Uriah Morris

Uriah Morris was born in Rock-bridge Co., Va., in 1820. In 1871, he decided to come west. So with his wife Sarah and their three daughters and son, and all their belongings in a wagon, they started west.

They came to Henry County and settled on 40 acres in Marion Township, purchasing the land from James G. Mills. The land is in the southeast corner of Marion Twp. now at the intersection of Co. Roads 7 and Y.

They lived in a four-room house.

Daughter Melissa married Henry Metman; Virginia married Washington Young; and Senia married Den Otto. All lived in Marion Twp.

Uriah and his son, James, traveled to Green County to trade horses. There, James met Rebecca Clark whom he married and brought to Henry County to live on the old homestead. They had two children, Emil and Rose Morris Ginder.

Rebecca lived only 10 years after they were married. James then married Roxanne Fresh and they had four sons, Alfred, Cleveland, Freeman, and Hugh. They attended the Bishop School and all are now deceased.

James Morris was a carpenter and often walked six or seven miles to his work. As the boys grew up, they built onto the log house and built a nice, white barn. They were members of the old Mt. Carmel Church that stood just across the creek from their home. Both James and his wife taught Sunday School classes. The old church has been long gone.

Uriah Morris died in 1906 at the age of 86. Sarah died in 1898. She was the first to be buried in West Belmore Cemetery.

James Morris died in 1915, and Roxanne died in 1936. The old house burned down in 1934 and the house that replaced it still stands.

Son Freeman and his wife took over the farm in 1936 and they were the parents of three children: Nora May, Virginia, and Charles.

In 1948, a tornado destroyed all the buildings and damaged the house. It was put back on a new foundation and repaired. In 1950, a nice white barn was built. It was replaced by a large white pole barn.

Freeman Morris died in 1954. Son Charles and his wife took over the management of the farm and live just across the drive. Charles and Mary are the parents of four children: Dennis of Hamler, Mrs. Ronald (Barbara) Tietje, Route 2, Deshler; Debra and Sue, at home. They are the fifth generationliving on the old homestead. All are members of the Belmore UME Church.

Charles and Virginia own the land adjoining on the west. Bertha still owns and lives in the family house. She does light housekeeping, playing the piano, reading, writing, and enjoys her family.

There are three sisters-in-law all living and in their 80's: Bertha, Mabel of Leipsic, and Kathryn of Napoleon.

Submitted by Mrs. Freeman (Bertha Fay) Morris