The biographer is glad to herein set forth the salient facts in the
eminently successful and honorable career of the well-remembered and highly
esteemed citizen of Richland county whose name appears above, the last
chapter in whose life record has been closed by the hand of death, and the
seal set thereon forever, but whose influence still pervades the lives of
those with whom he came in contact. For many years he was closely identified
with the industrial development of the county, and aided in every way
possible in promoting the general good of the community.
George D.
Morrison was born at Zanesville, Ohio, April 1, 1832, the son of George W.
and Rebecca (Potter) Morrison, the former a native of Loudoun county,
Virginia, the latter of Maryland. During his earlier years, the subject's
father was a freighter, keeping numerous teams and transporting merchandise
from Boston and other Eastern markets to the interior before the days of
railroads. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was severely wounded,
suffering from the wound for a number of years, rendering finally the
amputation of his limb a necessity. After his marriage he moved to Ohio and
for several years engaged in the hotel business. Later he came to Richland
county, and died in Olney when about eighty years of age, his wife having
died a few months previous at a ripe old age. They were the parents of
twelve children. Four of their sons were soldiers in the Civil war, and five
of their sons were ministers of the Gospel. One of their sons started east
from Ohio in the early days with a load of supplies but was never heard from
afterwards. The six-horse team and wagon of supplies all mysteriously
disappeared in the wilderness. Foul play by bandits or the Indians was
suspected. Our subject was the ninth in order of birth. He was reared in
Ohio where he received a good common school education, and after removing to
Illinois attended an advanced school at Evanston, Illinois. He became clerk
in a store. About 1855 he came to Olney and followed clerking for a time. He
later established a dry goods store just before the outbreak of the Civil
war. His health beginning to fail he sold out and served one term as Circuit
Clerk of Richland county, giving entire satisfaction in this capacity. He
was elected County Treasurer and died during his incumbency of this office
in 1873, at the age of forty-one years. He was married in 1860 to Kate
Snyder, a native of Lawrence county, Illinois, the daughter of John and
Clarissa (Spencer) Snyder. They were natives of Kentucky, where they were
reared and where they were married, and in an early day emigrated to
Lawrence county, Illinois. Soon afterward in 1838, they came to what is now
Richland county, and located on a farm in Claremont township, for years
known as Hickory Point. This farm was entered from the government by the
father of John Snyder, who was among the first settlers of what is now
Richland county. Samuel Snyder was the subject's grandfather. He was a
native of Pennsylvania, was reared in Kentucky and moved from Rockport,
Indiana, to Illinois. One of his sons, Maurice B. Snyder, was Circuit Clerk
after the organization of Richland county, for a number of years.
Grandfather Spencer was a native of Virginia, and he moved to Kentucky in an
early day. Both the subject's grandfathers served in the War of 1812. Three
of grandfather Spencer's sons were in the War of 1812, also in the Black
Hawk war. Spencer county, Indiana, was named in honor of this family.
John Snyder, father of Mrs. Morrison, was a farmer during his lifetime
and improved a fine farm in Claremont township, where he died at the age of
fifty-seven years in 1861. His wife survived several years and died at the
home of her daughter at Poplar Bluff, Missouri, at the advanced age of
eighty-three years. She was the mother of five children, four of whom are
still living. Her only son, John Snyder, was a soldier in the Civil war,
having enlisted as soon as old enough, in the Seventh Illinois Cavalry. He
was in many engagements, and his health was impaired while in the service.
He now lives in Douglas county, Missouri.
Mrs. Morrison is the mother
of three children: Mary, the wife of J. F. Jolly, of Olney; Mattie, wife of
J. L. Clevlen, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; Kate, the wife of E. A. Powers, of
Olney. Mrs. Morrison makes her home with her children, spending most of her
time in Olney. She is one of the oldest residents of the county now living.
Her life has been one of the usual hardship and pleasure, of victory and
defeat, but lived in such a manner as to result in no harm to others, as was
also that of her worthy husband, both being faultless in honor, fearless in
conduct and stainless in reputation, commanding the uniform regard and
esteem of their many friends.
Extracted 26 Apr 2017 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 137-139.
| Jasper | Crawford | |
| Clay |
 |
Lawrence |
| Wayne | Edwards | Wabash |
