Santa
Clara County
Biographies
SAMUEL
MORRISON
The
rush of emigration westward immediately following the discovery of gold brought
many men to the coast who otherwise would have led quiet, uneventful lives in
the east. Among this class was Samuel Morrison, who dates his residence in
California from July 6, 1849. He is of New England ancestry and was born in
Carroll county, N. H., September 27,1822, being a son of Samuel and Sallie
(Fullerton) Morrison, natives of New Hampshire. His paternal grandfather,
Jonathan Morrison, who was born in Massachusetts and served in the
Revolutionary war, removed from the Bay state to New Hampshire, where he took
up farm pursuits near Sanbornton. From there he removed to Tuftonboro,
Carroll county, and cultivated land there until the
infirmities of age rendered further labor impossible. At the time of his death
he had reached the age of four score years. Samuel Morrison owned a small grist
mill and sawmill and besides operating this plant devoted
considerable attention to trading. When thirty-seven years of age he died at
Melvin Village, Carroll county, leaving two sons and
two daughters. His wife afterward married again and had two sons by the second
marriage. The youngest child of her first union, Samuel Morrison, was one year
old at the time of his father’s death and fourteen when his mother passed away.
For some years before her death he had lived in Boston, but afterward he
removed to New Hampshire and took up his home with his grandfather. At the age
of eighteen he returned to Boston, where he secured a clerkship in a store. All
of his earnings, except such as were absolutely necessary for board and
clothing, were hoarded and in later years enabled him to purchase a grocery
business in Boston.
On learning of gold in California Mr.
Morrison closed out his interests in Boston, secured passage on a ship and
sailed around the Horn and up the Pacific to San Francisco, whence he hastened
to the mines. Results were less encouraging than he had anticipated, and he
therefore sought other means of earning a livelihood. In 1850 he came to Santa
Clara county and preempted one hundred and sixty acres
two miles northeast of Santa Clara, where he conducted farm pursuits for a long
period. During 1868 he moved into town and has since resided in this city, his
present home being at No. 930 Belomy street. In 1871
he built the first Santa Clara gas works, which he operated and at the same
time carried on a plumbing and gas-fitting business. About 1871 he also became
agent and collector for the San Jose Water Company. About 1881 he sold out the
gas plant to the San Jose Gas Company, but continued as their agent for many
years. He also had charge of the San Jose Water Company plant and business in
Santa Clara for about twenty-seven years. More recently he has been retired
from business pursuits, with the exception of the oversight of his property
interests in San Francisco, San Jose and Santa Clara, where he now owns and
rents eight houses. A firm Republican in political views, he has been warmly
interested in matters pertaining to his party and has shown himself to be
progressive in public affairs. Educational matters claim his especial interest
and for many terms he has held the office of school director. For two terms he
held the office of justice of the peace and for one term served as county
supervisor. In his fraternal relations he is active in the work of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being identified with the lodge, encampment
and the Order of Rebekahs.
At Boston, Mass., November 27,1845,
occurred the marriage of Samuel Morrison to Lucia A. Higgins, who was born at
Cape Cod, Mass., being a daughter of Horton and Sally (Nickerson) Higgins, also
natives of Cape Cod. Her father, who was a seaman and trader, died when she was
a small child, and many years later her mother came to the Pacific coast, where
she died in 1868, at sixty-one years of age. Five children were born to the
union of Mr. and Mrs. Morrison. One of these died in infancy, and two, Samuel
A. and Lucy A., died in early years. Only two survive, the daughter, Sally,
being a resident of San Francisco, while the son, Samuel Horton, is with his
parents in Santa Clara. During the long period of their residence in Santa
Clara Mr. and Mrs. Morrison have won the confidence of their associates, and,
on the occasion of the fifty-eighth anniversary of their marriage, in 1903,
they were the recipients of many congratulations from those among whom they
have for so many years made their home.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 296-297. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2014 Cecelia M. Setty.