I am always thrilled to find any tidbit of information about an ancestor who lived in Montgomery County, North Carolina. Finding something personal about that ancestor is just over the top for me because it shines a light on day-to-day things that our ancestors experienced and sometimes can reveal a personality that otherwise we’d never know about. It just brings them to life.
I recently found a Newspaper article, “Blown up in the air
half a mile” recounting the thrilling, yet harrowing, experience that George
Washington Morris Jr, my first cousin three times removed, had on 19 Feb 1884
when the great cyclone (tornado) swept through Montgomery County, North
Carolina sending houses, barns, livestock, and evidently, people flying through
the air, killing some and maiming others, leaving them without shelter, food,
or clothes. For sure, I will never look at Buck Mountain again without thinking about George!
In 1884, George and his young family lived in the village of Uwharrie, a charming community surrounded by forest, rivers, creeks, and old gold mines, nestled in the heart of what is now known as the Uwharrie National Forest.
On that dreadful and destructive night, a cyclone (tornado) tore through the county and the house of the Morris family was “swept from its foundation by a terrific force of wind, scattering furniture and the inhabitants in every direction.” George was “picked up by the wild and roaring tempest and carried through space, high up above the earth, among timbers, rails … the wreckage from nearby farms for a distance of half a mile or more, to Buck Mountain, where, by the hand of Providence, he was lowered, as if on a great sheet, until he was on the ground, none the worse physically, save for a few bruises and scratches.” What a harrowing experience!
Within days the Newspapers began reporting the death and destruction left in the wake of the terrible storm. The cyclone “struck between Mt. Gilead and Swift Island” and “extended as far as Uwharrie post office near Sanders Ford five miles or more.” The “mountain lying to the west was swept of its forest.” Later reports in Feb stated the tornado swept up the Uwharrie River, coming across from the Pee Dee, and extended along either side the river …” making me think there was possibly more than one tornado.
Known today as the Enigma tornado outbreak because it is unknown the number of total tornadoes and deaths; on 19 & 20 Feb 1884, one of the largest and most widespread tornado outbreaks in American history occurred over the southeastern United States. In the aftermath, by an inspection of newspaper reports, officials revealed tornadoes striking Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, with an estimation of at least 51—and possibly 60 or more—tornadoes. The outbreak produced the deadliest individual tornado in North Carolina history, with an F4 tornado sweeping through Richmond, Anson, Montgomery, and surrounding counties, killing more than 50 people. (Wikipedia)
George Washington Morris Jr was born 29 Jun 1857 in Montgomery County, North Carolina. His parents are George Washington ‘Watty’Morris Sr and Elizabeth, her maiden name is usually listed as Williams, citing a marriage license dated 23 Dec 1845 in Halifax, North Carolina. This is in error.
After researching the George and Elizabeth Williams Morris in Halifax, North Carolina I found they were still living there in 1870, so this is a different couple than the George and Elizabeth in Montgomery, North Carolina.
According to the death certificate of daughter, Milly Frances Morris Brewer Boyd, Elizabeth’s maiden name is Dennis. I think she is possibly the daughter of Jesse and Frances Blalock Dennis. mtDNA testing on female-to-female descendants may help uncover her maiden name.
The 1860 Census shows George Jr, age one, living with his parents in Beans (probably current day Ophir area). Also living in the home are sisters Elizabeth and Milly, named after her grandmother, Amelia ‘Milly’ Morris, and brother, John, named after his grandfather, John Jacky Morris. George Sr is making a living for his family as a farmer.
Note: Tryon Morris is listed as a near neighbor and while in normal circumstances the Census can and should be used to show family members with the same surname living close to one another, it should be used with caution – not all people with the same surname are the same family.
There were at least two (perhaps more) Morris lines in Montgomery County, and both have been Y-DNA tested. Tryon Morris, a descendant of Haton Morris, is in Group M02 at FTDNA. The John Jacky Morris line is in GroupM29 at FTDNA. So, while these Morris families did intermarry with one another, as is the case with George Washington Morris Jr whose wife, Kizzie Morton, descends from the Morris line of Group M02 at FTDNA, the Morris’s are not related along their Y-DNA line. George Morris descends from John Jacky Morris and his line is Group M29 at FTDNA.
1870 finds 10-year-old George living with his parents, G. W. (George Washington) Morris Sr and Elizabeth in Ophir. His brother John is noted as 18 years old and sisters Frances and Julia 15 and 7 respectively.
