My Genealogy Hound

Hon. John O. Morrison is a native of Barren County, Ky., and was born in 1836. He was the fourth in the family of three sons and eight daughters born to Joseph F. and Martha (Faulkner) Morrison, both natives of Culpeper County, Va., and born respectively in 1800 and 1806, whence, when young, they removed with their parents to Kentucky, where they were married and spent the remainder of their lives. The father was a farmer by occupation, and died in April, 1860; his widow died October 2, 1862. The maternal grandfather of our subject, James Faulkner, was born in Virginia, and died in Pettis County, Mo., several years before the war. John O. Morrison was reared on a farm within thirty miles of Mammoth Cave, Ky., and received his education in the common schools. He remained with his father’s family, assisting in the support of the younger members, until 1867, when he went to Barry County, Mo., and there spent one year as a clerk. He then engaged in merchandising at Linn Creek, under the firm name of Crouch & Morrison, which was successfully conducted until 1872; in the latter year Mr. Morrison formed a partnership with a Mr. Moulder, and entered the mercantile business at Richland. In 1886 Mr. Moulder sold his interest to Capt. Benjamin D. Dodson, with whom Mr. Morrison continued in business until February, 1888, when the firm was dissolved by mutual consent, and both members retired. Mr. Morrison was prominent in organizing the Pulaski County Bank at Richland, of which he is president and one of the principal stockholders. He owns a fine farm of 400 acres in Camden County, about ten miles north of Richland, besides considerable town property, and is one of the prominent and wealthy citizens of Pulaski, which place he has taken an active interest in building up. He was a member of the city council for several years, and November 6, 1888, was elected by the Democratic party, by a large majority, to represent Pulaski County in the Legislature. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., having taken the Royal Arch and Commandery degrees; he is also a member of the A. O. U. W. October 12, 1869, Mr. Morrison married Alice Ferguson, a native of Hannibal, Mo., who died February 10, 1870. In July, 1873, Mr. Morrison married Joe Ann, daughter of Benjamin D. and Joe Ann Dodson. Mrs. Morrison was born in Glaize City, Camden County, in February, 1854, and is the mother of one child. Capt. Benjamin D. Dodson was born in East Tennessee, but when quite young went with his parents to Alabama, subsequently removing to Camden County, Mo., where he was reared and lived many years, but is now a resident of Richland. The maternal grandmother of Mrs. Morrison, Mary K. (Haden) Sprout, was born in Virginia in 1810, and at the age of about five years went with her parents, Joseph and Nancy Haden, to Kentucky, where the father died, and about 1839 the family removed to Springfield, Mo., then but a village; there the mother died, leaving four children. Mary K. was married in 1831, in Kentucky, to John Sprout, who died in 1835, and in 1840, in Springfield, Mo., she was united in marriage with John DeBruin, who died about 1857; she has since lived a widow, and now has her home with Mr. Morrison. She is one of the pioneers of Southern Missouri, and for forty-nine years has been a consistent member of the Christian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison are also members of the Christian Church.