Sacramento Valley Biographies

ASA WARREN MORRIS

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, July 2009.

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

          Among the early pioneers of Yolo County that contributed so
largely to the development of the agricultural resources of this particular
section of California there was no more prominent figure than the late Asa
Warren Morris. Coming here when the country was a vast waste, he squatted on
a tract of land that was in its original wildness, and by diligence and
industry reclaimed it to the uses of civilization, erected a good residence,
and fine farm buildings, and otherwise improved the property until today it
is one of the best in this locality, being now under the management of his
eldest son, Warren L. Morris. A son of Ephraim and Martha (Roseberry)
Morris, he was born, April 11, 1826, in Green county, Pa., the descendant of
a family of influence.

        Spending the days of his boyhood at home, Asa Warren Morris acquired
a substantial education in the district school, while under his father's
instruction he obtained a good knowledge of the many branches of agriculture
as carried on in his native state. In 1850, with a party of twenty-eight
Green county people, he came across the plains to California, and having
staked off a quartz claim built a quartz mill on the American river, which
he ran by water power. For two years he remained in the mining district, but
was not at all successful in his venture. Then, in company with George
Sharpneck, he came to Yolo county, and squatted on the land now owned and
occupied by his widow and children, sleeping under the large tree that now
stands near the beautiful house that he erected until he had a log cabin
ready for occupancy. Clearing the land from the heavy timber that stood upon
it, he put in grain as fast as he had an opening large enough, in the
meantime being forced to go to law to get a clear title to his land.
Successful from the start, Mr. Morris purchased additional land, becoming
owner of a ranch of six hundred and forty acres, all good farm and pasture
land, and continued in business as a general farmer and stock-raiser until
his death, April 28, 1891, being active until within a week of his decease. 

        June 6, 1874, Mr. Morris married Mary A. Campbell, who was born in
Mount Pleasant, Iowa, a daughter of William Campbell, and came with her
parents to California when an infant of two and one-half months. Mr.
Campbell was born, March 24, 1816, in Green county, Pa., and was there
reared and married. In 1847 he moved to Iowa, and six years later came
overland to the Pacific coast. For about six years thereafter he was
employed in mining, but with indifferent success. Locating then in
Cacheville, now called Yolo, he ran a hotel for a number of years. Selling
out, he continued his residence in Yolo, until his death, October 14, 1886.
He married Elizabeth Hughes, a native of Virginia. She was born March 1,
1816, and survived him several years, passing away January 10, 1902, at the
venerable age of eighty-seven years. In early life she united with the
Methodist Episcopal Church, but subsequently became a member of the
Presbyterian Church.

       Coming to Yolo when seven years old, Mrs. Morris was educated in the
public schools, remaining at home until her marriage, and now resides on the
home farm improved and managed successfully for so many years by Mr. Morris,
her husband. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Morris six children  were born,
namely: Warren Lindsay, who has charge of the home farm; Jennie Belle, wife
of William Morris, of San Francisco; William C., proprietor of a shoe store
in Woodland; Katherine, living at home; and Charles Melvin and Ella, who
died in early childhood. Mr. Morris was a strong Republican in politics, and
for a while served as supervisor, resigning the office, however, before the
expiration of his term. He was urged by his friends to run for the
legislature, but declined the nomination. He was a prominent member of the
Yolo Grange. In his farming operations he was exceptionally prosperous,
giving his undivided attention to whatever he undertook.

"History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the
Sacramento Valley, Cal.," J. M. Guinn, The Chapman Publishing Company,
Chicago, 1906, Page 557.