Joseph Morrow
Joseph Morrow, the elder, was born in the state of North Carolina, A.D. 1799, and when a lad was brought to Wayne County, Indiana by his father, John Morrow.
He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and for a time was engaged therein, but subsequently became engaged in mercantile lines at Newport (now Fountain City), Wayne County, and while residing there served for a period as justice of the peace, and as a member of the State Legislature from Wayne County.
In 1843 he came to Grant County and located on his farm, bordering on the Mississinewa River, a part of which is included in the site of Gas City. In the spring of 1851, having sold his farm, he moved to Jonesboro and for several years was engaged in the dry goods business at that place, but finally retired from business entirely on account of advancing age.
In politics Mr. Morrow was originally a Whig and later a Republican, and was always opposed to slavery. He served twice as a member of the state legislature for Grant County, the last time in the winter of 1850 and 51. At this session an attempt was made to detach a portion of Grant County and add it to Blackford County which Mr. Morrow successfully resisted. His death occurred in 1863.
By his first wife he had, while living in Wayne County, four children of whom Joseph, whose history follows, is the only survivor. His second marriage was to Mary Smith, the sister of his first wife, and by that union there was born, in Grant County, three children: Alcinda L., Andrew T. and Lavina J., of whom Andrew T. is now the only one living and now a resident of Kansas and who was for many years a civil engineer in the United States service and for a time in the Argentine Republic, S.A., where his sister Alcinda L., who while young began her teaching, having first acquired as proficient knowledge of the Spanish language and who recently died at Los Angeles, California, where she was highly respected as a teacher and for her charitable work.
It is now proper as a conclusion to this historical sketch of Mr. Morrow's life to say that he was exceedingly conscientious in all his dealings with his fellowmen, and was highly circumspect in his demeanor, and always an unswerving advocate of what he believed to be correct principles of political and social life.
Submitted by: Gina Reasoner