Letter by Lawrence Morrow
1968

Explanation

This letter was written by James Lawrence Morrow (1913) from Piggott, Clay County, Arkansas, to his older sisters, Vera Parrish (1907) and Erma Parrish (1909), of Detroit, Michigan. It contains a fair amount of information, and was apparently written in anticipation of a planned genealogical research trip by sons of Vera and Erma.

The letter is handwritten on six pages and is unsigned and undated. However, the handwriting matches that of letters which I received from Lawrence Morrow in the 1970s. I received a photocopy of this letter from Erma Parrish in 1974; as well as a second photocopy from my grandmother, Opal Brooks Rue, about the same time. The second copy has a note at the bottom, in my grandmother’s handwriting, stating: “Letter written by Lawrence Morrow. Received by me 8-28-68. Opal Rue” (1909-1979). It is rubber-stamped: “Received Aug. 1, 1974, Office of the President, Mohegan Community College,” Dr. Robert N. Rue (1936-), of Niantic, Connecticut.

Minor clarifications of references to people have been inserted where known [in square brackets.] Original spelling and punctuation has been retained. - TSR

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Piggott, Arkansas

Dear Vera & Erma,

Here is what I have found since in the last 3 years. Dad has 2 cousins here. Uncle Doc Morrow’s children both married Gordons. Polly’s sister.

Here is the oldest information first.

Uncle George Wall was born in Polk County, N.C. Columbus, N.C. is county seat.

Grand Dad Morrow was a cousin to Uncle George Wall, Len Blackshare, Hubert Robbins, Dad, Bill Parrish and their ancestors had to come from there too. Dad [Montraville Morrow, 1871-1946] always said Grand Dad [Jams Alphus Morrow, 1848-1917] came from Spartanburg, N.C. but Spartanburg, S.C. is 25 miles south so I figured they went there to trade. Get it? The Civil War came along and they had to move over west on N.C. and Georgia line in hills. This Gordon woman has Grand Dad’s [James Alphus Morrow] old place down by Boyd’s Ville & some old Deeds from Murphy, N.C., Cherokee County.

Here on next page are the names of old deeds.

These 2 were half sisters.

Archibald Ballew

Eunice or Arema Morrow Ballew

William Anderson

Martha Morrow Anderson, Murphy, N.C., Cherokee County.

Aunt Clara [Clara Ada Morrow, 1899-1955] & this woman over the hill said Grand Dad [James Alphus Morrow], Uncle John [John Morrow, 1854-1934] & Uncle Doc had an own sister by the name of Clarey Masterson. When Grand Dad lived at Hedley, Texas, Clara said he rode train down to see her. Wasn’t far, probably toward Vernon, Texas.

This woman over hill says Aunt Carey Masterson came back to Boyds Ville to see them after World War I. Don’t know whether they were going back to N.C. or not. I remember about 1920 or 1921 a man about Dad’s age coming to the barn with boots and hat on and Dad said he was some kind.

Old Uncle John Morrow [John Morrow, 1854-1934] went back to N.C. to see one half sister after World War I. Dad spoke of one Martha Anderson. Those Deeds were made in 1886.

When they left Murphy, N.C., they followed Uncle George Wall’s bunch to Boyd’s Ville. The Great Grand Father was M.L. Morrow, born 1816, died 1876 and is buried in center of Mars Hill Grave Yard up there by the Cedar Trees.

Here is the story. Our Great Grandfather [Marcus Landrum Morrow, 1816-1876] killed a son in law for whipping Grand Dad’s [James Alphus Morrow, 1848-1917] sister with a shoe cobbler’s knife [The only known sister of James Alphus Morrow is Sophronis Morrow, b. circa 1851.] Uncle Took Scaraborough told me before he died he went to school to Grand Dad & he had seen our Great Grand Dad & he had a foreign brogue. Dad said they originally came from Holland through Northern Scotland. There was some trouble in Ireland so they came on here.

Tell the boys to check the Records at Courthouse in Polk & Cherokee, N.C. Also a Sheriff will usually know is kin & where everyone lives. Also, check the Methodist Grave Yards. Grand Dad was probably born in 1850. Also check deed books & tax records in years 1850 through 1864.

This is all I know but tell them to write down what they find & who they find.

I did not know all of this when I went to Florida or would have.

There are a lot of Morrows in telephone directory in Charlotte, N.C. More than all of U.S.

You will see a Morrow Mtn. on map east of Charlotte, close to a town named Baden, N.C. It is a Dutch name.

The weather is too bad for me to come up there. It is bad enough here. I have had very few days that were good since January 1.

Doc Crockett lives at Broken Arrow, Okla., 12 miles from Tulsa. His wife is dead and Smel [?] is dead also. Dad’s father was adoctor and he came from Crockett County, Tenn., where Davey Crockett came from. Davey was not a Texan. He served in Tenn. legislature and was killed at the Alamo.

All of the Morrows & few that I have talked to one at Paragould & one at Comfort, Texas. One in Texas said his dad came from Alabama, one from Paragould said his folks came from middle Tenn. I was in Houston, Texas looking for a job & a plant guard noticed my name & asked where I came from & where folks originated from & he said there was some Morrows at Huntsville, Alabama. One carried the Mail & said I favored them. He was from there. All I have talked to pointed toward N.C.

This one at Paragould said there is some buried at Cowpens National Battle Field, not far from Tryon. You will see in on map. Tell the boys to be sure & write it down & the names and send me a copy of what they find, even if it is 2 or 3 years from now. There is a Morrow that owns a cotton compress at Gaines Ville, Ga. Dad said they use to go there & trade where the lived in Georgia. Someone like that might give some info.

Murphy, N.C. & Polk Co., N.C. Gaines Ville, Ga. will not be too far from where he is going. Keep this so all of you will have a record if you ever go that way.




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