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William Morris — BiographyWilliam Morris was born on February 27, 1821, Shropshire, England. He and his wife came to America and settled in Nebraska. They had one child here, but it became ill and died. He and his wife, Harriet Evans buried it. In *1855, he and his wife, Harriet, started for Zion. They crossed the plains in a *hand cart company. They settled in Bingham Ford (now it is called Five Points) just three miles north of Ogden, Utah. Several of their children were born there. Then, they moved to Marriott, Utah, which is five miles from Ogden. Five more children were born in Marriott. The children and mother contracted the dreaded disease called diphtheria. They all died except the two *youngest children. William Morris had to dig their graves and bury them. His life was saddened by the death of his wife and children, and he never quite got over this tragedy. He was often found crying by himself all through his life. He never talked a lot, and seemed to brood, if he had troubles, he would keep them to himself. Now that Grandfather Morris was left with two small children, he looked for a housekeeper. He heard about Elizabeth Russell Hamblin, and how she had lost her husband, and was left with one small daughter, so he went to Riverdale, Utah to visit her. He seemed to like her so he asked her if she would come to keep house for him and his two children. Her parents objected, but she thought that he needed her and so she went. One month later, he married her. They had a family of eight children. He was a very good provider. His occupation was farming. He was considered one of the most successful farmers in Weber County. He built the first adobe house in Marriott which had four rooms, and that was very rare in those days. Most families were fortunate to have a one-room log house in which they reared large families. The principle thing grown on his farm was sugar cane which was made into molasses which was kept in forty gallon barrens. He gave his family everything they needed, both to eat and wear. He also raised cattle and hogs. (In those early pioneer days, most people were poor.) William Morris was not active in the Church but believed sincerely in his religion, and he always attended Church although he did not participate, because he was so bashful and reserved. However, he always paid a full tithing and gave donations to fast offerings. When William Morris was sixty-five years old, he was shearing a large sheep in a wagon. The sheep seemed to be too much for him and he fell from the wagon and broke his leg. The leg was not set properly so from then on he had to walk with a cane, and was quite a cripple. He was a very observing man. He had a very sharp eye, and could look at anyone and tell the character of the person. William Morris died December 22, 1892. The night he died he appeared to his step-daughter, Duane Hamblin, and told her that he was coming back in a year to take her son, Thad. In one year, almost to the day, she died instead of her son. At William Morris' funeral, they stressed about his honesty. They said, "An honest man was the noblest work of God". He died at the age of 71 years. He was a fine honest, sincere, quiet man, who worked hard for his loved ones, suffered in silence, and bore much
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