DEATH OF A SPLENDID CITIZEN

The death of John M. Morris, at his home in this city, at 10 o'clock Saturday night, Dec. 21, drew down upon this entire community a pall of deepest gloom. It was with deep and profound regret that such depressing news was rapidly spread, as the death of this good man came as a personal loss to all.

While the coming of the grim monster was not unexpected, everyone was hoping that "Uncle Jack's" time had not yet arrived for his final departure, and that he would be spared to them yet awhile longer. For "Uncle Jack" as he was affectionately called, was known to everyone in this community, and was universally loved for his many commendable traits of character.

While he has passed his four-score years, he was, until sickness overtook him, a daily visitor downtown, where he was always joyfully hailed by many friends. He was a natural leader, in any business in which he was engaged; hence his remarkable business success in life was generally accepted as matter of course. He was truly a "man among men" whom to know was to honor and to respect.

One who knew him intimately, and for years, has prepared for The Times the following obituary, which is printed just as it was turned over to this paper:

John M. Morris was born in Louisa County, Virginia, October 21, 1838, and died at his residence in Farmington, Mo., December 21, 1918, being 80 years and 2 months old.

He served four years in the Civil War as a Confederate soldier, and was in most all of the great battles, under Generals. Lee and Jackson (Stonewall), from Bull Run to Appomattox, surrendering with General Lee on April 19, 1865; he came to Potosi, Mo., in 1866, and went to work for "the Clarksons" at their milling camp, having arrived in Potosi with only one dollar in cash; he later moved to Des Arc, Iron County, Mo., and began his long and successful career as a merchant and lumberman; his wife died in 1886, and he never remarried, but, securing his niece to keep house for him, he devoted the rest of his life to raising his children, George M., James C., Walter Lee, and Mrs. Masie Morris Washburn, all of whom survive him, together with his niece, Miss Mollie Perkins, whose devotion to him during thirty years has endeared her to him and his children.

He moved to Farmington in October, 1899, and brought with him his entire family; his three sons having established the mercantile firm of Morris Brothers.

He was a man of untiring energy, fine business ability, absolutely honest in all his dealings, a member of the Baptist Church, and, while possessing a very positive character and having the ability and willingness to defend his position on all questions, was very kind and charitable.

In business he was very successful. But it is not this standard that must measure his worth; rather it is that he devoted his life to his family - their success and proper training was his sole earthly ambition; and he had that firm faith in his Savior which caused him to believe that his errors of judgment, his mistakes and sins, though deeply regretted, were all forgiven; in his last illness he often expressed the wish that he might not be a charge upon his loved ones, but as his life had been long, and now at its close, he might be permitted to fall asleep in the arms of his Savior. Absent from us, in the flesh, yet ever present with us in example and influence that ennobles every life with whom he came in contact sufficiently close to enable one to really understand him.

His funeral was conducted from his late residence Monday afternoon by his pastor, Rev. O. H. L. Cunningham, assisted by Revs. Boyd and Duggins; his remains were interred in Parkview Cemetery.

Published by THE FARMINGTON TIMES, Farmington, St. Francois Co. MO, December 27, 1918.