The Morris Family of Cass County

Samuel Sudder Morris was born in Henry County, Ga. 29 Sept. 1826, the son of Alonzo Peoples and Elizabeth Kuglar Morris. On 1 Oct. 1846 he married Mary Ann Elizabeth James, daughter of David and Sarah Sanders James, a large planter in Henry County, Ga. , where Mary Ann was born on 4 March 1829.

Mr. and Mrs. Morris lived in Stockbridge, Ga. for two years after their marriage, but then decided to move to Texas and accompanied by 15 other families, they made the trip by horse and wagon. It took two months for the journey. They had two little ponies and a small wagon in which to travel. They went first to Harrison County where they lived with Mary Ann’s uncle and Samuel S. was employed as overseer at a salary of $150.00 a year. After accumulating a little money, they moved to Cass County and on 25 Oct. 1851 bought 369 acres near Cusseta.

Samuel S. was for 35 years an itinerant local preacher of the M. E. Church South. He traveled and held meetings in many parts of the county and married the young and old both far and near.

In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate Army; however, being a minister, he was not required to perform Military Duty. He served as First Lieutenant of his Company and was a gallant soldier throughout the war. In 1866, upon returning home from the war, he embarked in the mercantile business in Cass County and in 1867 moved to the town of Linden.

On 23 April 1870 Samuel S. bought Tract E, containing 5 acres, and Lot 7 of Block 2 in the “Old” town of Atlanta from his brother-in-law, Jesse J. Dodd. This was the first deed for lots in the town and Mr. Morris built a residence and store there which he later sold to Geo. H. Salmon. In the meantime, son Lon, with his father’s financial aid, had begun his mercantile business in Linden and was succeeding so well his father decided to move back to Linden and join him in conducting the prosperous business. He continued in the mercantile business in East Texas until 1883 when he and sons R. A. and C. H. bought the Citizens Bank of Pittsburg, re-organizing it and changing the name to Camp County Bank.

Mr. and Mrs. Morris had five sons: David Parks, Reubin Alonzo (Lon), John Sanders, James Bellamy, and Charles Hill.

Samuel S. was a member of the Masonic Lodge, having joined this order in Mc-Donough, Ga. before moving to Texas. He died 27 Mar. 1907 at Pittsburg, Texas. Mary Ann died 7 March 1919 at the home of her son, John S. Morris in Linden. They are buried in Pittsburg, Texas. Charline Morris John Sanders Morris, son of Rev. Samuel Sudder and Mary Ann Elizabeth James Morris, was born 10 March 1852 in Cass County, Texas. He first married Laura F. Rogers, daughter of Francis E. and Sallie A. Rogers. Twelve children were born to them, five of which died as infants. Those living to maturity were David, Myra, Edward, John S. Jr., Bernice, Jeter, and Adlai. Laura died 20 May 1911, and John S. married Olive Faye Hedges on 1 June 1913 at the home of her parents in the Bear Creek Community, Cass County. Olive was born 17 Aug. 1887 in Marion County, the daughter of Joseph Reeder and Julia Irene Thompson Hedges.

John S. and Olive were the parents of two children: Joseph Alonzo Morris, born 21 Apr. 1914 and Eugenia Wilson Morris, born 24 Nov. 1916. Eugenia married 6 Nov. 1934 to Lee Von Hooper. The Hoopers had two sons and five daughters.

Mr. Morris spent almost his entire life in and around Linden where he was for years one of the towns leading businessmen. His General Mercantile Store on the square was for many years the hub of business activities for the community. The Post Office was in his store, and he served as Post Master from 10 Aug. 1893 to 3 Aug. 1897. He was Food Administrator in 1917-1918 during World War I, under appointment by President Woodrow Wilson, whom he admired greatly, even to such extent he named his daughter for him.

