I. S. Morris is the oldest representative of journalistic interests in Piqua. Isaac Morris, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born in Pasquotank county, North Carolina, about 1765, and was there married to Miss Millicent Bundy, whose birth occurred in Perquimans county, North Carolina, December 11, 1769. Isaac Morris followed farming, thereby supporting his family of nine children, the third of whom was John Morris, whose birth occurred in the southern part of North Carolina on the 8th of December, 1797. When he was four years of age his parents removed to Grayson county, Virginia, where Isaac Morris died about 1818. Two years previously John Morris emigrated westward to Ohio, locating in Highland county, whence he removed to Clinton county, this state, about 1820. On the 8th of February, 1822, he was united in marriage to Ruth Stanley, daughter of Anthony and Hannah (Reece) Stanley, natives of North Carolina. Mrs. Morris was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, February 8, 1804, but removed to Ohio in her maidenhood and was there married to John Morris, who was a well known farmer of this locality, following agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career. After he had attained the age of seventy-five years, however, he put aside business cares and spent his remaining days in retirement from labor. He removed to Harveysburg, where he died August 29, 1886, in his eighty-ninth year, having long survived his wife, who passed away on the 22d of June, 1838, in her thirty-fifth year. They were the parents of three sons and three daughters, of whom I. S. Morris was the eldest.

The subject of this review was born in Clinton county, Ohio, February 7, 1825. His early life was spent upon the farm and through the summer months he assisted in the work of the fields, while in the winter season he attended the district schools. Later be continued his education for two years in the select Quaker school at Martinsville, Clinton county, and subsequently was graduated in the Farmers' College at College Hill, where he graduated in the class of 1851. In the meantime, however, in 1844, he began teaching in the district schools, being thus engaged through the winter, while in the summer he worked on the farm. After his graduation he continued his work of teaching in the district schools until 1853, when he was appointed superintendent of the public schools at Eaton, Preble county, Ohio, occupying that important position until June, 1860. In that year, however, he severed his connection with educational labors and turned his attention to journalism, becoming connected with the Eaton Register. On the 1st of January, 1861, he purchased an interest in that paper and continued its publication until 1874, when he sold his interest and removed to Piqua, Ohio, where he established the Miami Helmet, the first issue occurring August 6, 1874. He is still publishing this journal and is the senior editor of Miami county, both in age and years of continuous service. He is also editor of the Piqua Daily Call, which is owned and managed by his son, J. W. Morris, who established the latter paper on the 17th of October, 1883.

On the 6th of October, 1851, Mr. Morris was united in marriage to Miss Edith T. Jenkins, daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Gawthrop) Jenkins. She was of English descent, and one of her great-great- uncles, George Gawthrop, served as bishop to the king in 1700. The ancestry of the Gawthrops may be traced back as far as the time of the Doomsday Book. Mrs. Morris was born in Frederick county, Virginia, November 28, 1824, and by her marriage became the mother of four children, one of whom died in infancy. Those still living are Mariana, who was born September 3, 1855, and is the wife of George A. Brooks, of Piqua; Nellie, who was born October 18, 1857, and John W., who was born September 18, 1860. The mother passed away April 8 1898, after traveling with her husband on life's journey for nearly forty-seven years.

Mr. Morris was reared in the faith of the Society of Friends, but in November, 1857, he united with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has since been a consistent member. His early political training made him a follower of the Whig party, but on the organization of the Republican party he joined its ranks and has since upheld its banners with patriotic loyalty. He has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to devote his time and influence to the advancement of his party in a more quiet way. He commands the respect of all with whom he has come in contact, for his has been a life consistent with every manly principle, and his influence has been effective in promoting those measures which have contributed to the general good along the line of material, social, intellectual and moral advancement.