History of the Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

SYLVESTER MORRIS (1836-1907) by Donald A. Wise

Sylvester Morris was a farmer, a carpenter and a Methodist minister in Iowa, Kansas and Missouri before he came to Indian Territory (now known as Oklahoma). He was born 16 November 1836 in Madison County, Ohio. Morris married Mary Margaret Mills on 12 May 1859. Mary was born in January 1841 in Delaware County, Ohio, and died 9 April 1883 in Barton County, Kansas. They had the following children:

1. Joshua S. Morris, born 14 March 1861 in Linn County, Iowa; died 17 March 1861.

2. Elizabeth T. Morris, born 22 June 1862 in Linn County, Iowa. She later married a Dressler.

3. Emma J. Morris, born 7 March 1867 in Linn County, Iowa. She later married a Stutts.

4. Mary Margaret Morris, born 23 March 1869 in Linn County, Iowa. She later married a Benard.

5. John Wesley Morris, born 26 July 1873 in Elk County, Kansas. Later moved to New Mexico

6. Sylvester Franklin Morris, born 3 January 1875 in Carroll County, Missouri.

7. Lyda Morris, born 7 November 1881 in Barton County, Kansas.

8. Stephen Morris, born 14 March 1883 in Barton County, Kansas.

During the Civil War, Sylvester Morris was drafted into Company G, 16th Regiment, Iowa Infantry, where he served as a Private. His Company Muster Book gives his age as 37 years old, height: 5 feet, 4 inches, complexion as light, blue eyes, brown hair, born in Ohio and occupation as a farmer. He joined his military unit on 15 November 1864 and he was involved in the famous Sherman March from Atlanta to Savanna, Georgia; from Savanna to Goldsboro, North Carolina, to Raleigh to Richmond and Petersburg to Washington, D.C. where he received a military discharge on 31 May 1865. Later he applied for a pension on 18 June 1894 which was approved. He received a princely sum of $6.00 per month until it was raised to $8.00 per month on 3 February 1904. After his death, his wife received a widow's pension from the United States Government.

After the death of his first wife, Sylvester Morris married Mrs. Harriett W. Burton Smith Reagan 4 February 1894 at her residence in Tulsa, Indian Territory. Rev. James E. Rogers performed the ceremony. Harriett was a widow who was born 4 February 1833 in Indiana. She had ten children of whom only five had survived by 1907. Her surviving children were:

1. John N. Smith married to Laura Ash.

2. William H. Smith.

3. Ida Lyster.

4. Julia Whitmer.

5. Laura married to David H. Holbrook. Later she married a Boves.

 According to the 1890 Cherokee Census, Sylvester Morris arrived in the Cherokee Nation in 1887; he was a minister; had four in his household and was living in the Cooweescoowee District. Sylvester Morris had been a Methodist minister for over 50 years; was a Civil War veteran and a member of the Tulsa Grand Army of the Republic (GAR).

Morris was elected to Deacons Order in 1889 by the Indian Mission Conference held in Tulsa, Indian Territory. Reverend Morris did not have a regular appointment. He was assigned to preach in every settlement around Tulsa and to establish Sunday Schools where he could. Morris was responsible for the establishment of some 13 Methodist ministries before he was murdered in 1907.

Morris had visited the future site of the town of Broken Arrow and on 7 September 1902, he held a Sunday School Class in a pasture near the Broken Arrow Mound (now known as Tiger Hill). At the conclusion of the service, he suggested that this group should proceed to organize a church. On Christmas Day, December 25, 1902, he held church services at the home of F.A. Whitner in Broken Arrow. Sylvester Morris was the first to hold church services in the town of Broken Arrow. He was instrumental in getting the local townspeople to establish the Methodist Episcopal Church in Broken Arrow, Creek Nation, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). This church is now known as the First United Methodist Church of Broken Arrow, Tulsa County, Oklahoma. In 1907 he helped to establish St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which is still active as a congregation today.