On 11 Aug 1878 George married Margaret Keziah ‘Kizzie’ Morton, daughter of James and Catharine Morris Morton. James is the son of Dominic Morton and Keziah Ballard and Catharine Morris is the daughter of Reuben Morris and Mary Sealy. Reuben Morris is the brother of Tryon Morris (noted above) who lived close to George Morris Jr.
The marriage rites were performed by John C. Morris, probably the son of Tryon Morris, the brother of Reuben Morris. R. E. Henderson, one of the witnesses, is most likely Robert Eli Henderson, the son of LockeyHenderson, who a year later would marry Catharine Morris, daughter of John C. Morris who performed the ceremony.
1880 finds young George with his new bride, Kezzie, and one child, Martha, living in Uwharrie next door to Kezzie’s brother William T. Morton who also has a young family. Both men are farming to make a living for their families.
Because the 1890 Census was lost or destroyed, I turn to deed records where possible for proof of residence for years 1890 – 1900. Not to say that deed records cannot be used for previous year, because they most certainly can.
In 1887, George and wife Keziah sold to L. M. Russell for $30 a tract of land on Hall (?) branch on the south side of the Troy Road, joining Mary Hurley.
In 1890, George Morris (this could be Sr but is probably Jr) and John T. Morris (cousin of George), purchased from William Morris (uncle of George Jr) for $1 down and a promissory note to pay $1500 on or before the 27 Jun 1891; 177 acres of land known as the Spanish Oak Gap. The terms of the contract were to explore the land for deposits of gold, silver, and other minerals. Witness, Littleton Dennis.
In 1891, John T. Morris and wife Caroline and George W. Morris assign all their right and interest in a certain bond dated 28 Jun 1890 for purchase of a tract of land … for value received. This is probably the same land noted in the above deed, known as the Spanish Oak Gap.
In 1893, John T. Morris and wife Caroline sold to George Morris (could be Sr or Jr) 50 acres of land on the west back of Dutchman Creek near the Prospect Spring joining Kron, Cornelison, and Sanders. Witness, Elias Morris.
1900 shows George Jr living in Ophir next door to his father, George ‘Watty’ Sr.
George’s family has grown!
Martha b. 1879
Lilly b. 1882
Elizabeth b. 1883
Guilford b. 1887
Laura b. 1889
Mittie b. 1891
William b. 1894
Mary b. 1897
Notice that George Sr has listed his parent’s places of birth as Virginia. If only I knew WHERE in Virginia! His siblings provided contradictory information, some claiming mother’s birthplace as Virginia while others claimed North Carolina. All children claimed father’s place of birth as Virginia, so I have no doubt that John Jacky Morris was born somewhere in Virginia, most likely in the area that is NOW Clarksville, Mecklenburg, Virginia but was not at the time of his birth in 1785.
IF (a big IF) this is true, John Jacky Morris may be related to Henry Morris who lived near the Smoky Ordinary in Brunswick County, Virginia. Mecklenburg was formed from Brunswick in 1764 and Clarksville, Virginia was formed in 1819 on the western side of the Roanoke River, on BlueCreek. Henry Morris and his sons and sons-in-law owned land on the surrounding creeks, so it is with anticipation that I hold my breath and cross my fingers in hopes that a male descendant of one of these Morris’s will Y-DNA test.
In 1902, George Washington ‘Watty’ Morris Sr died. His children, Elizabeth Williams, John T. Morris, George Jr, and son-in-law Gaston Dennis, husband of Julia Morris, and widow and second wife of G. W., sell their interest to their sister Milly Brewer in 1905.
1920 shows George and M. Keziah still living in Troy in their early sixties. All children have left the home. George still claims his occupation as Carpenter although he is 62 years of age and close to retirement.
Margaret Keziah ‘Kezzie’ Morton Morris died 16 Mar 1924 of unknown causes, bringing an end to a 46-year marriage. She was 64 years, 4 months, and 4 days old. Her husband, G. W. Morris the informant.
Children of George and Kezzie Morton Morris are:
Martha b. 1879 d. 1912
Lilly b. 1882 d. 1931 m. Clarence Hogan
Elizabeth b. 1883 d. 1916 m. Lane Russell
Guilford b. 1887 d. 1918 m. Minnie Blake
Laura b. 1889 d. 1910 m. Casper Warner
Mittie b. 1890 d. 1958 m. William Smith
William b. 1894 d. 1943 m. Rosetta Huneycutt m. Ila Clark
Mary b. 1897 d. 1901
Infant b. unknown d. 1890
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