Morris
Wilson, Jr. is my maternal great-grandfather. Although, he passed away
several years before I was born I feel as though I know him. I have heard
so many wonderful stories of this amazing man. In a former post I shared
one of his incredible missionary experiences. In the obituary that
follows it lists that he served as bishop of the La Verkin ward for 16 years,
but in a history posted on FamilySearch.org it states, "As the populations of the settlement [La Verkin] increased they were organized into a bishop's ward June 23, 1904, with Morris Wilson, jun., as Bishop....Morris Wilson, jun., acted as bishop of the La Verkin Ward until 1928..." My mother and his grand-daughter,Helen, has often spoke of his 24 year service as bishop. Morris' obituary appeared in The Salt Lake Tribune on Friday, March 11, 1955:
Death Claims Settler, 80, At La Verkin
La Verkin, Washington County-Morris Wilson, Jr., 80, former county commissioner, church worker and banker, died here Thursday after an illness.
He was born at North Creek, Washington County, Sept. 13, 1874, a son of Morris Sr. and Sarah Elizabeth Isom Wilson. He married Minnie A. Stratton, May 2, 1899 in St. George Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Mrs. Wilson died a year ago.
One of the initiators of the Hurricane Canal and a worker on the diversion canal for 15 years, six of them as foreman, Mr. Wilson was one of the first settlers of this community and served for 16 years as bishop of the La Verkin LDS Ward.
At the time of his death he was a director in the State Bank of Hurricane and patriarch in Zion Park LDS Stake.
He served six years as county commissioner and prior to his appointment as patriarch was a member of the high council of Zion Park Stake.
He formerly served on a mission for the church and had been active since a youth. Surviving: four sons and a daughter; Wayne, Reed Wilson, and Mrs. Thora Gubler, La Verkin; Paul, Carmichael, Calif.; and Dilworth, Henderson, Nev.; 28 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren; a brother and four sisters; William F. Wilson, Mrs. Pearl W. Stratton, Hurricane; Mrs. Amelia Sanders, La Verkin; Mrs. Edna Bundy, St. George; Mrs. Nellie May, Las Vegas.
Funeral Monday 2 p.m. La Verkin LDS Ward. Friends call Spilsbury Mortuary Sunday, 7 to 8 p.m. and at family home Monday after 10 a.m. Burial La Verkin Cemetery.
Hi Cyndee,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Tina, I am also a descendant of Morris and Minnie Wilson. I looked in familysearch.org and I could not see past Morris' grandfather, Thomas Wilson. I thought that Morris Sr. was given the name because of his grandmother whose maiden was Morris. Do you know anything about that?
Hi Tina, It sounds like we are cousins! In my records, which I have had researched by Universal Genealogy Center. I have starting at the top my 6th great-grandfather as Thomas Wilson (born about 1712 of Virginia), married to Elizabeth H. Alston, who had born to them Thomas Wilson (born about 1739, died in 1793 in Warren County, North Carolina, no spouse found), who begat another Thomas Wilson (born 1764 in Warren County, North Carolina, died in 1814 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Married to a Nancy Keel), who begat Thomas N. Wilson (Morris' grandfather). This Thomas N. Wilson was married to Nancy A. Lindsey, whose parents were Morris Lindsey and Nancy Miller. So, Morris comes from the given name of Nancy's father, not the surname. To learn more check out my blog about Thomas Wilson under Obituaries and Know Your Ancestors. I hope this gives you some added information.
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