Biography of Henry S. Morrison, 1902, Baker Co. Oregon: Surnames: Morrison, Summerland, Sharpe, Douglas.

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Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
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An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pub. 1902
by Western Historical Pub. Co. of Chicago. page 363

Henry S. Morrison

Our subject was born in Statesville, North Carolina, on August 21, 1859, the
son of James B. and Elizabeth A. (Summerland) Morrison, likewise natives of
North Carolina, but of Scotch-Irish descent. He grew to manhood in the state
of his nativity, receiving a common school education, then a course in
Taylorsville College, where he studied medicine for a year and a half. A
protracted fever and consequent impairment of his health necessitated his
giving up all thought of professional career, so he engaged in the merchandise
business in Taylorsville, following the same until 1886, when he came west.
Locating in Mitchell, Oregon, he accepted a position there as head clerk for
the firm of Sargent & Company. After serving in this capacity for a period of
two years he took a trip back to his home in the east, and upon his return to
the occident he started in business for himself in Spokane. Soon, however, he
went to Portland, where he served first as a clerk in the school clerk's
office, then in a large grocery establishment. In 1891 he became city salesman
and collector for the firm of Northup & Sturgis, the duties of which position
were discharged by him until May, 1900, when he went to Cape Nome, Alaska,
with intent to try the mercantile business thee. This he did and with very
fair success, but in January, 1901, he sold out, came to Bourne and embarked
in the grocery business in that town. He carries a full line of staple and
fancy groceries and enjoys a large and constantly extending trade. As a
business man he has, perhaps, no superior in the county. Possessed of a
liberal education, he has added to that and to his natural endowments a wide
and varied experience in the line in which he is now engaged, while his
foresight and caution have enabled him to avoid failure and bankruptcy, so
frequently the lot of business men, at every stage of his career.

As above stated, Mr. Morrison is characterized by a broad-minded interest in
public affairs. He is a leader in every project for the upbuilding of his
town, which was incorporated chiefly as a result of his endeavors, and of
whose first council he was a member. At present he is making strenuous efforts
to secure water works in the town.

In military affairs, also, our subject has ever taken an active part. He was
first sergeant of Company A, First Regiment, O.N. G., the members of which
were all six feet or over, and which was widely known as the six-foot company
of Oregon. Of this, also, he was twice elected captain, but both times
resigned on account of the pressure of other business. When the
Spanish-American war broke out he organized the first volunteer company of the
state, but the membership being all new recruits and there being too many
militiamen in the state already, their services were not accepted.

Fraternally our subject is affiliated with the W. of W. and the Pioneers of
the Pacific, being commander of the latter order, of which also he was an
organizer. His marriage was solemnized in North Carolina, in September, 1887,
when Miss Mamie I., daughter of Julius P. and Margaret (Sharpe) Douglas,
became his wife. They now have two children, Ada E. and Dwight D.

Like most of the other leading men of Baker county, Mr. Morrison is interested
in the mining development of the region, and is himself the owner of some
promising properties.