John A. Morris, M.D.

Notes:

"Memories of Dr. John Morris Were Stirred by Reunion" SAN AUGUSTINE TRIBUNE Thursday, June 26, 2003 (with picture of descendants)

Katheryn Hanks Perry, a former San Augustine resident wrote, "My mother was Vera (MILLER) Hanks and her mother was Mittie (CROUCH) Miller, a sister to Laurena. Since my grandmother died when her children were quite small, her sisters became surrogate mothers to her three little girls. The story Uncle Johnny's decision to become a doctor has long stood in our family as a sterling example of determination and strong will. As Mother always told it, Uncle Johnny had a burning desire to become a doctor, which meant four years of studying in St. Louis. In the early years of the 20th century, he discussed in with Aunt Laurena, and she said 'Do it Johnny, we can make it.' They lived on a farm west of San Augustine and had seven children. Since he could be home during the summer, the plan was that he and the boys would put in the crop and begin the harvest, before he had to leave each fall for St. Louis. Many local people scoffed at such a fiasco, since he would be 40 years old when he started practicing, that age was considered near death. As you know, he practiced for over 40 years."

John married Laurena J. Crouch on 31 Jan 1883 in San Augustine County, Texas. Laurena was born on 9 Dec 1861 in San Augustine County, Texas; died on 2 May 1937 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Low's Chapel Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Extracted from the SAN AUGUSTINE TRIBUNE Thursday, March 27, 2003

The Morris Family will be gathering in San Augustine for a family reunion. Descendants of Dr. John MORRIS and his wife Lurena (sic) CROUCH will gather. Dr. MORRIS practiced medicine in San Augustine from about 1900 until his death in 1947. We would like to hear from anyone with stories to share. We are also seeking a display that was prepared during the 40's or 50's that featured babies that Dr. MORRIS delivered. We are also including our cousins from Sabine County, the descendants of Moses Speight MORRIS, Dr. MORRIS's half brother. Contacts:

Sarah Morris MARSHALL 5810 Green Springs Houston, TX 77066 sarahm51@houston.rr.com

Kathy RUTHERFORD 3706 H Ave NE Cedar Rapids IA 52402 eilers-sacora@att.net

Ben Carson MORRIS 40 Paradise Trail Coldspring, TX 77311 bcmorris@aol.com

Marriage said to be recorded in San Augustine Texas Marriage Book 2, page 388

1. Marvin Anson Morris was born on 7 May 1895; died on 29 Nov 1944; was buried in San Augustine City Cemetery, San Augustine County, Texas.

Notes:

Appointed postmaster of May 19, 1899 in Sabinetown, Sabine County, Texas. (Casagranda, 1850 Census 79).

John married Serena J. Wilson on 10 Oct 1861. Serena was born before 1841 in Alabama; died on 6 Mar 1867 in Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

White and Toole write that he "Rec'd a large Mexican grant of land in 1835, and gave 200 acres upon which Sabinetown was built, but in 1850 he is listed on the Sabine Parish (Many), Louisiana U.S. Census. Served in the War of 1812 from Louisiana." (White and Toole, p 63).

The Sabinetown Cemetery index lists his service as taking place with the Kentucky Pvt 10 Regt LA Militia War of 1812.

Kathy Casagranda notes that he is believed by some to be the son of Gideon Morris. He received 2,915 acres of land from a Mexican Land Grant on June 17, 1835. The Historical Marker in Sabinetown names him among the earliest settlers. (1850 Sabine Parish Census, p 78). Ann McElhaney does not think that he a son of Gideon Morris, as detailed in her notes below.

Ann McElhaney,annmclpc@aol.com, a descendant of Shadrach's son Amon Perry Morris, supplied the following biographical notes about Shadrach and Mary Morris:

Shadrach H Morris says on the census register that he was born in Kentucky. We know he was in Louisiana during the War of 1812.

Bettye Wagstaff has a census note of a census in LA in 1810 that is handwritten which she may have had for many years which lists: Shadrack Morris, 1-male under 5, 1-male 5-10, 1 male 30-40, 2 females under 5, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 20-30 Other information says Bib Creek, waters of the Tangipoha River, now Tangipahoa Parish, LA

84 Washington Parish 1810:
Shadrack Morris: 1 male 10-15, 1 male 80-90; 1 femail 10-15; 1 female 40-50 lived in the area of Sunny Hill and present day Mt. Herman, LA Shadrach H Morris is likely out of the house as he was old enough to fight shortly thereafter in the War of 1812.

