Max Wolsworth Morris
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 3 Nov 1877 - Iuka, Alma, Marion, Illinois, USA
Christening: 5 Sep 2009
Death: 23 Oct 1945 - Roxbury, McPherson, Kansas, USA
Burial: in Roxbury, McPherson, Kansas, USA
Cause of Death:
Events
• Travel: Per Nellie's Bible ( she had an older brother living there), 25 Dec 1903, Alburquerque, New Mexico, USA.
• Travel: Per Nellie's Bible ( Nellie's father lived there), 25 Dec 1904, Alamoso, Colorado.
• Travel: 25 Dec 1905, Richfield, Kansas.
Parents
Father: William H. Morris
Mother: Ariadne Permelia Berry Gain
Spouses and Children
1. *Eleanor May Schultz
Marriage: 18 Sep 1906 - Canton, McPherson County, Kansas, USA
Children:
1. Forrest Maxwell Morris
2. Burt Leroy Morris
Notes
General:
Per 1895 Kansas Census: Gypsum Creek, McPherson County, KansasResearch:
W. H. Morris, 56 year old white male, born in New York. A farmer who moved to Kansas from Illinois, he elisted in the military in New York, served in F company , 16th regiment, Infantry.
M. A. Morris, 36 year old white female, born in Iowa, moved to Kansas from Missouri.
L. M. Morris, 21 year old white female, born in Illinois, moved from there to Kansas.
M. W. Morris, 17 year old white male, born in Illinois, moved from there to Kansas.
C. E. Morris, 13 year old white female, born in Kansas.
R. E. Morris, 12 year old white male, born in Kansas.
L. L. Morris, 10 year old white male, born in Kansas.
J. J. Morris, 8 year old white male, born in Kansas.
W. A. Morris, 4 year old white male, born in Kansas.
Per Butte City, Montana 30 Apr 1903 Withdrawal Card fron the Western Federation of Miners (organized may 15, 1893) This Certifies That Brother Max Morris, of the Mill and Smeltmen #74, being desirous of leaving the juridiction of said Union, and having paid all demands against him, this card is granted. This Union releases him from all dues, fines and assessments while holding this card, and he surrenders all rights and privileges as a member in good standing. By the issuance of this cardwe cordially commend our Brother-Miner to the kind consideration of workingmen everywhere.
Dec 25, 1903, per Family Bible in the possession of their granddaughter, Max and Eleanor were in Alburquerque, New Mexico. Nellie had an older brother who lived in Alburquerque.
Per 1905 Kansas Census: Canton, McPherson Co, Kansas
L. E. Jackson, 32, and Lillie Jackson, 30. L(loyd) was born in West Virginia and moved from there to Kansas, where he works in a livery. L(illie) was born in Illinois, and moved to Kansas from there. She is a housekeeper.
Living next door is 27 year old Max Morris, Lillie's brother. He moved to Kansas from Illinois, where he was born. He is also employed in a livery.
Dec 25, 1904, per Family Bible in the possession of their granddaughter, Max and Eleanor were in Alamoso, California. Nellie's father lived in Alamoso at one time.
Dec 25, 1905, per Family Bible in the possession of their granddaughter, Max and Eleanor were in Richfield, Kansas
Per 1910 US Census: 4/20/1910, Gypsum Creek Township, McPherson County, Kansas
Head of household is 32 year old white male Max W. Morris, born in Illinois, father in New York, mother in Illinois. Employed as farmer on a general farm, he rents his home on a farm. He has been married once, for three years to 26 year old Elenor Morris, born in Kansas, father in Kansas, mother in Indiana. She has had 2 children, one still living. Forrest M. Morris is their 2 year old son, born in Kansas.
Per WWI Draft Registration Card: 9/12/1918
Max Walworth Morris born November 3, 1877, has permanent address at R.F.D. 1, in Roxbury, PcPherson Co., Kansas. Native born, 40 years old, white race, Max is self-employed as a farmer in SE Sec. 25, 17-1. His listed nearest relative is his wife Eleanor Morris, same RFD address. His physical description is medium height, slender build, blue eyes and black hair, with no physical deformities.
Per 1920 US Census: 1/13/1920, Gypsum Creek Township, McPherson County, Kansas
Head of household is 42 year old white male, Max Morris, who owns his home. He was born in Illinois, his father in New York, his mother in Illinois. A farmer on a general farm, he is married to 30 year old Nellie Morris. Nellie was born in Kansas as was her father, and her mother was born in Indiana. They have a 12 year old son, Forest Morris, born in Kansas and attending school. Living with the family is a 20 year old white servant, Lawrence Perkins of Kansas, who works out on the farm.
