JOSEPH MORRISON

JOSEPH MORRISON, eldest son of John and Hannah (Yerkes) Morrison, born October 18, 1794, died July 30, 1880, became one of the most distinguished citizens of Bucks county.  He was born in Delaware county, and learned the trade of a miller with Amos Addis, in Moreland, and on his marriage to the daughter of his preceptor he removed to Northampton township, Bucks county, where he owned and operated the Rocksville Mills for fifty years.  Early in life he took an active interest in the organization of the local militia, and eventually filled every commissioned position in the organization from captain to brigadier-general, and was esteemed the best informed man in the county on military tactics.  He was elected to the office of commissioner of Bucks county in 1836, and served three years.  In 1840 he served a term as county treasurer.  He filled the responsible position of recorder of deeds for the term 1852-4, He served as associate justice of Bucks county courts for fifteen years, 1863 to 1878.  He married in 1822 Eleanor Addis, born December 11, 1802, died January 8, 1870, daughter of Colonel Amos Addis, who for many years operated a mill in Moreland Township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania.  He was born in Moreland or Oxford township, and was a son of Nehemiah and Grace Addis, and a grandson of John Addis, an early settler in Oxford township, Philadelphia county, where he died in 1724.  Richard and John Addis, the pioneers of the family in Northampton township, Bucks County, from whose family, Addisville (now Richboro) took its name, were older brothers of Nehemiah Addis.  The children of Joseph and Eleanor (Addis) Morrison were:  Amos Addis, born May 27, 1823, married Mary Coxhead; John born March 13, 1827, died in Tennessee in 1864, while a soldier in the Union army; Johnson, born November 16, 1827, married Mary Hobensack; Ruth Ann, born July 30, 1830, married J. Krewson Cornell; Charles B., born March 31, 1832, married Mary A. Feaster; Eliza Ann, born September 9, 1835; Mary Ellen, born October 12, 1839, married Joseph F. Whitall of Southampton; Hannah Rebecca, born May 7, 1841; and Andrew Jackson.  Judge Joseph Morrison, married (second) Mary Ann Lashley, widow of Lambert Lashley, of Wrightstown, and died at the Anchor, in Wrightstown, July 30, 1880.

Professor Andrew Jackson Morrison was born and reared in Northampton township and acquired his education at the Central High School of Philadelphia, the Tennent Academy at Hartsville, Bucks county, and the University of Pennsylvania.  He has devoted his whole life to the cause of education.  He was successively principal of the Tillyer, Wheat Sheaf, Landreth, Irving, and Northern Liberties Grammar Schools, and of the Kaighn Grammar School of Camden, New Jersey.  From 1881 to 1883 he was professor of mathematics in the Central High School, Philadelphia; from 1883 to 1898, senior assistant superintendent of public schools in Philadelphia; and acting superintendent during the year 1891.  Since 1898 he has filled the position of principal of the Northeast Manual Training School of Philadelphia.  In 1901, the honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy was conferred upon him by Cedarville college.

Professor Morrison has always kept to the fore front in the cause of education.  He has served two terms as president of the Teachers' Institute of Philadelphia, and two terms as president of the Educational Club of Philadelphia.    He is an active member of the National Educational Association and of the State Teachers' Association, as well as of all the teachers' organizations of Philadelphia.  He and his family are members of the Second Reformed Church of Philadelphia.  He is a member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 130, F. & A. M., and of Kensington Chapter, No. 233, R. A. M.  He is also a member of the Penn Club, and of the Schoolmen's Club.

Professor Morrison was married at Feasterville, Bucks count March 9, 1865 to Julia H. Jones, daughter of Asa Knight Jones, and they are the parents of five children viz.:  Anna Jones Morrison, born January 18, 1866, graduate of the Girls' Normal School; Jennie Singer Morrison, born December 5, 1867, now the wife of Rev. H. W. Haring, D. D., of Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Egbert Heisler Morrison, born March 14, 1870, a graduate of the Central High School, now agent for the Garlock Packing Company; Clara Maria Morrison, born October 16, 1877, a graduate of the Girls' Normal School, residing at home: and Horace Stanton Morrison, born March 20, 1879, a graduate of the Northeast Manual Training School and of the University of Pennsylvania, now associate editor of the Publications of Commercial Museums of Philadelphia.

Text taken from page 138 of: Davis, William W. H., A. M. History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania [New York-Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1905] Volume III

Transcribed November, 2000 by Donna J. Kling of Pennsylvania as part of the Bucks Co., Pa., Early Family Project, www.rootsweb.com/~pabucks/bucksindex.html

Published November 2000 on the Bucks County, Pa., USGenWeb pages at www.rootsweb.com/~pabucks