John A. Morrison, M. D.

    John A. Morrison, M. D., a prominent physician of Montpelier, is a native of Indiana, born in Salamonie Township, Huntington County, April 26, 1850, a son of Leander and Matilda (Jones) Morrison. His father was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, a son of Andrew Morrison, a native of Scotland, who came to America when a young man, and located in Pennsylvania. He removed thence to Kentucky, where his son Leander was born and reared. The father of our subject received his education in the early common schools of his  day, and when a young man he immigrated with his father's family to Preble County, Ohio, where he followed agricultural pursuits until 1834. He then removed to Huntington County, Indiana, and entered a tract of Government land in Huntington and Wells Counties, and began the task of clearing and improving his land. He was married in the year 1834, to Miss Matilda Jones, a daughter of Samuel Jones. Her father was a native of Scotland, and immigrated to America, and settled in Huntington County, Indiana in 1833, settling on land where the thriving village of Warren now stands, and laid out that town. After his marriage Mr. Leander Morrison settled on his frontier farm in Huntington County, where he passed the remainder of his days. In the early settlement of the county he served as land agent, and also held the positions of magistrate and county commissioner. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, all of whom are yet living with the exception of Calvin, who die din the services of his country, during the war of the Rebellion. The children are as follows -Nancy; Martha, wife of N. D. L. Elliott; Sarah, wife of Dr. C. R. Mason; Samuel L., John A., the subject of this sketch and Lewis. In politics the father was a Republican. He died February 14, 1881. His widow still resides on the old homestead in Huntington County, and is an earnest and consistent member of the United Brethren Church.

    John A. Morrison, whose name heads this sketch, was reared in Salamonie Township, Huntington County, receiving his education in he home schools, in the schools of Bluffton, and at Roanoke Academy, Indiana. In 1872 he commenced the study of medicine with Drs. Mason and Ransom, of Hartford City, Blackford County, and in the winter of 1873-'74, he attended the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, graduating from that institution in 1875. He then located at Mount Zion, Wells County, remaining there one year, when he removed to Liberty Center, Wells County, where he practiced his profession until June, 1884, since which time he has made his home in Montpelier, and during his residence here has succeeded in establishing a lucrative practice. In 1885, in order to keep abreast with the surgical and medical progress of the day, the doctor attended a course of lectures at the Long Island College Hospital in New York.

    Doctor Morrison was married in Wells County, July 3, 1877, to Miss Sarah C. Spake, a native of Wells County, and a daughter of John and Polly Spake, who are now residents of Kansas City. They are the parents of three children -Alvah, Leander and Merl Minton. He is a member of the Blackford Medical Society, in which he takes an active interest. In politics Dr. Morrison is a Republican.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.