Katie Morris

Notes:

"Katie is descended from Gideon Morris, founder of Morristown, Tennessee in the 1700s and from Shadrach Morris, who donated 200 acres, same amount as his ancestor, to found Sabinetown in the early 1800s. Katie is the daughter of Ben and Sarah Virginia Howard Morris, who reared their family on the banks of the Sabine River--both sides." (White and Toole)

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JDVL-MJR
Name: Katie Morris White
Death Date: 20 Jun 1969
Death Place: Buna, Jasper, Texas
Gender: Female
Race: White
Death Age: 84 years
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 09 Feb 1885
Birthplace: Texas
Marital Status: Widowed
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Ben Morris
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Virginia Howard
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation: Housewife
Place of Residence: Pinehill, Sabine, Texas
Cemetery: Spring Hill Cemetery
Burial Place: Sabine County, Texas
Burial Date: 20 Jun 1969
Additional Relatives: X
Film Number: 2137445
Digital Film Number: 4029609
Image Number: 2615
Reference Number: cn 43038
Collection: Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976

Katie married John Madison White on 24 Oct 1907 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. John (son of Amazia Vardeman "A. V." White and Ary Adney "Addy" Davidson) was born on 15 Nov 1880 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 28 Dec 1964 in Buna, Jasper County, Texas; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
"On the 24th of October, 1907, John White borrowed a buggy from George Oliphint, gathered up Miss Katie Morris and sallied down to Hemphill where they were married by Judge Henry Maund, the county judge."

1. Carter Arnold White was born on 29 Nov 1908 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 3 Jun 1957 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas.
2. Wendol White was born on 2 Aug 1910 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 2 Jun 1912 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas.
3. Lyndell Franklin "Ted" White was born on 4 Jul 1912 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 31 Aug 1981 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas.
4. Elvia Virginia White was born on 25 Jan 1914 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 31 Oct 1997 in Harris County, Texas; was buried in Antioch Cemetery, Buna, Jasper County, Texas.
5. Bertie Floyce White was born about 1917 in Sabine County, Texas; and died.
6. John Homer White was born on 29 Oct 1919 in Sabine County, Texas; died in Jun 1987 in Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.
7. O. B. White was born on 9 Dec 1921 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 29 Jun 1981; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas.
8. Ruth Ethel White was born on 26 Jul 1926 in Sabine County, Texas; died in Dec 1993 in Pineland, Sabine County, Texas.
9. Kathryn White was born on 23 Oct 1933 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 12 Jun 1936; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas.

Notes:

He applied for a Civil War pension, but his application was rejected. (Casagranda, 1850 Census, 79).

Benjamin married Sarah Virginia Howard. Sarah was born on 15 Jul 1850; died on 20 Oct 1917 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Hemphill, 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?