Thucydides said "Both justice and decency require that we should bestow on our forefathers an honorable remembrance." This is a major purpose of this volume. The first two chapters are about the history of the Morrison Clan in in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Their 700 plus years in that bleak, windswept landscape shaped their physical and mental facilities in such a way to make them ideal for migration to a new wilderness. and Morrisons in America. Little is known of the history of the peoples of the Hebrides before the 6th century as they, like the rest of Scotland, was in the depths of what centuries later became known as the Dark Ages. Nathaniel Morrison, born 1707 in Scotland on the Isle of Lewis, was a product of that environment. This book is about him and his descendants. This Nathaniel was one of no doubt many Morrisons whose children sailed the stormy North Atlantic for a new life in America. Did our 1707 Nathaniel make the journey? That is unsure, but three of his sons, all born in Scotland, account for the 9550 descendants identified in this A Morrison Family. Most would have interesting stories to tell of their life, and where available they are recorded here. So what was the personality and character of this Morrison family that emerged from the west coast of Scotland whose founder was probably of Norwegian origin? After seeking and reading about members of this family the answer to that question become clear, at least about the early generations. Without a doubt they were strong, industrious, bright, thrifty, determined people, always seeking the moral high ground. It was their desire to make a good life by investing their God given traits for hard work. Check this out. John Wesley Morrison married Virginia Mary McCorkle, both born in Greenbrier County, VA died in Oxville, Scott Co., IL. First they moved from Virginia to Lawrence Co., OH in 1813, and about 1823 moved to Pike Co., OH. From there by by flat boat they came down the Ohio River, and then polled the boat up the Mississippi River to Grafton, then up the Illinois River to Naples, IL where they landed. John purchased a farm on and began farming. During the years he acquired considerable land (in excess of 2000 acres), later given to each of his children, 13 of 14 surviving.14. Were they strong, industrious, bright, thrift?The Morrisons may also have had a little more of their share of wanderlust. The first few generations were on the move, mostly west where there was ample and cheap land. This book is speckled with such stories, which records Morrison descendants living and/or dying in every state, frequently blended with a personal mandate for education.Chapter 3 chronicles some minor and major detail about the 9550 Morrison descendants and their families. An example, abbreviated notes about John Morrison, fifth generation; b. Mar 04 1804 in Greenbrier Co., VA, d. Dec 08 1884 in Braxton Co., VA, buried in Morrison UMC, Newville, Braxton Co., WV. John went from Greenbrier to Nicholas, now Braxton County, as a young man, marrying Mary Lough of Pendleton Co., VA. History of Braxton County says John "-- was a prominent and respected citizen from the early settlement of that section until his death. He lived and reared his family on his farm, filling several public offices at different times. Upon his death a friend reported "I think he was the most lovable man I ever knew. He always greeted you with a smile. I never saw him angry. He was a most pious man and one of the leaders of the Church." At the beginning of the Civil War, he chose the Union side, and some rangers (southern sympathizer) visited his place, burned his house with its contents, drove away the stock and abused and maltreated Mary, from which she never recovered, dying in 1863.. A complete and robust index simplifies finding your kin folks.
About the Author: Following retirement in 1993 from a plant scientist position with USDA, Mr. Sharp initiated an effort to resolve the genealogy of his grandparents, and identify as many as many of their ancestors as possible. His grandparents were from the Sharp, Morrisons, Arbogast and Hill families. The Sharp and Morrison families were his priorities: They were his parents and had been less researched; resulting limited published information about. Fortunately, the Morrison and Hill family were well mingled in one region, Pocahontas County, WV. After 20 years he had accumulated enough data and he and his son Mitchell Sharp, published John Sharp and Margaret Blain Sharp Family History (2014), a 576 page volume including the lives of 4,400 descendants of John and Margaret. Other major publications include Grass Varieties of the United States (1994), Blessings and Burdens; Growing Up Rich and Poor (2006) and Conservation Plants, A USDA Success Story (1913).