MORRIS, ROBERT A. of Birmingham, Ala., auditor of Jefferson county, Ala., was born in Chambers county, Ala., June 10, 1867. His parents were William H. and Arabella (Wright) Morris, both natives of Alabama. His father left the farm for the Confederate army and fought under General Forrest. He was in the famous fight at Franklin, Tenn. He was the third mayor of Birmingham. Robert A. Morris removed with his parents to Birmingham in 1871, and has spent practically all his life there. He attended the local schools, and spent one year at Howard college. Having been educated as a bookkeeper, his devotion to arduous office work brought failing health, and he therefore gave up bookkeeping and entered the United States mail service as a clerk in the postoffice in Birmingham. After a few years' service he was promoted to superintendent of mails. This position he held until a change of administration, when he resigned and engaged in other pursuits. He was selected, in 1895, by Probate Judge M. T. Porter, as chief clerk in the department of estates in the probate court. He continued in this position until elected auditor of Jefferson county in 1902. He spent about fourteen years as a member of the Alabama National guard, and was one of its hardest workers. He rose from private in Company M, Second regiment, to lieutenant, but severed his connection with the guard in 1894. While a member of the guard his company took part in quelling the Hawes riot. On Nov. 12, 1890, he married Lillian M., the daughter of William T. and Fannie (Kennedy) Walker, both natives of Alabama. Mrs. Morris' grandfather, William H. Kennedy, founded the town of Kennedy, in Lamar county, Ala., and was one of the progressive citizens of the State. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have one child, Willie Lucile. Mr. Morris is a member of the Baptist church. He is a Knight of Pythias. He is an alderman from the Fourth ward of East Lake, and is chairman of the judiciary committee of the board of aldermen. He is also chairman of the Lake committee. He traces his ancestry to Robert Morris, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Source: Notable Men of Alabama Vol. II, Joel Campbell Dubose (1904)


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