John E. Morrison. Among the best citizens of our country are those descended from Scott ancestry. With them they have brought to their new home the characteristics of prudence and frugality, of uncompromising integrity and persevering industry. Of this stock was the father of our subject, John E. Morrison, Sr., a native of New York State and a farmer. The original emigrants from Scotland were three brothers who came to America at an early day, settling in different parts of the United States. The branch to which these Morrisons belonged settled in New York State. The mother of our subject was Eliza (McKelvey) Morrison, a native of Rochester, N.Y. Her family came to Ionia County about 1834. John E. Morrison, Sr., was born in 1815, and came to Michigan when twenty-one years of age. In 1833 he settled in Berlin Township on section 25, a fraction of Easton Township, now attached to Berlin. He took up one hundred and sixty acres of Government land, all raw, and had to cut his way through the timber in order to drive to his farm. His brave wife rode an Indian pony, carrying two children in her arms. They removed from Oakland County, Mich., where he had settled in 1830 and married, to this new home, being ten days on the road. He was at this time in delicate health and very much reduced in circumstances, but proceeded to build a log house and clear off his farm, one hundred acres of which he improved. His wife died in 1881, and he followed her in 1884. Of their eleven children four are now living: Joseph, who lived in Arkansas, died April 22, 1891; Almira, Mrs. S. Shaw, also in the same State; our subject; Susan, Mrs. M. G. Allen, who lives in Ronald Township; Anna, Mrs. B. F. Beardsley, who lives in Stanton. The father took a prominent part in public affairs, being in the early days a Whig, and joining the Republican party soon after its formation. He also took an active interest in schools and was for many years School Inspector. He was also Township Clerk, Supervisor, and in 1838 Justice of the Peace. In this last capacity he united many couples in marriage. For a long while the Indians were close neighbors, and the squaws used to be the only domestic help which this good mother could secure to help her through the hard work of washing and other extra jobs. When the organization of Berlin Township in 1838 was effected he was made Moderator of the first township meeting, and was also the first Township Clerk and Inspector. In 1842 he was made Supervisor.
Our subject was born February 25, 1841, in Berlin Township, and grew up among the Indians and the wild scenes of frontier life, for his father being the first white settler in what is now Berlin Township, had no near neighbors among the whites except Oliver Arnold. His first schooling was in his own house, where a subscription school was established. His worthy parents were ambitious for the best things for their children and gave them the best education that could be secured in this way. Until he was twenty-seven years of age he remained at home, but then began for himself.
John E. Morrison, our subject, married November 4, 1868, Mrs. Mary (Sessions) Hendryx, a native of Ionia City, and an adopted child of Amasa Sessions, who originally settled upon this farm. This early settler and his valuable wife were among the earliest and have always been one of the foremost families of Ionia County. Having no children of their own, they took the little orphan to their hearts and home and brought her up to be one of the best educated and most benevolent women in the county. Mr. Sessions settled here in 1838, and remained until 1870 when he retired from active work, removing to Ionia. His wife departed this life in 1873, and he followed her in 1886. She was a member of the Christian Church and Mr. Sessions held many responsible positions of trust in his community, being in 1842 one of the School Inspectors, and for a number of years Justice of the Peace and Supervisor of Berlin Township. He belonged to the old Whig party, and later joined the Republican ranks. Both Mr. Sessions and Mr. Morrison have borne the best records as men of purely temperate lives. Mrs. Morrison was born January 2, 1845. Besides the district school education which she could receive on the farm, her adopted parents sent her to Ionia to receive the advantages of the graded schools there, and later to Utica, N.Y., for further privileges. She afterward taught school in Berlin Township until her marriage with George W .Hendryx, by whom she had one childMary, born April 30, 1866.
Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are the parents of three childrenNellie, born August 30, 1870; Amasa, July 17, 1872; and John E., December 21, 1874. They were all students at the Ionia public schools and Amasa is now attending a business college at Ionia. Miss May and Miss Nellie are both excellent performers on the melodeon. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are warmly interested in the Grange, she being a lecturer in the same. For six years Mr. Morrison has been a Director of the local schools and Road Overseer, and has taken an active part in politics, voting the Republican ticket.
Mr. Morrison started empty-handed, but his push, perseverance and hard work have made him successful to a marked degree. He now owns three hundred and forty-two acres of land, over three hundred acres of which is cleared. He devotes himself mostly to the raising and feeding of stock, making a specialty of sheep raising. He keeps the fine wood Spanish-Merinoes, of which he has three hundred and fifty head. He has followed this line of work for over twenty years. His large barns have often needed and have received additions to shelter the fine stock in which he takes a great pride. Nothing of an inferior grade is allowed on his farm and among cattle the Durhams are his favorites. He has not neglected the culture of fruit, having an orchard of ten acres.
[Portrait and Biographical Album of Ionia and Montcalm Counties, Mich, by Chapman Brothers, Edna Harris, 1891, pg. 552-554.]
Our subject was born February 25, 1841, in Berlin Township, and grew up among the Indians and the wild scenes of frontier life, for his father being the first white settler in what is now Berlin Township, had no near neighbors among the whites except Oliver Arnold. His first schooling was in his own house, where a subscription school was established. His worthy parents were ambitious for the best things for their children and gave them the best education that could be secured in this way. Until he was twenty-seven years of age he remained at home, but then began for himself.
John E. Morrison, our subject, married November 4, 1868, Mrs. Mary (Sessions) Hendryx, a native of Ionia City, and an adopted child of Amasa Sessions, who originally settled upon this farm. This early settler and his valuable wife were among the earliest and have always been one of the foremost families of Ionia County. Having no children of their own, they took the little orphan to their hearts and home and brought her up to be one of the best educated and most benevolent women in the county. Mr. Sessions settled here in 1838, and remained until 1870 when he retired from active work, removing to Ionia. His wife departed this life in 1873, and he followed her in 1886. She was a member of the Christian Church and Mr. Sessions held many responsible positions of trust in his community, being in 1842 one of the School Inspectors, and for a number of years Justice of the Peace and Supervisor of Berlin Township. He belonged to the old Whig party, and later joined the Republican ranks. Both Mr. Sessions and Mr. Morrison have borne the best records as men of purely temperate lives. Mrs. Morrison was born January 2, 1845. Besides the district school education which she could receive on the farm, her adopted parents sent her to Ionia to receive the advantages of the graded schools there, and later to Utica, N.Y., for further privileges. She afterward taught school in Berlin Township until her marriage with George W .Hendryx, by whom she had one childMary, born April 30, 1866.
Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are the parents of three childrenNellie, born August 30, 1870; Amasa, July 17, 1872; and John E., December 21, 1874. They were all students at the Ionia public schools and Amasa is now attending a business college at Ionia. Miss May and Miss Nellie are both excellent performers on the melodeon. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are warmly interested in the Grange, she being a lecturer in the same. For six years Mr. Morrison has been a Director of the local schools and Road Overseer, and has taken an active part in politics, voting the Republican ticket.
Mr. Morrison started empty-handed, but his push, perseverance and hard work have made him successful to a marked degree. He now owns three hundred and forty-two acres of land, over three hundred acres of which is cleared. He devotes himself mostly to the raising and feeding of stock, making a specialty of sheep raising. He keeps the fine wood Spanish-Merinoes, of which he has three hundred and fifty head. He has followed this line of work for over twenty years. His large barns have often needed and have received additions to shelter the fine stock in which he takes a great pride. Nothing of an inferior grade is allowed on his farm and among cattle the Durhams are his favorites. He has not neglected the culture of fruit, having an orchard of ten acres.
[Portrait and Biographical Album of Ionia and Montcalm Counties, Mich, by Chapman Brothers, Edna Harris, 1891, pg. 552-554.]
