Walter D. Morris Biography


	This biography appears on pages 914-915 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	WALTER D. MORRIS, president of the Citizens' National Bank of 
Watertown, is a native of the old Empire state, having been born in 
Fredonia, Chautauqua county, New York, on the 12th of April, 1856, and 
being a son of  Lorenzo and Fannie (Strong) Morris, who were likewise 
born and reared in New York. Lorenzo Morris died October 2, 1903, his 
wife in 1872, both honored and revered by all who knew them. The father 
of the subject was long one of the influential members of the bar of 
Chautanqua county, was a member of the state senate for several terms, 
and was a member of the state constitutional convention which framed 
the present constitution of that great commonwealth. He is a son of 
David Morris, who was one of the pioneer farmers of Chautauqua county, 
whither he came with an ox-team at a time when that beautiful section 
was still an untrammeled wild. The family is of Scotch-Irish descent 
and was founded in America in the early colonial epoch, while 
representatives of the name were found enrolled as valiant soldiers in 
the continental cause during the war of the Revolution.  

	The subject of this review attended the common schools of 
Fredonia, New York, in his boyhood and there prepared himself for 
entrance to the State Normal School in Fredonia, where he continued his 
studies for four years. In 1880, at the age of twenty-four years, he 
came to Minnesota, locating in Rochester, where he was made assistant 
cashier of the Union National Bank, retaining this incumbency five 
years and showing ability in the handling of the executive details of 
the banking business. In 1885 he came to Watertown, where he became one 
of the organizers and incorporators of the Citizens' National Bank, 
which institution opened its doors for the transaction of business on 
the 15th of June of that year, and with Mr. Morris in charge of its 
affairs in the capacity of cashier. This office he held until January, 
1898, when he was elected to the presidency of the bank, which had 
prospered under his direction, and of which he has since continued at 
the head. The bank is capitalized for $50,000 and is known as one of 
the solid, popular and ably conducted financial institutions of the 
state. While Mr. Morris's political allegiance is given to the 
Democratic party, he has never desired public office. He is the owner 
of valuable real estate in Watertown, including his attractive 
residence, at 623 Codington avenue. Fraternally, he is identified with 
the Ancient Order of United Workmen and with the Elks, and he is a 
member of the Congregational church.  

	In Fredonia, New York, on the 11th of August, 1880, was 
solemnized the marriage of Mr. Morris to Miss Mary A. Archibald, a 
daughter of William B. and Amanda (Buell) Archibald, her father being a 
prominent music dealer of Fredonia, while both he and his wife are 
representatives of pioneer families of the empire state. Mr. and Mrs. 
Morris have four children, namely: Archibald J. and Lorenzo T., who are 
assistants in the bank of which their father is president; Walter D., 
Jr., who is attending the military academy at Faribault, Minnesota, and 
Fannie who is a student in the home schools.