FRANKLIN CO., GA - BIOGRAPHIES - John Morris
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Submitted by Jean W. Pace (JWATTSPACE@prodigy.net)
Newspaper article written February 28, 1890 in The Weekly Tribune,
Carnesville, Georgia. Was reprinted April 16, 1920 in The Lavonia Times
(Franklin County Georgia). The author of the article was J. S. Dortch,
Editor and Proprietor, T. H. Morris, Publisher, A.N. King, Local Editor
Carnesville, Franklin County,
Georgia February 28, 1890
HISTORIC FAMILIES
Names Which Belong to Franklin County
and Make Its History
John Morris, the grandfather of Prof. A. J. Morris, was born in
Rutherford Co., N.C., before the revolutionary war. He came to
Franklin before the beginning of the present century. He was living on
Tom's Creek and had a family in 1806, having married Sarah White of
Elbert County. In 1806 he sold his farm to Lewis Dortch and settled on
Eastanalee creek in what is now Wolfpit District, and above the Moseley
mill place.
He moved from Eastanalee to Rabun Co., and from there came again to
this county and settled on Middle River 3 miles from Carnesville, on land
now owned by T.C. Hayes, just above H.A. Couger's [Conger?] farm. He died
there April 10th, 1880 [note by Jean Pace - actually it was 1830,
according to Bible record and his will]. His widow lived on the same
place until her death 1855 or 1856. Mr. Morris raised a large family of
children, the oldest being James Morris, once a very prominent man in
this county.
He held the office of Clerk of the Superior Court from the year 1822
to 1839 inclusive. He was for a long time a leading merchant of
Carnesville. He moved to Murray Co., Georgia, about the year 1840, where
he engaged in farming, merchandising and banking, being President of
Planters and Mechanics bank at Dalton up to the breaking out of the
war. He was engaged in the Indian wars in the early part of the century
(He is mentioned on a historic marker on the Courthouse grounds at
Carnesville), in one of which he served as captain. There may be some
members of his company still living in this county, but hardly probable,
as all those we knew who served with him have long been dead. Major
Martin White, who lived and died on Tom's creek 10 or 12 years ago, was
one of his Leiutenants. We have often heard Major White speaking of the
battle of Pea Ridge in which they were engaged, at which time Mr. Morris
acquired the proprietorship of an Indian boy that he brought home with
him and raised. The boy went by the name of Tobe, and after reaching
manhood he went back to the tribe of his nativity. Mr. Morris married
Harriet Bell, in the town of Carnesville, and in the house in which the
writer of this article now lives. They had no children. He acquired a
large fortune which in 1857, was worth $250,000. He died in 1864 (12
June 1865) and his large fortune, which consisted mainly in cash and
realty, melted away -- no one outside of the melting knew hardly how, his
wife not receiving a fortune and his brothers and sisters, to whom large
legacies were left, got nothing. John, the second son of John Morris,
Sr., married Mary Harrison, a sister of John B. Harrison. They had no
children. Mr. Morris acquired a considerable fortune, lived for many
years on Middle River and on the farm recently owned by J.C. McConell,
now owned by Mr. Terrell, where he died in 1853. His widow afterwards
married M. Shackelford, and died a few years later.
The next two sons of John Morris were General Eppy W. and Colonel
Thomas Morris, who were twins, born in Wolfpit district on the 13th day
of April, 1810. These two men probably fill a larger space in the
history of Franklin Co. than any two men that ever lived in it.