We are told that he married Mary Sarah Nelson in Mississippi in 1822.

In 1820 Washington Parish, LA:
W.H. Morris: between the ages of 16-26 has a wife and two sons and a daughter
Wm Wadkins(Watkins)-father of Alfred J L Watkins who marries Mary Drucilla Kemp(parents of Mary Ann Watkins who will marry Amon Morris
Berry Wadkins(Watkins) brother to Alfred

In 1820 on the East Baton Rouge, LA census: Shadrach Morris _ _ _ 2 1 /no females. This would be Shad Sr, then Shad jr either lives with him at this time with one other 26-45 male or Shad jr is somewhere else and two brothers are at home. The following is possible: In the county next to Baton Rouge is Iberville Parish. In Iberville there is a Martin Nelson with a daughter the age of Mary Sarah Nelson. There are no other Nelsons in the area, that possibly this is how they met. Perhaps our information is incorrect and they married in LA or perhaps these Nelsons moved to Mississippi and Shad followed in hot pursuit to marry Sarah Nelson.

In 1830 I believe this is our Shadrach in Washington Parish, LA. The other Morris listed nearby are likely brothers as well as the Shadrach Sr who could be our Shad's father:

Shadrack Morris 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Shad is 30-40; wife is between 20-30

Bradford Kemp 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Kemp is 60-70

William Morris 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Will is 20-30

Whittenhall U.Morris 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Whitten is 30-39

Thomas Morris 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Thomas is 20-30


Shadrack Morris Sr. 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Shadrack M Sr is between 80-90-which does exactly jive with the info on the 1810 census

I am not certain that this completely demonstrates that Shad is not the son of Gideon Morris of Morristown, Tenn, but it is better evidence than anything else I am aware of us having. Gideon had a son named Shadrach, but we know he did not come south. Furthermore, the Morrisville folks deny there is any evidence that our Shad belongs to Gideon's group. There is some indication that there may be a connection between our Shad and Hamon Morris of Hamblen County, Tenn. Nevertheless if Shad said he was from Kentucky, that is all we have to go on for now. Our Shad could write and his signature is distinct so finding his signature anywhere is helpful.

The Bradford Kemp (1764-1838) listed in this census is most likely the father of Mary Drucilla Kemp who married Alfred J L Watkins.

1840 Natchitoches, LA: Shad and Mary Ann and 9 children. Also close in proximity and in the same Parish: G B(Green Berry) Watkins; A L(Alfred, Mary Ann's father)Watkins. Possible relations also present: Benjamin Morris-perhaps Shadrach's younger brother; John Nelson-perhaps Mary Sarah Nelson's brother.

In 1850 in Sabine County, Texas: William W. Watkins(who is Green Berry Watkins' son); Amon and family including his mother-in-law, Mary Drucilla Kemp Watkins; Shad and Sarah and family.

The 4 Smith girls who are living with Shad and Mary Sarah Morris are the daughters of Sarah's sister, Elizabeth Nelson who married John D. Smith. Both parents died. Shadrach and Sarah became the court-ordered guardians for the girls.

SMITH Sarah 12 F Texas
SMITH Elizabeth 10 F Texas
SMITH Emaline 8 F Texas
SMITH Lydia 6 F Texas

Shadrach married Mary "Polly" Sarah Nelson about 1820. Mary was born about 1807 in South Carolina; died about 1866 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Sabinetown, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):

Ann McElhaney,annmclpc@aol.com, a descendant of Shadrach's son Amon Perry Morris, supplied the following information:

In case you want to help find Mary Sarah Nelson's parents, in Mississippi the following Nelsons are listed as in Mississippi:
1805 Mississippi Washington Dist: Christian Nelson
1810 Mississippi (territory) census: Ichabod Nelson
Amite County: David Nelson; Christian Nelson; Thomas Nelson
Lawrence Co: Eleazar Nelson; William Nelson
1820 Mississippi census: Lawrence County: William Nelson, Elisea Nelson
Warren County: Peter Nelson
1822, 1823, 1825 Mississippi: Wilkinson County: Hugh Nelson
1823 Mississippi: Claiborne County: William Nelson; James Nelson
?b?rdrbrdrsrdrw30rsp20 1824 Mississippi: Lawrence County: James Nelson?/b?