Ohio History Journal


OHIO STATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL

OHIO STATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL

SOCIETY

REVIEWS, NOTES AND COMMENTS

 

JAMES R. MORRIS

James R. Morris was born at Rogersville, Green County,

Pennsylvania, January 10, 1820. He died at Woodsfield, Ohio,

December 24, 1899.

His father, Joseph Morris, was elected to Congress in 1843

and re-elected two years later.

Joseph Morris moved with his family to Waynesburgh,

Pennsylvania, in 1828, in the following year to Antioch, Ohio,

and two years later to Woodsfield, Ohio.

James R. Morris received his education in the common

schools and the printing office. He studied law in Woodsfield

and was admitted to the bar October 25, 1843.  In this year

his father, who was county treasurer, was elected to Congress

and the son was appointed to fill the unexpired term.  In 1844

he founded the Spirit of Democracy, which is still published.

In 1857 he was nominated for the office of state treasurer but

was defeated with the state ticket of his party.

In 1860 Judge Morris was elected to Congress as a Demo-

crat and re-elected in 1862.  He supported the war measures

of President Lincoln, whom he greatly admired.  In 1872 he

was elected probate judge of Monroe County and re-elected in

1875. He served as postmaster at Woodsfield, from January 1,

1886, to July 1, 1889.

His description of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln is

published for the first time in this issue.

 

 

JUDGE JOHN CLEVES SYMMES

On page 15 of this issue of the QUARTERLY is published a

portrait of Judge John Cleves Symmes. This is from an en-

graving which in 1902 was in the possession of his great-grand-

daughter, Mrs. Betty Harrison Eaton of North Bend, Ohio. The

Judge had a nephew who bore the same name, John Cleves

Symmes, and whose portrait in public prints has been confused

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