Per 1925 Kansas Census: Gypsum Creek Township, McPherson County, Kansas
Head of household is 47 year old white male Max Morris, who owns his mortgaged home, and was born in Illinois and moved from there to Kansas. His wife, Eleanor M. Morris, is 40 and was born in Kansas. Their two sons, both born in Kansas, are 17 year old Forrest and 3 year old Burt.
Per 1930 US Census: 4/17/1930 Gypsum Creek Township, McPherson County, Kansas
Head of household is 52 year old white male Max W. Morris, who owns his home on a farm. Not a veteran, Max is a farmer on his general farm. He is married to 45 year old Elnor M. Morris. They married when Max was 27 and Elnor was 22. They have two sons. Forrest M. Morris is 22, single, and works as a laborer on the farm. The other son is 9 year old Burt L. Morris, who attends school. The kids were born in Kansas. Max was born in Illinois, his father in New York, his mother in Illinois. Elnor was born in Kansas, her father in Poland, her mother in Indiana.
I asked Man's grandaughter, Marilyn Tart, if this was her father, and she thought not for the reasons below. I will keep off the general notes page unless we find out more.Marriage Notes (Eleanor May Schultz)
"You brought up an interesting question and I had to do some quick research. My answer to your question is: I don't know for sure if that was my grandfather - but I don't think it is. The ONLY discrepency with the 1900 listing you sent from Nevada is the birthplace of Max's mother, which says Ohio, and my information says she was born in Illinois. I knew that Max had lived in Alamosa, CO and Hugoton, KS while in his 20's but I've never heard that he went to Nevada. But, that doesn't mean he never did. There seems to be quite a few Max Morris's born around that time doesn't there?" per Marilyn Tart via email dated 8/31/2009.
And again 9/4/2009
Hello again,
I don't know about you but I'm having a barrel of fun browsing through some of my old family 'stuff' and finding things I've never paid much attention to before. ;-)
I happened across the attached laminated paper which shows my grandfather Max Morris once belonged to the Western Federation of Miners in Butte, Montana. This was in 1902 / 1903 when he was 24/25 yrs old. He wasn't married until Sept. 1906, so he very well could have been wandering around the west - and into Nevada - during the 1900 Census. Since Max's mother died right after his birth, and much of the Gain family had come from Ohio, he may have mistakenly told the census taker that his mother's birthplace was in Ohio. Of course I'm just speculating all of this and I don't have any proof, but it's very possible.
The newspaper article about his marriage says Max had a homestead in Morton County, which is the far southwest county of KS. The only copy of a Land Grant for Max that I have (filed at Dodge City, KS and signed by Theodore Roosevelt), is dated January 23, 1908. It's for 160 acres but doesn't give a county or town area. This would have been 4 months after my father was born in Roxbury, KS where my grandparents lived when he was born. I have lots of old postcards, and many letters which the family wrote back and forth to one another so maybe someday I'll be able to fit together the pieces of the details of their lives.
That all for now.
Per 1900 US Census: 6/10/1900, North Fork Precinct, Elko County, Nevada
Head of household is 71 year old Austin Gilrust, single, a Virginian who owns his ranch. Boarding with him is 22 year old single white male Max Morris, born in Illinois, employed as a laborer, unemployed for one month. Max's father was born in New York, his mother in Ohio.
[Note, Elko was a gold mining community founded in 1869, and soon became the capital of the so called cattle ranching empire encompassing parts of four states. When mining fortunes faded, despite the ranching success, Elko did not flourish until 1907 when the Western Pacific Railroad reached Elko. There was a subsequent gold revival that continues today, ebbing and flowing with the price of Gold. Elko remains a cowboy type of small town today. At the time of the census, most of the people living in North Fork were ranchers, miners, and laborers.]
Wedding announcement from the edition of The Canton Pilot, Canton, McPherson County, Kansas, Friday, September 21, 1906
Morris-Schultz (misspelled Shultz)
Max Morris of Canton and Miss Eleanor Schultz were married at Charley Barnes Tuesday night, Rev. Jno. P. Woods of the Roxbury Baptist church officiating. Mr. and Mrs. Morris are both excellent young people and are well known to the Pilot readers. Mr. and Mrs. Morris will soon leave for Morton county where Max has a homestead.