Benjamin Morris

Benjamin Morris was born 20 M 1804 in North Carolina, died 29 Aug 1871 in Cass County, buried in Linden Cemetery. He married (1) Rebecca Holland in Lincoln County, North Carolina on 10 Mar 1831 and had three children:

1. Margaret Jane Morris, born 22 Aug 1832, NC; died 01 Apr 1912, Cass County. She married John Beaty, born 05 Sep 1820. died 1894, both buried in the Concord Cemetery in Cass County. They had eight children: (1) William B. Alexander “Alec” Beaty, born 1852, married Martha Savannah Arnold; (2) N. B. Josephine Beaty, born Jul 1856. married W. H. Boone 07 Jan 1881, and had one daughter: Victoria “Vee” Boone; (3) Victoria E. E. Beaty’, born 1858, married Demps Barrel) on 07 Jan 1881; (4) Mary R. Beaty. 1859-1889. buried Union Hill Cemetery, Cass County. She married Joseph H. Green on 02 Feb 1881 and had at least three children, possibly more: Pearl Green. 1881-1910; Walter Green, 1887-1889; and Infant born and died 1889.; (5) Robert A. “Bobby” Beaty, born 01 Sep 1867, died 09 Mar 1929, buried Concord Cemetery. Bobby had a fever at age 9 which resulted in some brain damage. In spite of this, he had a phenomenal memory, was called on to locate lost graves, etc. as he never seemed to forget anything he’d ever seen or known. He always went dressed up and wore a hat, was a very pleasant and well-liked man. Died single.; (6) Edgar Beaty, born 1871, married Sarah. They had one known child, Frank Beaty, who lived in Titus County, worked for Lone Star Steel.; (7) Edna Beaty, twin of Edgar, born 1871, died in infancy.; (8) Samuel Warner “Sam” Beaty, born 08 Jul 1873, died 15 Nov 1959. He married” Lotha Naomi Steger, born 28 Nov 1886, died 08 Sep 1955, both buried in Concord Cemetery. They had four children: Margaret Lillian Beaty, Samuel Lawrence “S. L.” Beaty, Robert Warner Beaty, and Meeta Mozelle Beaty.

At least two, possibly more, Beaty slaves were buried outside the West end of the Concord Cemetery. Two graves, located toward the east side of the original cemetery have been designated and marked with small stones engraved “Slave.” There is a place on Cypress Creek still known as Beaty Ford, named for John Beaty.

2. Rosa S. Morris was born 24 Feb 1835 and died 19 Feb 1917, buried in Linden Cemetery. Rosa married William L. Davenport, 20 May 1833-11 Aug 1915. They had four children: (1) Viola Davenport (Ellington), 1867-1933; (2) Mary Sue Davenport (Swint); (3) Eula Estelle Davenport, married Hugh Hall McWhorter. (Grandparents of Don Henley of rock music fame); (4) Dora Bell Davenport, died in infancy.

3. Maria E. Morris, born 1839, married George Simpson Cox. There are three small markers in the Concord Cemetery bearing the name “Cox” only. Maria died at a young age and George remarried.

Rebecca Morris died sometime after the birth of Maria, and Benjamin married Sarah Caroline Rankin. Their children were:

4. Mary Rebecca “Beckie” Morris was born 17 Jan 1845, died 12 Nov 1933, buried Hughes Springs Cemetery. She married William Thomas “Will” Smith, 28 Dec 1842-16 Sep 1879. Their children were: (1) Alice Adoscus Smith (Henderson); (2) William F. “Will” Smith; Cynthia Caroline “Came” Smith (Henderson); Walter Benjamin Smith; and Addie Elizabeth Smith (Stackpole - Cloninger).

5. Catherine Addie Morris, born 12 Sep 1847. died 17 Aug 1885. Died single, buried in Shelton-Rankin Cemetery. 6. Benjamin F. Morris, born ca 1850.

7. Richard H. Morris, born 02 Sep 1852, died 12 Jul 1884, died single, buried in Shelton-Rankin Cemetery.

8. L. J. Morris, born ca 1856. We are not sure of her name, some say “Levina”.

9. Rufus Ferdinand “Ferd” Morris, born 24 Feb 1857, died 15 Oct 1889. Died single. He was a carpenter, built some furniture that is still in the family.

Benjamin Morris was among the first group to move from Gaston County, North Carolina to Cass County, Texas. In 1939, Ellie B. Cloninger wrote that the first of our kin who came to Texas from North Carolina were Uncle Bennie Morris with his second wife, eight children, wagons, horses, and cattle, and fifteen slaves. With him, also, came Spencer Shelton with his second wife and children, and John Beaty and his family. They left North Carolina in 1856 and landed in the Concord Community in January 1857. They forded the rivers, crossed the Mississippi somewhere below Memphis. The trip took several weeks. Uncle Bennie bought and cleared several hundred acres of land between Flat Creek and Cypress Creek in Cass County.

Submitted by Audrey

Cook Rankin