REVISED 4/11/2022

ARIZONA GALILEO MORRIS was born in Nelsonville Ohio (Athens County) on April 9, 1874, the eldest of ten children born to Mordica Morris (1854-1929) and his wife Harriet A Lewis Morris (1853-1939). Mordica Morris's family were long time Quakers, and Pioneers of Southeastern Ohio. Records indicate that Mordica and Harriet mostly raised their children in Jackson County WV.

On June 12, 1894 Arizona married his first wife, my great grandmother, Bessie May Harris, in Jackson County West Virginia. They were married by a minister (possible J. N. Wingrove) at the home of E. Yates (Bessie's stepfather, Elijah Yates).

The couple lived for a few years in Ravenswood, WV before moving across the river and state line into Belpre, Ohio. Records indicate that most of their younger children were born in Ohio.

Arizona and Bessie had 6 children. They are:
-Buell Raymond Morris (1896-1964)
-Roy Hempton Morris (1898-____)
-Nevada Forest Morris (1901-1964)
-SARAH ETHEL MORRIS (my grandmother) (1903-1967)
-Edith J Morris (1905-2002)
-Paul Rose Morris (1908-1993)

By 1909, Arizona & Bessie May had moved to Delaware, Ohio, where Bessie died on May 24, 1909, just 31 years old, and leaving AG behind with 6 young children. Just a few months later, (in September 1909), AG, unable to manage this full family, surrendered the four youngest kids to the Delaware Children's Home until he was able to reunite his family the following spring.

The 1910 Census (taken on April 25, 1910) shows Arizona, now widowed, living with sons Raymond 14-a silk weaver, Roy 11, and Forest 9 (both are on-the-street newsboys) at 352 Silver St Marion City; boarding with the Otis & Clara Bernhart family. He is listed as a weaver at the silk factory. Also living in the Bernhart home was a young woman named Maude Cellars, who became Arizona's second wife on June 24th of that year.

Arizona and Maude lost their 10+ month old son Carl in August 1913. Cause of death was given as gastroenteritis of 10 days duration, secondary to weaning related to Maude being pregnant again. This had to be a very difficult event for them. Records are a little confusing on the children of Arizona & Maude, but it appears that they had 4 children.
-Arizona V.H. (1911-1997)
-Carl M (1912-1913)
-Lillian RuthElla (1914-1990)
-Carllena M (1915-2000)

Maude also had (from her first marriage), at least one son, Harold Cellars (1908-1962), and a daughter, Florence, born about 1907.

At some point between completing his draft registration (for WWI) in 1918, and when the census was done on January 3, 1920, Arizona & Maude relocated to Binghamton, NY. In January 1920, Ethel, Edith and Paul are shown living with them at their home at 93 Bigelow St, in Binghamton, as does Maude's son Harold & three additional children (Arizona V.H., Lillian, and Carllena) born to the couple since their marriage in 1910. Arizona is now working as a Painter and Paper Hanger.

Sources indicate that Arizona remained in Binghamton until his death in October 1963. I have been unable to locate Arizona's whereabouts in 1930, but Maude was living at 83 Liberty Street in Binghamton. There is a 58 year old male roomer named Frank Adamek in the household at that time as well. Per her granddaughter Sharon Kasmarcik, Maude later married Frank. This is supported by the 1940 census records (Waterbury, New Haven, Connecticut, United States).

In 1940, Arizona was living at 8 Brook Avenue in Binghamton, NY, with daughter Carllena Morris and her Children - Donald (then 7) and Marjorie (then 4).

According to his granddaughter Marjorie Morris (Carllena's daughter), Arizona was living with daughter Carllena and granddaughter Marjorie Morris when he died in October 1963. Per Marjorie, Arizona is buried at Spring Forest Cemetery in an unmarked grave.

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1-19-13: I spoke today with John Quain at Spring Forest Cemetery. Per John, Arizona's cause of death was electric shock. John referred me to Chase Funeral Home in Binghamton. I then spoke with staff at Chase funeral home; according to their records, Arizona was married at time of his death & wife's name was Etta Morris. Informant at the time was his son Paul Morris.

4-5-2013: Today I installed Arizona's new headstone on his grave at Spring Forest Cemetery. This was purchased by his grandson (my uncle) Roy Jones. Stone placement site was identified by John Quain at the cemetery.

12/18/2014: Obtained obituary & death certificate, which gives primary cause of death as "Irreversible Shock" due to long standing heart problems. (So, medical/septic shock, NOT electric shock). Both obituary and death certificate give death date as October 4, not October 3)

SOURCES:
-clipping titled "Family of Mordica and Harriet Morris"
-Marriage record Arizona & Bessie May
-US Census Records 1880-1940
-NY Census record 1925
-Delaware Gazette May 25, 1909
-Delaware Journal May 24, 1909
-Records of Delaware Childrens Home
-Jackson County WV, Birth Index - Buell Morris
-Jackson County WV, Birth Index - Clayton Morris
-WWI Draft registration - Arizona Galileo Morris
-Spring Forest Cemetery records as reported 2-19-13 by John Quain
-Chase Funeral Home records as reported by staff on 2-19-13
-Obituary Arizona G Morris Gives death date as October 4.
-death certificate, Arizona G Morris - gives death date of October 4.