1905 History of Crawford County Kansas

Captain D. K. Morris, of Lincoln township, is one of the old settlers, having come here shortly after the Civil war, in which he gave full need of patriotic service, is a prosperous and progressive farmer, and in public affairs and private life has manifested the high degree of integrity and worthy endeavor which make for ideal citizenship, and accomplishment.

Captain Morris was living in Warren county, Illinois, when the Civil war came on, and at Monmouth of that county, on August 7, 1862, he enlisted and was chosen sergeant of Company H. Eighty-third Illinois Infantry, under Captain W. G. Bond and Colonel A. C. Harding. From Monmouth they were ordered to Cairo, Illinois, and then to Fort Hineman, Kentucky, their first important engagement being at Fort Donelson. They were campaigning all through Tennessee, being at Nashville, Pulaski, Clarksville, and on other battle grounds, under General Hooker part of the time and were fighting the noted Confederate General Hood. Captain Morris was mustered out at Nashville and went home with an honorable record as a soldier.

Born in Jackson county, Ohio, September 29, 1837, Captain Morris was a son of James and Nancy (Price) Morris, the former born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and serving as a soldier in the war of 1812. The father was a successful farmer; in politics followed the fortunes of the Democratic party for a number of years, but later became a Republican; he and his wife were members of the Christian church. The mother died in Warren county, Illinois. There were seven children in the family, four sons and three daughters, and two other sons were soldiers of the Civil war; namely, Joshua R., of the Thirtieth Illinois, and William, of the Tenth Illinois Infantry.

Captain Morris was reared on the home farms in the states of Ohio and Illinois. In 1860 he was married to Miss Sarah Hendrick, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Burke) Hendrick, both of whom were born in Kentucky, and the latter died in Warren county, Illinois, and the father, a farmer, a Republican and a member of the Christian church, died in Kansas. There were eight children in the Hendrick family, and two of the sons, James M. and John T., were soldiers of the Sixty-fourth Illinois Infantry.

On coming to this county in 1867 Mr. Morris bought a good tract of land, and his farm of one hundred and twenty acres is now recognized as one of the best in Lincoln township, affording a most comfortable home place in which the Captain and his family have passed so many years. There are five children living, as follows: Robert T., of Coalville, Kansas: Laura Hastings, of Big Cabin, Indian Territory; James, of Mineral, Kansas; Ellen Willard, of Big Cabin, Indian Territory; and John, on the home farm. Captain Morris is a strong Republican, and has served as justice of the peace in his township for twenty-four years. He is a member of Arcadia Post No. 472, G. A. R. Mrs. Morris is a member of the Christian church.