, Missouri, where Robert Morrison passed away at the age of sixty-two years, his death being caused by an attack of pneumonia brought on by fording a stream in order that he might keep a preaching appointment. His widow afterward returned to Canada, where she died. They had four sons and four daughters, of whom the following are still living: John, who was a prisoner for eighteen months during the Civil war, while serving as orderly sergeant of Company B, Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, and who is now living in Joliet, Illinois; David, a resident of Wood River, Nebraska; Robert J., whose name introduces this sketch; and Mrs. Elizabeth Walker, of Kansas City, Missouri. The deceased are: William, a resident of Johnson City, Tennessee, who died in 1904; Mrs. Mary McDevitt, who died in Linton, Canada, April 25, 1898; Mrs. Anna Hill, who died in Missouri in June, 1905; and Mrs. Sarah McKey, who died at Pinkerton, Canada, in September, 1906. Robert J. Morrison of this review largely acquired his education in the schools of Canada. He learned the painter's trade under the direction of an older brother and afterward spent two years with an uncle, Dr. David Bell. He then returned to assist his brother and was thus engaged until after the inauguration of the Civil war. Several years had been spent with his fathers family in the midst of a slave-holding state and he had noted the disquiet of the south and its threatening attitude. Thoroughly loyal in every fibre of his being, he at once responded to his country's call when hostilities began, enlisting on the 10th of April, 1861, as a member of Company F, Second Tennessee Infantry. He was mustered in as a private at Camp Dick Robinson, Kentucky, and after the battles of Wild Cat, Mills Springs and Cumberland Gap he returned through the rebel lines to Tennessee in order of recruit for the Union army. Securing eighty-nine men, he started back to the Union army in the fall of 1861. During the following winter he camped in the mountains of Tennessee, hiding from the Confederates, who were in search of him and his recruits. Their food was brought to them by his sister, who would put a note in a biscuit telling where the next installment of provisions would be hid. Sometimes it would be impossible to get food to the men, who would then be reduced to the necessity of eating crow or such game as could be found. In 1862 they started to go through the rebel lines, traveling at night, wading rivers and enduring hardships of every kind. When within one mile of the Kentucky line they were attacked by Confederates and eleven escaped out of eighty-nine. Afterward these eleven were in hiding for four days and nights without anything to eat. Growing desperate with hunger, several of the men swam across Powell's river, then crossed the Cumberland mountains, where their hunger was partially appeased by some huckleberries they fortunately found. About six o'clock one evening they came within sight of a man chopping wood and drew lots as to which of the men should speak to him. The lot fell on our subject, who went forward, scarcely knowing what fate might befall him. However, the mountaineer was a Union man and called to him, "Come on." The meal they had of mush and milk and honey seemed to them the best they had ever eaten. They had been for four days and nights without food and water, and were almost starved. A little later they found five of their comrades, which made their company number eleven, and two others got through three weeks later, but the other seventy- six were killed or lost. Returning to his old regiment, our subject fought at Deep Creek Gap. From Kentucky he went to Ohio and took part in several battles against General John H. Morgan; later marched into West Virginia. After the battle of Murfreesboro he assisted in the taking of Rogersville, where afterward all of his regiment but seventy-five men were captured. He was one of the number that escaped. At the end of three years he was mustered out and came to Illinois, spending a short time at Canton, Fulton county, and then returning to Tennessee, where he helped to mount Gilliam's brigade of cavalry, the Eighth, Ninth and Thirteenth Tennessee. Next he went to Knoxville and organized Company C, Third North Carolina Mounted Infantry, of which he was commissioned first lieutenant in September, 1864, and which engaged in scouting. He led his men three hundred miles into North Carolina, where he captured three hundred and twenty-five prisoners. In February, 1865, he organized Company I of the same regiment, and was commissioned its captain, serving under General George Stoneman, being detached to command twenty-five scouts. He took part in many desperate cavalry dashes, where death seemed imminent at any moment, but he seemed to bear a charmed life; and in all his service was only wounded once, and that was a mere flesh wound. He was constantly on the move. At one time he was in the saddle for eighteen days and nights, never making a stop longer than three hours. More than once his friends were in doubt as to his fate, and once his family were told that he was dead. Nor did they know the report was false until he appeared before them in person, when a scene of rejoicing followed that could be imagined, but not described. During an engagement at Morristown, Tennessee, he was