Santa
Clara County
Biographies
KENNETH MORRISON
As a contractor and builder Mr.
Morrison has established a reputation for himself in his home town of Santa
Clara and the surrounding country, where many evidences of his skill and
workmanship may be seen. Thoroughly drilled in the carpenter’s trade in early
boyhood, he is an adept in that occupation and thus laid the foundation for
successful work in the line of contracting. As a partner in business he has his
brother, Angus
R. Morrison, and the two are known all through this section of
country as reliable, accurate and trustworthy contractors. Their contracts are
principally for residences and they excel in the construction of houses suited
to this climate and environment, but in addition they have had many contracts
for building of a public nature or for business purposes.
In Ontario, Canada, Kenneth Morrison
was born February 4, 1866, being the third among eight sons and four daughters,
whose parents John D. and Mary (Cameron) Morrison, are
natives of Canada and now residents of Santa Clara. The father has been a
lifelong follower of the carpenter’s trade and, although now sixty-five years
of age, has not entirely retired from the occupation, but is still to be seen
assisting in the construction of buildings in his home city. After attending
school during early childhood years Kenneth Morrison was apprenticed to the
carpenter’s trade under his father, whose careful oversight and efficient
training made him a skilled workman at an early age. Not desiring to remain in
Canada permanently, in 1891 he crossed the border into the states. Immediately
thereafter he settled in California, where he secured employment at his trade
in the city of Oakland. Since 1893 he has made his home in Santa Clara, where
he has risen from carpentering by the day to the business of a contractor. A
careful, conscientious workman, those who have once availed themselves of his
services testify as to his skill and fidelity.
The marriage of Mr. Morrison, in San
Francisco, united him with Miss Christie Munroe, who was born in Ontario,
Canada. The only child of their union, David Munroe, is deceased. Since coming
to the United States Mr. Morrison has not affiliated with any political party,
but has voted for the men and measures he believes best calculated to advance
the welfare of his community. In religion he is identified with the Santa Clara
Presbyterian Church. Being a gentleman of genial disposition and social
qualities, he enjoys the activities of fraternal organizations, and is prominent
in the workings of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Fraternal Aid
Association, Liberty Lodge No. 299, F. & A. M., and the Eastern Star of
Santa Clara; also Santa Clara Lodge No. 52, I. O. O. F., the Encampment and the
Order of Rebekahs.
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 921-922. The
Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Cecelia M. Setty.