Walter D. Morris Biography


	This biography appears on pages 407-408 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				WALTER D. MORRIS. 

	Walter D. Morris, president of the Citizens National Bank of 
Watertown, was born in Fredonia, New York, April 12, 1856, his parents 
being Lorenzo and Fannie (Strong) Morris, both natives of Oneida 
county, New York. While children, however, they removed with their 
parents to Chautauqua county, where they attained adult age and were 
married. The father was a member of the New York bar and began the 
practice of law in the town of Mayville, Chautauqua county, but 
subsequently removed to Jamestown in the same county and a few years 
later to Fredonia, where the greater part of his active professional 
life was spent. He died in Fredonia at the advanced age of eighty-six 
years. He was widely recognized as a prominent member of the bench and 
bar and for a number of years he was also active in democratic circles 
of the state. His fellow citizens called him to represent them in the 
state senate and he also filled other important offices of public 
trust, his record reflecting honor and credit upon those whom he 
represented.  

	Walter D. Morris was reared at home, acquiring his education in 
the public schools and at the Fredonia Normal School, with a commercial 
course in an Oberlin, Ohio, business college. He became a wage earner 
when employed as a clerk in a clothing store in Fredonia and 
subsequently he went to Franklin, Pennsylvania, where he secured a 
position as bookkeeper in a mercantile house. One year later, or in 
1878, he made his way westward to Rochester, Minnesota, where he for 
several years filled the position of bookkeeper in a mercantile 
establishment. In 1880 he accepted a position in the Union National 
Bank of Rochester, where he laid the foundation for his future 
successful banking career. He continued in the Union National for five 
years and then resigned the position of assistant cashier in 1885 to 
come to South Dakota. During the period spent in the Rochester bank he 
had made many warm friends and on coming to Watertown he organized the 
Citizens National Bank with Rochester capital. 

	Of the new institution Mr. Morris was made cashier, in which 
capacity he continued until 1898, during which period the financial 
policy of the bank was largely under his direct management and the 
institution prospered as the result of his capable direction and keen 
business sagacity. In 1898 he was elected president of the bank and as 
its head has ably directed its policies for the past seventeen years. 
The bank was organized in 1885 with a capital stock of fifty thousand 
dollars and from the beginning has continuously developed along 
conservative and substantial lines. Recently an elegant new bank 
building has been erected on one of the principal corners of the city. 
It is thoroughly modern in every particular and is one of the finest 
banking houses of the northwest. The constant growth of the business is 
manifest in the fact that at the present time the Citizens National has 
a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars, with surplus and 
undivided profits of sixty-seven thousand dollars and deposits 
amounting to over six hundred and forty-five thousand dollars, with 
total resources of eight hundred and sixty-three thousand dollars. This 
institution extends to its customers every facility consistent with 
sound banking, and with its large list of direct correspondents and its 
superior equipment, offers many advantages. The officers of this 
progressive institution are: W. D. Morris, president; H. D. Rice, vice 
president; and L. T. Morris, cashier. The directors are as follows W. 
D. Morris, C. A. Neill, J. O. Melham, M. W. Sheafe, Charles Harman, F. 
R. Meadows, H. D. Rice, M. R. Baskerville and L. T. Morris. 

	In 1880 Mr. Morris was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Archibald, 
of Fredonia, New York, by whom he has three sons and one daughter, as 
follows Archibald J., who is connected with the First National Bank of 
Pasadena, California; Lorenzo T., the cashier of the Citizens National 
Bank of Watertown, South Dakota; Walter D., Jr., who is treasurer and 
office manager of the J. D. Van Allen & Son Mercantile Company of 
Clinton, Iowa; and Fannie A., the wife of C. F. Kemp, who acts as buyer 
for the Bullocks department store of Los Angeles, California.  

	Mr. Morris is a member of Watertown Lodge, No. 838, B. P. O. E., 
also of the Watertown Country Club and the Watertown Commercial Club, 
while he and his wife are members of the Congregational church. In 
politics he is independent with democratic tendencies but has never 
been an aspirant for public preferment. However, he served for several 
years as a member of the school board and is a stalwart champion of the 
cause of public education. His interest in community affairs is that of 
a public-spirited citizen, deep and sincere, and his efforts have been 
put forth along progressive lines for the benefit and upbuilding of 
town and county.