Butte County
Biographies
JAMES EVERETT MORROW
James
Everett Morrow, who is superintendent of the United States Plant Introduction
Gardens at Chico, California, is well known as a horticulturist and his service
in the governmental department devoted to the interests of horticulture
throughout the country has been most valuable.
He is considered an expert in his profession and has a wide and
comprehensive knowledge of growing conditions in all sections of the land. His department is one of the most beneficial
aids of the government to the citizens who are producing the country’s various
crops from the soil, and who have helped in the development of this work by
cooperating with Mr. Morrow and others in similar positions.
James
e. Morrow was born in Sutter County, California, October 27, 1877, a son of
Benjamin Franklin and Mary Jane (Compton) Morrow. The father was a native of Kentucky, and
served in the Civil War. In 1866 he came
across the plains to California by covered wagon train, encountering the
typical experiences of the emigrant with hostile Indians, and in Utah with
belligerent Mormons, who believed the travelers had designs upon their
lands. Benjamin F. Morrow settled at
Meridian, Sutter County, California, and was a stockman and farmer there until
his untimely death by drowning in the Sacramento River in 1882. He also did some mining on the Buttes at
Marysville, California. His wife, who
was born in Missouri in 1832 and was of English descent, died in 1916. They were the parents of eight children,
namely: William Jefferson, now deceased,
who was a farmer and superintendent of a large cattle ranch; Ella Eliza, who
married Louis Fouts, now deceased; Mary Julia, who married George F. Ditzler, a
horticulturist who died at the age of forty-one; Betty Lillian, who was the
wife of Ivory S. Moore, and died at the age of nineteen years; Thomas, who died
in infancy; Charles F., who died at the age of fifty-six years; Laura S., the
wife of Ed Steadman, a horticulturist of Oroville, California; and James E.
James
E. Morrow received his education in the public schools of Meridian, California,
and at Beggs’ & Heald’s Business College in San Francisco, California,
where he studied English as well as commercial subjects. He then engaged in teaching school for two
years, after which he followed the fruit canning business in San Francisco for
an interval. He was manager of the
Emeryville, California, plant of this company for
three years.
Mr.
Morrow then entered the service of the United States government at Santa Ana,
California, in the horticultural department.
This was in connection with the United States Plant Introduction
Gardens, which are designed to introduce and propagate plants, trees and every growing
thing which is produced in the section where each plant is located. He spent two years in Santa Ana in this work,
then farmed for himself for a few years, beginning in
1906. Later he reentered the government
horticultural service, working up to a superintendency and managership. He was assigned to take charge of the
Brookville plant in Florida and was there until 1919, when he was sent to the
plant in Rockville, Maryland, near Washington, D. C., there remaining until
January 3, 1921, when he was transferred to his present station in Butte
County, California, where he has been superintendent and manager ever
since. Over fifty thousand plants are
propagated annually at this place, and every variety of plant and tree is
thoroughly tested, including many foreign plants. Visitors from all parts of the world call to
learn of and inspect the work through the willing assistance of Mr. Morrow.
James
E. Morrow was married to Miss Grace Louise Jesser, who was born in Butte
County, a daughter of Frank and Anna (Lund) Jesser, both of whom are now deceased. The father was a farmer of prominence. Mrs. Morrow is a graduate of the State
Teachers College at Chico, California, and taught school for three years prior
to their marriage. They have one child,
Marian June, who was born July 5, 1921.
Mr.
Morrow is a Democrat but has never sought political preferment. He is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge at
Rockville, Maryland; the chapter and commandery at Chico; and Ben Ali Temple of
the Mystic Shrine at Sacramento. His
religious affiliation, as well as that of this family, is with the Baptist
Church. Mr. Morrow’s favorite sport is
baseball, in which he has always maintained an active interest.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J. W. Major, History of
Sacramento Valley California, Vol. 2 Pages 306-307. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010 Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden
Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies