Morris

The Jonithan and Sophia Morris Children

Ann Eliza (Morris) Preston, wife of Caleb Mead Preston, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, near Brownsville, April 12th, 1820.  At the age of ten she removed with her parents to Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where she lived until she was married in 1845.  She was a school teacher for several years.  She loved to ride "horse back" and was an expert rider.

Her father, Jonathan Morris was the son of Isaac Morris and was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, April 7th, 1787.

Her mother, Sophia (Baker) Morris was the daughter of Aaron Baker.  They were married September 7th, 1809.  To them were born eleven children:

Mr. Morris lived in Washington County, Pennsylvania until 1830, when they removed to Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where they purchased a large and beautiful farm.  Being a strong Abolitionist, his home became one of the principal stations on the "Underground Railroad."  Many wagon loads of runaway slaves were brought to his home in the night and hidden by day.   Rested and fed, they were taken on in the darkness of the night to the next station, and so on to freedom in Canada.  His children married and moved to Ohio.   So in 1850, he sold the farm and followed them to near Alliance where he again purchased a fine farm home.  Unknown to him his Beaver County farm was underlayed with "Channel Coal" that would have made him a fortune.

A remarkable thing about the Morris family was a reunion that was held when the youngest child was fifty years old.   Father, mother and eleven children were all there.  The first death came when the youngest was fifty-two.  After this reunion they broke up the old home and lived with their children until death.

Jonathan was 86 and his wife 84 years old when death ended their long and very happy lives.  They were buried in the Friends burying ground near Augusta, Ohio.

The Morris and Baker families were of Welsh-English ancestry.  They were members of the Quaker Society and were prominent in the early history of the country.

Jonathan Morris of Chester County, Pennsylvania came from Wales with the West family and married Mary West, an elder sister of Benjamin West, the famous artist and president of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, and artist to the King.  Benjamin West had a world-wide reputation as an artist and painter.  His sister's little daughter, Sarah Morris, was the subject of his first drawing, when but twelve years old.  That picture was the beginning of his fame.

Mary (West) Morris was the mother of Isaac Morris, who was the father of Jonathan Morris, who was the father of Ann Eliza (Morris) Preston, wife of Caleb Mead Preston.

Return to McFarlane Clan Home Page