Major-General Eppy W. married Eliza Turman, daughter of James
Turman, in this county in the year 1834. He moved to Murray Co., and
back, twice, in the early years of his married life. He held the office
of County Surveyor, and for a number of years represented the county in
the State Legislature. He also held the distinguished office of
Major-General of the State Militia, which was quite an honorable
position at that time. He died of paralysis on the 26th day of October,
1857, living less than 36 hours after he was stricken. General Morris
was a man of very superior ;mental capacity -- noble, generous, and
clever to a fault. No public man has ever lived in this county who had
fewer enemies, more friends, or whose death was more universally
regretted. His hold upon the affections of the people was very strong,
his influence over them abounded. Some ten or twelve years after the
death of Gen. Morris his widow married Daniel Moseley, and some years
later she was again left a widow. She died in this county in March,
1888, in the same house in which F.O. Burruss now lives, the same house,
and probably the same room, in which her husband died; more than thirty
years before. She was one of the most excellent women that ever lived in
this county, and was held in the highest esteem by all. During the
lifetime of Gen. Morris, owing to the position he held in public life,
and to his open handed hospitality in which he joined, she was probably
the best known and most highly esteemed woman of the county.
General and Mrs. Morris raised six children to manhood and
womanhood. One son, John, died when eight years of age. Thomas, the
eldest son, died about the time he reached manhood, and Robert, the
youngest, died a few years ago. A.J. Morris, the eldest son, now the
principal of the Carnesville High School, has been twice honored with the
important and responsible office of Ordinary, and is widely and favorably
known. The second son, Dozier, (This was a nickname - his name was James
Franklin Morris-my great-grandfather) lives in Rusk Co., Texas. The
eldest daughter, Fannie, married Mr. Shackelford, and lives in this
county. The second daughter, Mary, Married W.A. Manley, and is now
living in Carnesville. Both are most excellent women.
Colonel Thomas Morris, the twin brother of General E.W. Morris,
married Mary Turman, the sister of his brother's wife, on the 20th of
December, 1835. He was admitted to the bar in early manhood, and
practiced his profession with success and ability for many years, but
never devoted his attention exclusively to the law. He was engaged in
merchandising in connection with various firms most of his life. He was
the political head of the Democratic party in Franklin from the earliest
recollections of the writer, or at least one of the most trusted and
influential men of the party. Colonel Morris frequently represented the
county in the State Legislature, and was always fully trusted by his
constituents. He was kind, generous and manly ---a warm friend and an
untiring opponent. He harbored no revengeful feelings, was quick to
forget and forgive injuries. Colonel and Mrs. Morris raised only two
children, Mrs. Emma Burruss, wife of T.O. Burruss, living near
Carnesville, and Mrs. Lucy Bruce, of Toccoa. They were pleasant, clever
women, and inherited the gentleness and suavity of their father. Col.
Morris was stricken with paralysis in the brick building north of the
Court House in Carnesville, on the morning of Feb., 15, 1875 (?), became
unconscious in a few seconds, was carried home and died in less than 24
hours. The twin brothers were born on Eastanalee, lived most of their
lives at or near Carnesville, lived useful lives, died highly esteemed
and rest side by side in the grave yard at Cross Roads Baptist Church one
mile west of Carnesville. Mrs. Morris, widow of Col. Morris is still
living, and is greatly respected.
Of the other members of the family of John Morris, Sr., the people
now living in this county know but little. Frank, the youngest son,
married Clarissa Buchanan, of Murray Co., Georgia, and died several years
ago. There were 5 girls, all of whom lived to womanhood and
married. Lucy married William Jackson. Mary married Elisha Coffee, and
was the mother of John Coffee, late of this county, whose family lives in
the western part of the county. Patsy married James Stonecypher, and was
the mother of Rev. T.J. Stonecypher of this county. Elizabeth married
John G. Parks. Milly married Middleton (Littleton) Meeks, and Susan
married Mason Meeks.
As far as we know, none of the children of John and Sarah Morris
are now living. It is presumable, however, that they have many
grandchildren and great grandchildren scattered over the Southern States,
west of Georgia. Now [None?] in this county, except the descendants of
Gen. and Col. Morris, Mary Coffee, and Patsy Stonecypher. They were a
sturdy couple above the average people of the county, and transmitted
superior qualities to most of their descendants.
J. S. D.
[Note: This article was again reprinted, in part, in the Lavonia Times in
1937.]