ordered with his company to take a piece of artillery on the rebel right. He had to cross a deep ravine through a thicket and come out into the open. The rebels fired upon him and his men with grape and canister and many saddles were emptied, but on they went. Captain Morrison was riding the horse that General Longstreet once owned. This horse ran away with the captain and made its way right into the rebel ranks. Captain Morrison and his company killed or captured all of the rebel company with their artillery. Among the prisoners was their commander, Captain Peeves, who had been an old schoolmate of Captain Morrison, and who threw his arms around Captain Morrison's neck and cried like a child. After the brigade made the charge on General Forest's command Captain Morrison took a piece of artillery to General Gilham and reported that his orders had been executed. The general complimented Captain Morrison on the gallant charge he had made and lamented the loss of so many of his brave boys, but the captain replied that he was complimenting the wrong party, saying: "This old horse that I am riding ran away with me and took me into the rebel ranks, whether I wanted to go or not." When the war had ended Captain Morrison was mustered out at Knoxville, Tennessee, August 6, 1865, and returned to his old home in that state, but a month later came to Illinois and has since been a resident of Will county. In the meantime he had been married in Elizabethtown, Carter county, Tennessee, on the 22d of January, 1862, to Miss Hester Snider, whose father, William Snider, a native of Sullivan county, that state, was a farmer and blacksmith and was several times taken prisoner during the war. In February, 1865, he removed to Troy township, Will county, Illinois, where he died at the age of seventy-eight years. His father, William Snider, Sr., was born near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, served in the war of 1812 and afterward became the owner of large tracts of land in Tennessee. The mother of Mrs. Morrison was Mary, daughter of William Jones, an early settler of Tennessee and a soldier in the war of 1812. She died in 1874. Of her eleven children eight attained mature years. A half-brother of Mrs. Morrison, Joseph Snider, was with our subject and made his way through the lines to Cumberland Gap; her own brother was taken a prisoner at one time during the war. Captain and Mrs. Morrison became the parents of five children, namely: Lizzie, who has charge of the millinery department of Calmar & Co.; Mary, who died in 1888; Minnie H., deceased; William R., a graduate of the University of Illinois and now superintendent at Wichita, Kansas, of the city street railroad; and John H., who graduated from the medical department of the Northwestern University in 1898 and is now engaged in practice at Plainfield, this county. He married Catherine E. Downey and they have four children: Martha Hester, Robert, William and Newton. When Captain Morrison removed from Tennessee to Illinois, in September, 1865, he brought with him a wagon and two horses that he had had in the army. He then engaged in the cultivation of a rented farm in Kendall county, but later purchased a tract of land in Plainfield township, Will county, and subsequently bought and sold other property. He continued his farming operations until 1880, when he removed to Joliet and engaged in the lumber business. He was also, from 1880 until 1883 call man in the fire department and from the latter year until 1888 was driver of steamer No. 1, being transferred in 1888 to East Side No. 3. In 1891 he resigned and concentrated his energies upon the development of a real estate business, having previously become interested in that line of trade. He continued as a real estate agent until 1895. In 1893 he was elected assistant supervisor, serving two years, and for ten consecutive years filled the office of assessor. In his political views Captain Morrison has been a stalwart republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he has filled a number of public offices with ability and fidelity. In 1894 he was appointed deputy city and township assessor and the following year was selected city and township assessor on the republican ticket by a flattering majority. In 1896, 1897, 1898 and 1899 he was again chosen for that position, the last time without opposition, and he retired from the office as he had entered it—with the confidence and good will of ail concerned. His fraternal relations are in Bartleson Post, No. 6, G. .A. R., the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 532, Mount Joliet Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has attained the thirty-second degree in Masonry and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. With his wife, he belongs to the Eastern Star, the Rathbone Sisters and the Ottawa Street Methodist Episcopal church. Those who know Captain Morrison—and his acquaintance is a wide one—esteem him for his kindly nature, his public-spirited citizenship and the many good qualities that he has manifested in his official, business and private life, and with pleasure we present to our readers the record of this honored veteran of the Civil war. Additional Comments: PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/morrison2485nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 14.3 Kb