Reverend Morris wore a tall, floppy-brimmed hat as he traveled around Indian Territory on either a horse or a buggy. He was known and respected all over the Territory by the Indians, the cowboys and even the outlaws. The famous Daltons and Doolins were his acquaintances. He was ever ready to preach, to pray and to serve as best he could.

Sylvester Morris acquired a house and lot in Tulsa, Creek Nation, for $15.00, in a deed signed by Pleasant Porter, Principal Chief of the Creek Nation, in 1900. Morris had previously built a three-room home of native oak at 412 North Cheyenne Avenue, in 1887, on this lot. This house is presumed to be Tulsa's oldest house still in existence. It was moved to Pioneer Corner in Owen Park in 1976. The house was renovated, but vandals have since damaged the historic structure.

Since Morris received no pay for his job as a Methodist circuit rider, he made his livelihood from farming and as a carpenter. He had purchased several lots in the Bellview Addition to Tulsa; built homes which he sold. After his death, one newspaper reported "The dead man left a fortune to the widow and five children surviving." A Coroner's Jury was held in Tulsa, Indian Territory, to determine the facts about the death of Sylvester Morris who was 71 years old. Morris was killed around 10 p.m. on Thursday, 22 August 1907. Sylvester Morris had a wagon of lumber which he had purchased at a sawmill located on Bird Creek near Skiatook and was driving through north Tulsa to his home. Two United States Deputy Marshals, C.H. Wilson and Frank McGlothin, rode up behind Morris and demanded that he stop his wagon. Morris was practically deaf and probably did not hear the Marshals demand. When they fired several shots over his head, he whipped his team and sped away. Five other shots were then fired and Morris died in his wagon and his team continued on until they reached the Morris farm. The Marshals were found quilty of murder by the Coroner's Jury. At the trial, the Marshals claimed that they thought Morris was a "bootlegger" and therefore shot him when he refused to halt. The two Marshals were later tried in the Muskogee Courts and were acquitted.

George W. Mowbray, who had known Mr. Morris for more that twenty years, had this to say about him. "He was one of the best men I ever knew. He was absolutely without enemies of any kind because he was upright, honest and fearless. He was a pioneer preacher in this country in the days when preachers were scarce. He never had a regular station, but was always a supply, going where he was needed and whenever he was needed without charge and without salary. He was known for miles and miles around here by all the old settlers. He had married the young folks and christened the babies and prayed over the bodies of the dead..... In spite of advancing age and physical infirmities, incidental to the march of the years, he would still go whenever called. He felt that someway or other he had been summoned of God to speak to the people the words of wisdom and as long as the breath was in his body, he was ready and willing to carry any burden laid upon him."

The funeral of Sylvester Morris was held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, 25 August 1907 at the Methodist Episcopal Church (now known as St. Paul's United Methodist Church) in the Bellview Addition in Tulsa. The services were conducted by Rev. Fred W. Hart and he used the text which was used by Rev. Morris in his sermon last Sunday in this church: "Lord what wilt thou have me to do." The services were conducted by the Lucius Fairchild's Post, G.A.R., and the Woman's Relief Corps. The music was provided by the church choir and there were some favorite songs sung which the deceased enjoyed, in particular. "While the Years are Rolling On." The attendance at this funeral was one of the largest held in Tulsa. Sylvester Morris was buried in the Oaklawn Cemetery (Section l, 17 518 SW 4) on 25 August 1907 in Tulsa, Indian Territory.

The City Directories of Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the years 1917, 1919 and 1920, indicate a listing for Harriet W. Morris (widow of Sylvester) as living at 1407 South Rockford Avenue, in Tulsa. She was born 4 February 1833 in Indiana and died 13 May 1921 at the age of 88 years. She was buried beside her husband in the Oaklawn Cemetery. There is a four foot tall monument at their gravesite with their names, birth and death dates inscribed.

So ends the life of Sylvester Morris, Methodist minister and Territorial Pioneer in Indian Territory. History indicates that he served his life well by helping others.