During his life he was very active in the affairs of the Methodist Church and served as Sunday School Superintendent for many years. He was one of the original contributors to Southern Methodist University’s Building Fund and proudly wore his Founder’s Club medal as a watch fob. He was a member of the Linden Masonic Lodge #192, also a Scottish Rite 32° Mason and a Shriner, Both he and Olive were Charter Members of the Linden Eastern Star. Olive, called “Dumplings” by her husband and lovingly referred to as “Aunt Dumplings” by all his and Laura’s children and grandchildren, was a champion of the young people and they all loved her. She loved the Order of the Eastern Star and all it stood for and held all offices in the Linden Chapter No. 576. She was also very faithful to her Church and its various activities, especially the WSCS, as Adult Leader of The Epworth League and the Ever-Ready Sunday School Class.

She spent many hours taking the youth on wiener roasts, opossum hunts, overnight fishing trips to Prewitt’s Lake and entertaining them in her home with parties. Her own grandchildren loved her dearly and they and their friends spent many hours with “Granny” because she was never too busy to help them bake cookies and sew doll clothes or to recite poetry or tell stories to them. Little girl slumber parties were an experience they still reminisce on, for the big creaking old house with high ceilings and antique furniture was spooky enough to make the experience an exciting one.

John S. died 15 July 1934, and Olive died 4 Apr. 1967. They are buried in the Linden Cemetery. Laura also lies next to him.

Joseph Alonzo Morris was born 21 Apr. 1914 in Linden, Texas, the son of John S. and Olive Hedges Morris. On 29 Sept. 1937 he was married to Charline Ijuana Wiley. They were married by her grandfather, Rev. S. P. Hamilton at his home in the Center Grove Community. Charline, daughter of Charles E. and Lora Hamilton Wiley, was born 1 Oct.1917 in Linden, Texas. Two daughters were born to them: Rebecca Ann Morris, born 3 Dec. 1946, Linden, Texas, died 15 Oct. 1958 Shreveport, ‘ La. the result of a head injury suffered from a fall at home.

Brenda Sue Morris, born 13 Aug. 1948 in Atlanta, Texas. On 29 May 1970 she was married to Joseph Henry Lazara.

Alonzo graduated in 1932 from Linden High School as valedictorian of his class and although he was offered scholarships for college, he felt he was needed at home to help support his younger sister, mother, and invalid father. He served in the Navy, during World War II, entering 21 May 1943.

He served at Corpus Christi, San Diego arid Okinawa and was Honorably discharged 29 Jan. 1946. Returning home he began his career in the Grocery Business, operating his store on the Northwest corner of the Courthouse Square for 32 years. He sold out and retired in 1978 and on the 21st. of Oct. was honored with a surprise celebration hosted by his employees.

Mayor E. W. Rountree and the City of Linden proclaimed the day “Alonzo Morris Day” and Donny Dowd, a former employee and practicing attorney in Linden, read the Resolution of the City Council ‘’..to acknowledge a debt of gratitude to one of her finest citizens for his many years of unpretentious and meritorious service to the people of this community”. Many friends and former employees came to wish him happiness and “good fishing”.

Charline graduated from Linden High School in 1934 and attended Byrne Business College in Dallas, Texas. Returning home in 1936 she began working for the law firm of Newland, Cornett, and Whitworth. In 1944 she began working for the Farmers Home Administration where she served as office manager; but when Alonzo returned home from service she retired to become a housewife and mother. In 1963 she went back to work, this time in the Cass County Clerk’s Office, where she remained for eighteen years, retiring May 31, 1981.

Alonzo served as President of the Linden-Kildare School Board, Stewart in the Methodist Church, and held offices in the Linden Lion’s Club and Chamber of Commerce. In 1979 he was given an award for his outstanding contribution to the Distributive Education Program of the Linden-Kildare High School.

They live at 102 East Broad Street in Linden, Texas on a lot in the John S. Morris Addition to the City of Linden, and about 100 yards from his parents’ home, the only two homes Alonzo ever lived in.

-Charline Morris