John E. Morrison. Among the best citizens of our country are those descended from Scott ancestry. With them they have brought to their new home the characteristics of prudence and frugality, of uncompromising integrity and persevering industry. Of this stock was the father of our subject, John E. Morrison, Sr., a native of New York State and a farmer. The original emigrants from Scotland were three brothers who came to America at an early day, settling in different parts of the United States. The branch to which these Morrisons belonged settled in New York State. The mother of our subject was Eliza (McKelvey) Morrison, a native of Rochester, N.Y. Her family came to Ionia County about 1834. John E. Morrison, Sr., was born in 1815, and came to Michigan when twenty-one years of age. In 1833 he settled in Berlin Township on section 25, a fraction of Easton Township, now attached to Berlin. He took up one hundred and sixty acres of Government land, all raw, and had to cut his way through the timber in order to drive to his farm. His brave wife rode an Indian pony, carrying two children in her arms. They removed from Oakland County, Mich., where he had settled in 1830 and married, to this new home, being ten days on the road. He was at this time in delicate health and very much reduced in circumstances, but proceeded to build a log house and clear off his farm, one hundred acres of which he improved. His wife died in 1881, and he followed her in 1884. Of their eleven children four are now living: Joseph, who lived in Arkansas, died April 22, 1891; Almira, Mrs. S. Shaw, also in the same State; our subject; Susan, Mrs. M. G. Allen, who lives in Ronald Township; Anna, Mrs. B. F. Beardsley, who lives in Stanton. The father took a prominent part in public affairs, being in the early days a Whig, and joining the Republican party soon after its formation. He also took an active interest in schools and was for many years School Inspector. He was also Township Clerk, Supervisor, and in 1838 Justice of the Peace. In this last capacity he united many couples in marriage. For a long while the Indians were close neighbors, and the squaws used to be the only domestic help which this good mother could secure to help her through the hard work of washing and other extra jobs. When the organization of Berlin Township in 1838 was effected he was made Moderator of the first township meeting, and was also the first Township Clerk and Inspector. In 1842 he was made Supervisor.
Our subject was born February 25, 1841, in Berlin Township, and grew up among the Indians and the wild scenes of frontier life, for his father being the first white settler in what is now Berlin Township, had no near neighbors among the whites except Oliver Arnold. His first schooling was in his own house, where a subscription school was established. His worthy parents were ambitious for the best things for their children and gave them the best education that could be secured in this way. Until he was twenty-seven years of age he remained at home, but then began for himself.
John E. Morrison, our subject, married November 4, 1868, Mrs. Mary (Sessions) Hendryx, a native of Ionia City, and an adopted child of Amasa Sessions, who originally settled upon this farm. This early settler and his valuable wife were among the earliest and have always been one of the foremost families of Ionia County. Having no children of their own, they took the little orphan to their hearts and home and brought her up to be one of the best educated and most benevolent women in the county. Mr. Sessions settled here in 1838, and remained until 1870 when he retired from active work, removing to Ionia. His wife departed this life in 1873, and he followed her in 1886. She was a member of the Christian Church and Mr. Sessions held many responsible positions of trust in his community, being in 1842 one of the School Inspectors, and for a number of years Justice of the Peace and Supervisor of Berlin Township. He belonged to the old Whig party, and later joined the Republican ranks. Both Mr. Sessions and Mr. Morrison have borne the best records as men of purely temperate lives. Mrs. Morrison was born January 2, 1845. Besides the district school education which she could receive on the farm, her adopted parents sent her to Ionia to receive the advantages of the graded schools there, and later to Utica, N.Y., for further privileges. She afterward taught school in Berlin Township until her marriage with George W .Hendryx, by whom she had one childMary, born April 30, 1866.
Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are the parents of three childrenNellie, born August 30, 1870; Amasa, July 17, 1872; and John E., December 21, 1874. They were all students at the Ionia public schools and Amasa is now attending a business college at Ionia. Miss May and Miss Nellie are both excellent performers on the melodeon. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are warmly interested in the Grange, she being a lecturer in the same. For six years Mr. Morrison has been a Director of the local schools and Road Overseer, and has taken an active part in politics, voting the Republican ticket.
Mr. Morrison started empty-handed, but his push, perseverance and hard work have made him successful to a marked degree. He now owns three hundred and forty-two acres of land, over three hundred acres of which is cleared. He devotes himself mostly to the raising and feeding of stock, making a specialty of sheep raising. He keeps the fine wood Spanish-Merinoes, of which he has three hundred and fifty head. He has followed this line of work for over twenty years. His large barns have often needed and have received additions to shelter the fine stock in which he takes a great pride. Nothing of an inferior grade is allowed on his farm and among cattle the Durhams are his favorites. He has not neglected the culture of fruit, having an orchard of ten acres.
[Portrait and Biographical Album of Ionia and Montcalm Counties, Mich, by Chapman Brothers, Edna Harris, 1891, pg. 552-554.]
Our subject was born February 25, 1841, in Berlin Township, and grew up among the Indians and the wild scenes of frontier life, for his father being the first white settler in what is now Berlin Township, had no near neighbors among the whites except Oliver Arnold. His first schooling was in his own house, where a subscription school was established. His worthy parents were ambitious for the best things for their children and gave them the best education that could be secured in this way. Until he was twenty-seven years of age he remained at home, but then began for himself.
John E. Morrison, our subject, married November 4, 1868, Mrs. Mary (Sessions) Hendryx, a native of Ionia City, and an adopted child of Amasa Sessions, who originally settled upon this farm. This early settler and his valuable wife were among the earliest and have always been one of the foremost families of Ionia County. Having no children of their own, they took the little orphan to their hearts and home and brought her up to be one of the best educated and most benevolent women in the county. Mr. Sessions settled here in 1838, and remained until 1870 when he retired from active work, removing to Ionia. His wife departed this life in 1873, and he followed her in 1886. She was a member of the Christian Church and Mr. Sessions held many responsible positions of trust in his community, being in 1842 one of the School Inspectors, and for a number of years Justice of the Peace and Supervisor of Berlin Township. He belonged to the old Whig party, and later joined the Republican ranks. Both Mr. Sessions and Mr. Morrison have borne the best records as men of purely temperate lives. Mrs. Morrison was born January 2, 1845. Besides the district school education which she could receive on the farm, her adopted parents sent her to Ionia to receive the advantages of the graded schools there, and later to Utica, N.Y., for further privileges. She afterward taught school in Berlin Township until her marriage with George W .Hendryx, by whom she had one childMary, born April 30, 1866.
Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are the parents of three childrenNellie, born August 30, 1870; Amasa, July 17, 1872; and John E., December 21, 1874. They were all students at the Ionia public schools and Amasa is now attending a business college at Ionia. Miss May and Miss Nellie are both excellent performers on the melodeon. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are warmly interested in the Grange, she being a lecturer in the same. For six years Mr. Morrison has been a Director of the local schools and Road Overseer, and has taken an active part in politics, voting the Republican ticket.
Mr. Morrison started empty-handed, but his push, perseverance and hard work have made him successful to a marked degree. He now owns three hundred and forty-two acres of land, over three hundred acres of which is cleared. He devotes himself mostly to the raising and feeding of stock, making a specialty of sheep raising. He keeps the fine wood Spanish-Merinoes, of which he has three hundred and fifty head. He has followed this line of work for over twenty years. His large barns have often needed and have received additions to shelter the fine stock in which he takes a great pride. Nothing of an inferior grade is allowed on his farm and among cattle the Durhams are his favorites. He has not neglected the culture of fruit, having an orchard of ten acres.
[Portrait and Biographical Album of Ionia and Montcalm Counties, Mich, by Chapman Brothers, Edna Harris, 1891, pg. 552-554.]
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