DAVID LAFAYETTE MORRIS

 The following bio was taken from page 314 of the book entitled “Rusk County History” compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

 Transcribed by Claudia Schuster

 Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

     David La Fayette Morris was born December 11, 1844 in Panola County.  He was the son of Isaac and Elizabeth Reed Morris, and a great-grandson of Reverend Isaac Reed (See Isaac Morris story).

 At the age of seventeen, David left home to serve in the Civil War.  Little is known of his war record, but family members recall his telling of being at the Battle of Shiloh.  He received a pension for his service.

 David married Sophronia Catherine Garner, who was born at Garner Springs in Shelby County, which was named for her ancestors.  They bought a farm in southwestern Rusk County where they reared a family of seven sons and four daughters.  John J. married Hattie Van Zandt; Elizabeth Ann married Pleas Channel; Tom W. married Lou Vennie Shirley; William H. married Biddle Owens; Elijah D. married Roxie Fussell; Fannie Adell married Luther Owens (See their story.)  Jesse H. married Myrtle Norton; Ara Bell married Jeff Owens; James Benjamin married Minia Mae Gresham; Andrew J.  and Sarah Jane never married.

 All of David and Sophronia’s sons served as deacons at Isabell Chapel Baptist Church, and each enjoyed hunting and fishing, sharing a love of nature.  These children and their families are buried in Isabell Chapel Cemetery.

 David and Sophronia, both members of the Baptist faith, are buried in the King Cemetery, south of Mt. Enterprise.

Submitted by Vassie Owens Johns