WILLIAM H. MORRISON, a prosperous manufacturer of Monongahela, is descended from a well-known family who emigrated from Ireland. James Morrison, the earliest ancestor of our subject to settle in Pennsylvania, was born in County Londonderry, Ireland, and there grew to manhood. Some time after his marriage he came to America and located in Chester county, Penn. In 1773, accompanied by their two sons, John and Henry, Mr. and Mrs. Morrison moved to Nottingham township, Washington county, where both parents died. Henry Morrison was born in 1752, in New London, Chester Co., Penn., and was there reared and educated. He then came with his parents to Nottingham township, where he was married to Patience Sayers, who bore him the following children: William, John, James, Henry, Elizabeth (wife of William Donaldson), Patience (married to Josh Gaston), Sarah (wife of William Gault), Susan (wife of William Gaston), and others who died in infancy. Mr. Morrison served as lieutenant in the Revolution, and passed his later years on the home farm, a tract of 400 acres in Nottingham township. He was an active member of the Democratic party, and in religion a member of Mingo Presbyterian Church. He died at the age of eighty-two years. John Morrison, son of Henry and Patience (Sayres) Morrison, was born July 2, 1792, on the home place in Nottingham township, received a subscription school education, and passed his entire life on the homestead, where he followed farming and stock raising. Politically he was a Whig and Republican, held various township offices, and was an ardent supporter of the school bill of 1837, doing all in his power to advance the interests of the public schools. He married Mary, daughter of Daniel Huston, a native of Nottingham township, November 27, 1817, and their children were William H., Joel, Daniel, John, Mary C. (wife of Dr. Barnett), Patience (married to John Giffin) and Elizabeth J. (wife of Robert McAllister). The mother was called home in 1845, and in 1870 the father was laid to rest by her side in Mingo cemetery. William H. Morrison was born December 19, 1819, on the old homestead in Nottingham township, and attended the schools of the vicinity. On May 20, 1879, he married Susan B., daughter of Joseph B. Abell. Mr. Abell was a native of New Jersey, who settled in Philadelphia and there married Jane A. Lambert, whose children were: John L., Joseph Edward, Susan B. (Mrs. Morrison), Jane and Anna E. In 1870, Mr. Abell and his family came to Washington county where they made a permanent home. He was a cooper by trade, and in politics voted with the Democratic party. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. W. H. Morrison came to Monongahela in 1876, where he has been engaged in manufacturing enterprises. He has for several years served a prosperous firm as secretary and treasurer, and the company being largely interested in coal works, has some of the largest plants for coal hauling in the country. Mr. Morrison is actively identified with the interests of the Republican party, and in religious faith is a member of and elder in the Presbyterian Church at Monongahela. he has one son, William A.

Text taken from page 887 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Karen Souhrada of Pittsford, NY as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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