Morris J. Haller Bio
Monongalia Co. WV


The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II

pg 199

A graduate of West Virginia University and formerly a 
successful teacher, Morris J. Haller is a prosperous young business man of 
Morgantown, a member of the real estate firm of Haller & Wilson.

He was born in Taylor County, this state, on a farm, November 8, 1892, son of 
Flavius Baxter and Amanda (Bailey) Haller.  His grandfather, Capt. M. D. 
Haller, was killed in action while serving as a commissioned officer in the 
Union Army during the Civil war.  Flavius B. Haller was only a boy at the 
time, having been born in Barbour County, West Virginia, February 2, 1854.  
He was reared in Barbour County, but as a young man removed to Taylor County, 
where he married and where for some years his energies were devoted to 
farming.  Later he was a merchant and for twenty-five years was a traveling 
salesman through West Virginia.  He now lives surrounded with comfort and 
plenty on a fine farm in Taylor County.  He is a member of the Masonic Order 
and a republican in politics.  Flavius B. Haller married Amanda Bailey, who 
was born in Taylor County February 2, 1863, daughter of Silas P. and Almyra 
(Kelley) Bailey.  Silas Bailey was born in 1816, and was a very early settler 
in Taylor County.  Flavius B. Haller is sixty-seven years of age and his 
wife, fifty-eight, and as yet death has not broken their family circle.  All 
their five children are living, and they have sixteen grandchildren.  The 
oldest of their five children is Earl Stanley, who was born May 13, 1885, a 
graduate of the West Virginia Wesleyan Academy, and is now in the creamery 
business at Staunton, Virginia.  He married Catherine Blair, of Weston, West 
Virginia, and their children are Annabelle, Harriet, Earl Stanley, Jr., 
Catherine and Thomas Baxter.  Enid Almyra, the second of the children, was 
born December 12, 1886, is the wife of H. Ralph Harper, of Clarksburg, West 
Virginia, and their children are Mildred Virginia and Haller Thomas.  Morton 
Quay, born August 30, 1888, is assistant general manager of the Hutchinson 
Coal Company at Erie in Harrison County, West Virginia.  By his marriage to 
Georgia Adaline Bartlett, of Taylor County, he has four children, Robert, 
Alma, Margaret and Mary Frances.  Sally Mabel Haller, born August 30, 1890, 
was married to C. H. Huffman, of Miami, Ohio and they now live at Ziesing in 
Harrison County, West Virginia.  Their children are Arline and Paul Bailey.

The youngest of the family is Morris J. Haller and his early life was spent 
on a farm.  He attended the common schools, graduating from the Flemington 
High School in 1911, from the Fairmont State Normal in 1913, and for a year 
was principal of the Grant Town school.  In 1914 he entered West Virginia 
University, and received his A. B. degree in 1917.  After leaving university 
Mr. Haller resumed teaching, and for three years was principal of the 
Rivesville High School in Marion County.  Seeking a business field that would 
give better rewards for his efforts, in the spring of 1920 he took up real 
estate and fire insurance at Morgantown, and in January, 1921, organized the 
successful firm of Haller & Wilson.

Mr. Haller is a member of Rivesville Lodge No. 99, Knights of Pythias, and is 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  July 26, 1915, he married Verona 
C. Clayton, who was born in Gilmer County, West Virginia, daughter of Dr. 
Joseph E. and Dora M. (Arnett) Clayton  Her father was born in Marion County 
and her mother in Monongalia County.  Her maternal grandfather, Davis M. 
Arnett, of the prominent Arnett family of West Virginia, died in 1920 at the 
age of ninety-four.  Mr. and Mrs. Haller have three children: Eleanor Jean, 
born April 20, 1916; Joseph Baxter, born December 28, 1917; and Morris 
Elburn, born January 28, 1919.