Sacramento County
Biographies
EDWARD MORRIS
To a period far exceeding the usual business activities of
even the most robust men Mr. Morris has retained his old-time quickness of
mental faculties, energy of action and vigor of health, thereby enabling him to
continue the pursuits in which he is most deeply interested. Notwithstanding his more than four score years he still keeps posted
concerning national problems, reads current literature with unabated interest
and carries his daily duties through to a successful accomplishment. The printing business has been his life
occupation. When a mere lad, just from
Grammar School No. 2 in New York City, he began an apprenticeship to the trade
and soon had mastered its many intricacies so that he was qualified to work as
a journeyman. Born in New
York City February
22, 1828, he spent not only child-hood there but also youth and
young manhood and for twenty-two years was a valued employee of the Appleton
Publishing Company. The marriage of Mr.
Morris took place in the eastern metropolis November 10, 1850, in the Church of the Epiphany
(Episcopal), and united him with Miss Julia Fiddes,
who was born in London, England. Six children were born of the union, but one
daughter, Julia, died when only nine months old. The eldest son, James F., has resided with
his parents since the death of his wife, who left two children, a son and a
daughter. The second son, Edward,
formerly a noted baseball player, is now a resident of Pittsburg,
Pa.
The daughters are Mrs. Phoebe Leadley, Mrs.
Jane L. Wiggins and Adelaide, wife
of Charles Schoenfelat. During 1877 Mr. Morris crossed the continent
to San Francisco and secured
employment as a printer. Being pleased
with the western country, he sent for his wife and family, who joined him
later, thus establishing a permanent home in this state. After a con-siderable
period in San Francisco, removal
was made to Sacramento in 1885, and
in this city Mr. Morris has been engaged with the state printing office for
twenty-seven consecutive years, meanwhile winning a reputation for fidelity,
intelligent service and thorough familiarity with the printing business.
After he had become a resident of Sacramento
and had felt the need of a permanent residence, Mr. Morris bought property well
located and erected a neat cottage, where he and his wife have since improved
their grounds and made an attractive home.
In addition, he has owned other property in the city and occasionally
has helped to promote local enterprises by the loan of funds, doing this less
from hope of moneyed returns than from a desire to advance the wel-fare of the city.
On two occasions he and his wife have returned to New
York City to visit the scenes familiar to their
younger days. Their last trip was made
during the summer of 1911, when they stopped at El Paso, Memphis, Denver and
Chicago, also visited their son in Pittsburg, and found in the renewal of old
associates and the visits to new scenes such a delightful change that they
returned to their Sacramento home refreshed in body and mind, but firm in their
long-cherished belief that no part of the country excels our own west in all
that makes life enjoyable. Indeed, they
attribute their own preservation of health to such advanced years almost wholly
to their removal to the western coast and their identification with a climate
healthful and invigorating.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento
County, California, Pages 481-482. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1913.
© 2005 Sally Kaleta.