MORRIS, ISAAC A.. farmer, P. O. Xenia, was born in Wayne County, Ill., August 7, 1836, and is the son of Nathan A. and Sarah A. (Reid) Morris, both of whom were born in Grayson County, Ky., he September 25, 1812, she March 10, 1816.
Our subject is the great-grandson of Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and is the grandson of Isaac Morris, who died in Kentucky, and his widow, Mary Morris, moved to Wayne County, IL. , November 10, 1817. She afterward married Benjamin Clark, who served as Sheriff of Wayne County, and also represented the district in the State Legislature.
Our subject is one of a family of twelve children, six of whom yet survive. His parents died in this county, the father July 16, 1875, of small-pox; the mother February 26, 1881.
Our subject was reared and educated in this county, and has made farming his principal occupation; but for about fifteen years he has been engaged every season in the manufacture of sorghum molasses, for which business he has a complete outfit of crushers, evaporating pans, etc., and has attained a proficiency in his business not excelled by any. He manufactures annually about 2,000 gallons of the sirup. He also carries on his farm of 138 acres of land, most all of which is in cultivation.
July 3, 1859, he was married in this county to Miss Ruth E. Lear. She was born in Ohio February 26, 1840, and was the daughter of Henry Lear, who came to Illinois in 1852, but died near Memphis, Tenn., while in the service of his country. Mrs. Morris died in Iowa August 26, 1866. April 2, 1868, Mr. Morris was again united in marriage, and to Miss Samantha E. Caudle. She was born in Wayne County, Ill., February 22, 1849, and is the daughter of Samuel Caudle, who has resided in this county about forty years. By first marriage Mr. Morris has two. children living—Joseph W., and Mary L, wife of Henry A. Huffhines; also two children dead. By the second marriage there are eight children, four of whom survive:
Our subject has resided in Wayne County during his life, except three years in the West, nine months of that time being in Utah and the remainder in Iowa. He and wife are members of the Latter-Day Saints Church, and Mr. M. was ordained Elder in the church in 1862. He is now a local minister and presides over a congregation of about seventy-five members.
In political matters, he is associated with the Republican part, and has served as Supervisor of the township.
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