William and David Morrow, p. 1460

MORROW, WILLIAM and DAVID. The grandfather of these gentlemen, Thomas Morrow, was a farmer in County Down, Ireland, and during the middle of the eighteenth century emigrated with his large family to America, locating near Harrisburg, where they remained until the death of Mr. Morrow, when the family settled in the eastern part of Washington county, Pennsylvania.

Matthew Morrow, son of Thomas, located near Pigeon creek, and was there married to Elizabeth, daughter of Israel Wier. Soon after his marriage Mr. Morrow came to Canton township, and purchased the farm now occupied by Thomas Allison, where he spent the remainder of his life and reared the following family: Samuel, Thomas, John, James, William, David, Adam, Mary, Lavina, Catherine, Jane, Anna and Elizabeth. He was a hard working, energetic man, and achieved success by earnest effort. He was a pronounced Whig in political views, and one of the earliest members of, and most earnest workers in, the Presbyterian Church at Buffalo. He served as a member of the poor commission of the county for many years, giving universal satisfaction. He passed away at the advanced age of eighty-one years, and, with his faithful wife, who lived her three score years and five, now rests in the cemetery at Buffalo.

WILLIAM MORROW, like many of the pioneer children secured his principal education in the school of toil, although he was allowed to attend the common school a few days in the winter, when nothing else would occupy his time. The old log schoolhouse, around which cluster so many pleasant reminiscences, was an extremely humble affair; and through the cracks of the puncheon floor the wind came in gusts, causing the little ones to crouch closer to the huge fireplace, which extended across one end of the room, and was supplied with logs cut by the older pupils. The text-books, in exquisite harmony with the other appointments of the room, were of the most primitive character, and the stalwart master, selected rather for his physical than mental powers, who was a firm believer in the maxim of Solomon: "Spare the rod and spoil the child," unlike many other theorists, practiced the principles which he preached; no pupil in his school could in after years complain that they were spoiled for the lack of vigorous application of the rod. But revenge was sweet, and many times these tortured victims of the birch barred out the dignified master, and compelled him to wait their pleasure or "stand treat." Amid such surroundings the youth of William Morrow was passed, and, in spite of toil and privation those early years were happy ones. The clothing of the family was the product of their own industry and skill, the cloth being woven, dyed and transformed into the necessary articles by the women. Mr. Morrow was married to Eliza, daughter of Samuel McClay, and their union was blessed with the following children: Sarah J. (wife of Thomas Allison), Robert M., Mary A., Margaret (wife of Jackson Lone) and Matthew. Mr. Morrow is a Republican in his political preferences, and in religion he is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

DAVID MORROW was born on the home place, and passed his boyhood in assisting his father on the farm and in attending the common schools a few months during the winter. On January 14, 1840, he was united in marriage with Grizella. daughter of Robert Johnson, and this union was blessed with two children: Margaret (Mrs. Robert Murray) and Mary G. (Mrs. Hamilton Davis). In 1890 Mr. Morrow married, for his second wife, Isabella, daughter of James Work, of Hopewell township. Politically, Mr. Morrow was always a worker in the Republican party, and for many years held the office of assessor in his township, giving universal satisfaction. He was a trustee of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was for many years a member. David Morrow passed away February 27, 1892, having been preceded by his wife on January 7, same year.

Text taken from page 1460 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed January 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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