Biography of Elizabeth Russell Hamblin Morris

Elizabeth Russell was born July 2, 1836 in Clackmannan, Scotland. She was the oldest child of John and Ellen Blackwood Russell. Her father was a very religious man. He belonged to the established Church of Scotland, his family religion. This did not satisfy him as he felt it was not the true religion. Being a student of the Bible, the fact that none of these religions were taught by Jesus Christ, led him to further investigations. Bishop John Sharp, his cousin, preached the gospel to him; and in 1847, he was baptized and confirmed by William Gibson.

After John Russell joined the Church, many misfortunes came to them. Elizabeth's schooling came to an end. She was compelled to work in the fields, harvesting and gleaning the wheat, to provide flour for the family. John Russell was discharged from his work, persecuted and stoned. This forced them an to Boness, Scotland where work was more easily obtained. True to his faith, he preached wherever he went. People called him "Priest Russell". Elizabeth and her sister, Kathryn took, an active part in the street meetings by singing.

John Russell was soon called to become President of the branch. It was an easy task for the family to walk fourteen miles to attend their meetings. To help her family, Elizabeth kept house for the Lords and Lairds. She would often entertain them with her fine voice. Each Sunday, after they would leave for their meetings, Elizabeth sat on the hill with her Bible. Little did they know that she was a Latter-Day Saint. Had they known, she would have been dismissed. They loved her and treated her with kindness and respect.

After a few years of planning, John Russell sailed with his family from Liverpool with the John McAllister Company on the ship Manchester. This was a tedious six week voyage, landing in New York in the year 1862. From New York to Florence, they traveled on what is now known as box cars, sleeping on the floor at night. They waited two weeks in Florence for the arrival of wagons from Salt Lake City to carry them out west where the Saints lived.

After the journey began, Elizabeth met Duane Hamblin, an Elder sent to bring the Saints. They became very fast friends. She rode Duane's horse a great deal of the way, easing the tedious journey. They were married on March 11, 1865. Later, Duane Hamblin was buried alive while building their first home. She then went to reside in Riverdale, near Ogden, Utah, with her family, and it was there that William Morris sought her out as a housekeeper. He heard that she was a widow with a small daughter, Duane Hamblin.

William Morris had been married but during a diphtheria epidemic six of his eight children and his wife died leaving two girls, one a baby. Elizabeth proved to be understanding and dear to them. It was a month after she went to work for him that she married him.

William and Elizabeth resided in Marriott, North Weber County, Utah, near Ogden, Utah. Being one of the first settlers, farming was the only industry. William was an exceptional farmer. He worked hard, and provided well for his family. Eight children were born to them, four girls and four boys. Elizabeth took an active part in the Mormon Church in Marriott Ward. She took charge of the entertainment in the Relief Society, and in helping missionaries, also in Primary. She was very charitable, and would never let anyone go hungry. She shared her food with all the poor. She had high ideals for herself and for her family. She was always pushing her children to gain higher education. She went to night school and learned to read and write. She was always attending meetings and conferences.

William & Elizabeth's daughter, Elizabeth, at the age of fifteen, died with small pox. She was taken away at night to be buried. None of us were permitted to see her because it was a fatal disease. Mother worried about Elizabeth or Liz as she was called, thinking she was not properly dressed. This kept mother awake at night. One night, when she could not sleep, a tall woman dressed in white appeared to her with my sister, Liz, showing her that she was dressed properly, and that her beautiful long golden hair was combed. The lady that appeared said that she was President Farr's daughter and that she had died some time ago. She told mother that Liz had been taken away from this earth for a purpose. (Will Morris, my younger brother, also died at the early age of twenty-three.)

Mother helped father provide for us. She would bind wheat while her baby rested under a shock of wheat. We had a large orchard. I would help mother pick fruit and take it to market. She would take the mutton to stores and exchange it for groceries and clothing. She made butter and hauled it to Salt Lake City, and used the money to buy doors and windows for our house. She was always trying to improve and beautify her home for the enjoyment of her children. Once, she took a load of bees to Willard, Utah, near Brigham, and sold them to Barnard White to get sufficient lumber to build a fence in front of the house.

In middle age, mother became very ill with rheumatism and was confined to her bed for seven years. She had a great deal of faith, always asking the Elders of the Church to pray for her. She never complained, always thinking someone else might be in worse circumstances. Her memory is very dear to her children, and she will always be thought of with the greatest respect.
Written by Ellen Morris Marriott in 1957.