Morrow-Union-Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Morrow, J. W. May 5, 1859 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 1, 2009, 12:17 am Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company J. W. MORROW. A well known business man of the Rose city was chosen by Fred Lockley as the subject of the following sketch, which appeared in the Oregon Daily Journal under date of February 27, 1926: "J. W. Morrow, of the Union Pacific Company, is one of Portland's pioneer railroad officials. When I interviewed him recently he said, in answer to my question, 'Yes, Morrow county is named for my father, whose name was Jackson Lee Morrow. He was born in Kentucky. My mother, whose maiden name was Nancy McEwen, was born in Indiana. My father went with his parents to Iowa, where he met and married my mother. They crossed the plains to Oregon in 1853. Late that fall they went to Steilacoom, where father started a store. He served as a lieutenant in the Indian war of 1855-56. He had to take some horses to the troops and was told to select a squad of men to go with him. The first one he chose was Harvey Scott, whom he selected because of his skill as an ax-man and his knowledge of the country. "'Later father was detailed for duty on an island with what were supposed to be friendly Indians. One other soldier was with him. His companion went to Olympia one afternoon, saying he would return the next day. About ten o'clock that night an Indian knocked on the door, saying he was sick and wanted some medicine. The moment the door was opened a lot of Indians crowded in. Father grabbed the first thing handy, which proved to be a heavy iron poker, and struck the leader of Indians over the head, laying him out. The other Indians ran out of the cabin. Father dragged the knocked-out Indian out of the house and locked the door. The Indians kept up an excitement all night long. During the night one of them got up on the roof. The next morning a steamboat with some troops came to the island and the Indians beat it. "'I was born at Steilacoom, May 5, 1859. In 1863 we moved to what is now called Oldtown, at La Grande, Oregon, where my father ran a store. Before long he elected treasurer of Union county. "'Father opened a store in what is now Morrow county in 1872. I went to work there when I was sixteen. In 1878 they had quite a scare in Heppner on account of the Indian war. They built a fort on a lot belonging to A. S. Wells, back of the Palace Hotel. It was really a cellar roofed over with poles, with straw and dirt on top. Frank Maddock was captain of the volunteer company and my father was first lieutenant, while A. S. Wells was second lieutenant. "‘Father's store was located on what was known as Stansbury's flat. George W. Stansbury bought the land on which Heppner is located in 1869 from a man named Estes. Among the earliest settlers around there were Mike Quaid and his brother Tom. Mike was the salt of the earth. Tom came with my father to look the country over to see where would be the best point for a store. They decided that Stansbury's flat was a central location, so my father began building a store, while his partner Henry Heppner, bought the stock of goods. "'Among the old-timers that I think of with a great deal of pleasure are Nels and Jim Jones, Lum and Tom Rhea, who organized the First National Bank, Ed and Tom Matlock and Jerry Brosman. I lived at Heppner from the time I was thirteen until I was forty-two. When we moved there what is now Morrow county was a part of Umatilla county. My father was a member of the state legislature in 1885. He was instrumental in having Morrow county cut off from Umatilla county and Heppner chosen as the county seat. By act of the legislature Heppner was made the temporary seat on February 16, 1885. Fearing that Lexington might get the county seat away from them, the citizens of Heppner took up a subscription and built the court house at Heppner. It was dedicated July 4, 1885. My father gave me a half interest in his store. The firm was known as J. L. Morrow & Son. In the spring of 1885 J. M. Hager bought the store. “‘Heppner became an incorporated town in the spring of 1887. Henry Blackman was the first mayor. In 1889 the citizens secured the right of way, donated a site for a depot, and a branch line was built by the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company from Willows to Heppner. In the fall of 1889 Tom Quaid, Lum Rhea, Henry Blackman, J. B. Natter and my father organized a company and built the Palace Hotel. For eight years I was county clerk of Morrow county and also served as joint senator from Morrow, Grant and Harney counties. One of the things I take pride in having done was the starting of the first newspaper in Heppner. About forty-five years ago, when in San Francisco, I met John W. Redington, a newspaper man, who served as scout with O. O. Howard during the Nez Perce war. I bought a press, type, paper, etc., and shipped them to Heppner, installing Redington as editor. For some time I was proprietor of the Palace Hotel. Phil Meacham, owner of the Imperial Hotel here in Portland, ran the Palace Hotel in Heppner before coming to the Rose city. About twenty-three years ago I went to work for the railroad and have been with it ever since.'" Mr. Morrow is now general tax agent for the Oregon- Washington Railroad & Navigation Company, a part of the Union Pacific system, and discharges his duties with fidelity and efficiency, giving to the corporation the services of an expert. In 1885 Mr. Morrow was married in Heppner to Miss Katherine Rea, whose death occurred in 1916. They had four children, two of whom, Alice and Elizabeth, are deceased. The son, Jackson L., responded to the call to the colors in 1917 and remained in the service of his country until the close of the war. He is financially interested in the McKinzie-Goff Aviation Company and resides in Portland, where he married Miss Irene Johnson, and they have become the parents of two sons, James William and Jackson L. The daughter, Hazel, is the wife of M. V. Sutherland and the mother of two children, Donald and Billy. Mr. Sutherland is well known as a steel construction engineer and also owns a restaurant in Portland. His father, John D. Sutherland, was long in public life in Oregon, acting as assistant to various secretaries of state. Mr. Morrow is an adherent of the democratic party and served as state land agent, receiving his appointment from Governor Chamberlain. In Masonry he holds the thirty-second degree and is also connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Throughout his career Mr. Morrow has been a tireless worker and his progress has been commensurate with his industry and ability. He has experienced many phases of pioneer life in Oregon and is well informed on matters pertaining to the history of the state, to which he is deeply attached. Nature has endowed him with a pleasing personality and his genuine worth is attested by a wide circle of steadfast friends. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Pages 604-605 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/morrow/bios/morrow570gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 7.6 Kb