William Taylor Morris

Notes:

He was living alone at the time of the 1860 Sabine County Census. He was listed as a farmer, age 24, born in Georgia. He had $240 in real property and $4,300 in personal property. Helen Gomer Schluter lists him as the son of Carey Morris and Mary Cook, and notes that he appeared on the 1850 Sabine Parish, LA census #261.

At the time of the 1870 Sabine County census, he was widowed, living with his four year old daughter, Laura. It appears his first wife, Maria Ragan, may have died in childbirth.

At the time of the 1880 Sabine County census, he had remarried Marcella Ragan. He and Marcella had two additional children, William and Winfield.

William and Marcella were still married at the time of the 1900 census, with one additional son, Earnest. William's sister-in-law, Maggie Ragan, is living with them. In 1910, his sister-in-law, Maggie, is still living with he and Marcella, as is their son, Winfield. Their widowed daughter-in-law, Mary Sutton Morris resided with them as well.

Casagranda notes that he was one of the pioneer merchants of Sabine County, Texas that established a business community between 1855 and 1883. He is listed as Sabine County Treasurer from 1893-1896 and was on the board of the University Trustees in 1881.

William married Maria Ragan about 1864 in Sabine County, Texas. Maria (daughter of Jubal Harper Ragan, M.D. and Martha Ann Broadway) was born about 1845; died in 1866; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Laura E. Morris was born about 1866; and died.

William married Marcella E. Ragan about 1870 in Sabine County, Texas. Marcella (daughter of Jubal Harper Ragan, M.D. and Martha Ann Broadway) was born about 1856 in Louisiana; died in 1915 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Marcella indicated on the 1910 census that she had given birth to four children, two of whom were still living.

1. William L. Morris was born about 1872 in Texas; died before 1910.
2. Winfield Morris was born about 1879; and died.
3. Earnest C. Morris was born about 1883 in Texas; and died.

Notes:

The History of Sabine Parish, Louisiana (author John Belisle, The Sabine Banner Press, 1912) noted that Settlers on government land in 1838 included Carey Morris.

http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/sabine/deeds/nspio.txt

Carey married Mary Cook before 1828. Mary was born about 1809 in Tennessee; died after 1880. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]