Sacramento County
Biographies
ALEXANDER WYLIE MORRISON
In point of years of active service Mr.
Morrison has the distinction of being the oldest hotel clerk on the entire
Pacific coast. Coming to the west in young manhood, accident turned him
into the hotel business, and the subsequent success of his efforts proved that
he was admirably qualified for the occupation in which chance or destiny had
placed him. To the traveling public he is known as a genial, tactful
clerk and a companionable man whose interest in his guests impels him to do
everything possible to enhance their comfort during the period of their sojourn
at his hostelry. As may be imagined of one who has been connected with
the same hotel for forty-four years, his circle of acquaintances is wide, and
it may be further added that his friends are as numerous as his acquaintances,
for all who have once come within the sphere of his cordial interest and his
intelligent, courteous attentions consider themselves his friends and
well-wishers. His personal tact and gentlemanly bearing are largely
responsible for the continued popularity of the Western hotel, and when finally
on New Year's of 1901 he purchased a one-half interest in this leading inn of
Sacramento there were a host of patrons to step forward with timely
congratulations and hearty wishes for continued prosperity.
The Morrison ancestry is traced back to
Scotland, whence some of the name were forced to flee
to Ireland during the religious persecutions in their home land. Several
generations lived and labored in the north of Ireland, and there James Morrison
was born at Maguire's Bridge in county Fermanagh.
Early in life he migrated to Canada and settled in the province of Ontario,
where he met and married Miss Abigail Higginson, a
native of Lisburn, near the city of Belfast, Ireland,
but from young girlhood a resident of Canada. The young couple settled at
Boyd's Bridge in the township of Mountain, where a son, Alexander Wylie, was
born December 15, 1846. Altogether their family numbered ten children and
seven of these are still living. During the year 1856 the father bought
one of the finest farms in Ontario, this comprising a tract on the St. Lawrence
River long known as the Col. James McDonald homestead. On that
well-improved farm the children passed the happy years of early life and from
there they started out to earn their own livelihood in the world of
affairs.
After having completed the studies of the
grammar school at Iroquois, Dundas county,
Canada, and after subsequently, September 7, 1867, receiving a diploma from the
Toronto Commercial college, Mr. Morrison, in January, 1868, sailed from New
York en route to San Francisco. Immediately upon his arrival he sought
and found employment in the American Exchange hotel, where he remained for ten
months. A desire to visit relatives led him to resign his position
and return to Canada, but he found himself dissatisfied amid the once loved
surroundings. The spirit of the west had called to him and he was not
content elsewhere. As he was about to start back to resume his old
position in San Francisco, he was asked by a friend, Mrs. Haitley,
to stop over in Sacramento and see her son, Walter Haitley,
in that city. He came over the route on one of the first overland trains
in 1869, and in accordance with the promise made to her stopped in Sacramento
on Saturday and looked up the friend. N. D. Thayer, of the Western hotel,
importuned him to become his clerk, and on Monday he accepted the position in
the Western hotel and never since then has he sought another position or
considered a change of employment. During 1880 he was united in marriage
with Miss Mattie Martha Jones, of Sacramento, daughter of a one-time famous sea
captain and descended from Welsh ancestry. In fraternal relations he is
connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent
Protective Order of Elks.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 785-787. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.