Dr. Madison Brantley Morris

My 3rd Great Grandfather - Shawn M. J. Mann

Born Oct., 8, 1824 - Henry County, TN
Married Elizabeth LILLIBRIDGE - Apr. 14, 1867 - Walla Walla, Washington state
Died Sept. 17, 1909, buried at Richland Cemetery, Oregon

Doc Morris was the eldest son of Lemuel Morris and Martha P. Estes.

His siblings:

Nathan MORRIS
Riley MORRIS
Frances MORRIS
John MORRIS
Ann Montgomery MORRIS
Elizabeth E. MORRIS
Maria A. MORRIS
Lydia MORRIS Marshall
Sarah M. MORRIS

Click here to read the transcribed letter to Dr. Madison B. Morris from his brother, Riley Morris - dated April 22, 1866. - Riley served the Confederate Army during the Civil War, mention of the hardships of the battle of Vicksburg.

I have compiled a timeline of his travels during his life, from every reference I could find of him. One thing I haven't figured out is if he is the same "MB Morris" referenced to be in Jackson Co., Oregon.

NEW!!! I just located this on 7-13-2006 - (Post was preceded by a copy of the Biography from "An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties: with a brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western Historical Pub. Co., 1902. Page 309. Baker County, at the bottom of this page.)

Kathleen, if you read this, I have sent you an email, but it bounced! Please contact me! ~ Shawn

...

Found on: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/ORFORUM/2002-03/1015539167

From: "Kathleen Wendland" <Kathleen_Wendland@pgn.com>
Subject: [GFO] Query - Dr. Madison B. Morris
Date: Thu, 07 Mar 2002 14:12:47 -0800

COPY OF LETTER FROM DR. MORRIS TO MY GRANDFATHER, THOMAS MOFFIT MONYGOMERY - NOVEMBER 17, 1899 Dear Nephew, I was very glad to get a letter from so kind a relative. Sister Buckley her P.O. is Santa Ana, California Sister Lydia Marshall's P.O. is Los Angeles, California Sister Elizabeth E Morse is living in Baker City, Oregon about 45 or 50 miles from my house. I have been corresponding with M. O. Montgomery for several years. Newton Wilson, your cousin is living about 15 miles from here. his mother was Eliza Estes, Uncle Burris Estes' daughter. He says he did'nt know you was his cousin until I told him. I think I am living in one of the best countries in the world. I was 75 years old the 8th day of last October. Truly Dr M B Morris Sister Buckley's name is Sarah. O how I would like to see sister Ann's Children. I will see them if we die Christians. Write and let me know how you like these phamplets. I think he is one of the best men in the world. M B Morris Does anyone know any of these people? Thanks, Kathleen Wendland kathleen.wendland@pgn.com

(From obituary clipping, source unknown- in family history)

"An old resident passes Away."
Dr. Madison Brantley Morris of Richland, Baker Co., Oregon, died at his home Sept., 17th, 1909. He passed away peacefully at 11 o'clock P. M. and was conscious until within a few moments of the time he expired.
Dr. Morris had been in ill health for several years, and as his death had been daily expected it came as no surprise to his many relatives and friends.
He was born in Henry Co., Tennessee on Oct. 8th, 1824. He crossed the plains to Oregon in 1853, arriving at Walla Walla valley where he sojourned for a short time. Walla Walla valley being a wilderness at that time. He finally settled at The Dalles in the year 1857, where he braved the hardships of the true pioneer, fighting Indians and assisting in opening the country for future settlement. Then after years of incessant toil he returned to the partially settled Walla Walla Valley in the year 1865. There he met Miss Elizabeth Lilliebridge, to whom he was united in marriage April 14th, 1867. To this union were born seven children, four sons and three daughters.
Being a physician he drifted to the settled country of Grand Ronde valley in the year 1875, where he practiced for more than twenty years, being very successful and noted far and wide as a physician, who never faltered nor shrunk from hardships, braving the darkest and coldest nights when he was called to relieve suffering humanity.
He finally came to Eagle Valley in the year 1882, where he resumed his practice. During his career as a physician in Eagle Valley he was successful.
He joined the Christian Church in his youth and was ever a devout Christian during life, both in precept and example.
Although being middle aged when united in marriage, he lived until the birth of a great-grandson. Being the eldest of eleven children, he was the last to survive.
He was a good citizen, kind husband, and father, and leaves to mourn his loss his wife and five children besides a host of friends who sincerely sympathize with the family in their sorrow and bereavement. His remains were laid to rest in the Richland Cemetery September 19th, 1909.

His name was found on http://www.oregonpioneers.com/1853.htm - List of 1853 Pioneers.

Biography from "An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties: with a brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western Historical Pub. Co., 1902. Page 309. Baker County.

DR. MADISON B. MORRIS

Few have had the privilege of passing through a more checkered career and meeting with more stirring scenes of interest than the subject of this sketch, whose life's opitome it is now our pleasant task to chronicle. Madison B. Morris, familiarly known as Dr. Morris, was born in Henry county, Tennessee, in 1824, being the son of Lemuel and Martha (Estes) Morris, the father being buried in Salem, Arkansas, and the mother in Santa Anna, California. When twenty-seven years of age, our subject commenced the study of medicine and after finishing his course, he at once commenced the practice and almost constantly until within the past ten years he has been engaged in that profession, although owing to his stirring nature and love of activity he has frequently been engaged in other enterprises in addition to the practice of medicine. He practiced in Bassville, Arkansas, from 1848 to 1853, and then came to The Dalles, Oregon, where he followed his profession for four years, thence to the Cascades, where he also practiced and engaged in supplying the steamboats with wood and also took up a ranch opposite Dead Island in the Columbia river. (NOTE: The dates above seem off... he commenced study of medicine in 1851, yet he practiced from 1848-1853 in AR?)

In 1865 we find him following his profession in Walla Walla and for fifteen years he was in that city; after which he spent four years in Weston, and seven years in Somerville and in 1882 came to Eagle valley, where he now owns a quarter section of land and is engaged in fruit culture and general farming.

The marriage of Dr. Morris and Miss Elizabeth Lillybridge (NOTE: Also spelled Lillibridge) was celebrated in 1867 and to them have been born the following children: James, Lily, Lemuel, Della, Clyde, deceased, Charley, deceased, Sadie. Mrs. Morris' parents came across the plains with ox teams in 1865 and many exciting and thrilling experiences were theirs to pass through while en route. At one time the stock were stampeded by the stage appearing suddenly and at another time the Indians stampeded and stole the cattle. Fortunately, they were enabled in the morning
to recover all of their cattle so that they could proceed. The doctor met this train on the Cascades, and then later followed the happy marriage we have mentioned above. While the doctor was superintending a train across the plains in 1853, he came across a man that had been abandoned by the train that preceded his, the poor unfortunate being left to die. The doctor, like the Good Samaritan, picked up this helpless man and nursed him to life, using his medical
skill to restore him. His train was stampeded on the Snake river and many of their horses were never recovered. When he was below the Cascades, he barely escaped being murdered by the Indians in 1856, the date of a terrible massacre in that section. At one time the doctor had the misfortune to fall through a poorly constructed bridge in Portland. He landed twenty-six and one-half feet below and it was supposed that he was dead, for three days and nights he lay speechless, but he was enabled finally to pull through, although to-day he is suffering from the effects of this same fall, however, he has received no remuneration from the city for their failure.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2005 by Diana Smith.

Found on http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~jtenlen/ORBios/mdmorris.txt