From: Ohio Biographical
Sketches
Submitted by Sharon
M. Kouns
Dr. Jonathan Morris was born on December 1st,
1824, in Morgan county, Ohio. He was the sixth of seven children,
whose parents were Abraham and Sophia (Kughn) Morris. His
father--of Scotch-Irish extraction--was a native of Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania, and followed through life the trade of
carpenter. He moved to Ohio about 1818, settling in Guernsey
county, whence he removed in 1822 to Morgan county, where he lived
till his death, in 1835. He was a soldier in the war of 1812.
Jonathan's mother was of German family, but was born in Greene
county, Pennsylvania. The lad was early taught moral and
industrious habits. He worked on a farm when a boy, attending
school in winter. His education was liberal, and obtained by his
own exertions. Left fatherless at the age of eleven, he worked for
an uncle for eighteen months; and then for about a year on a farm,
at five dollars a month. In 1838 he entered a store in Washington
county, and clerked for about two years. Thereafter he pursued the
same calling in Gallipolis for about five years, studying the
while medicine, and for a year law, which he abandoned from
conscientious scruples. In 1845 he gave his whole attention to
medicine, under the direction of Dr. James M. Cromley, of
Gallipolis, reading assiduously for about two years and attending
lectures at Cleveland Medical College, where he graduated in 1847.
He at once began practice in Burlington, Ohio. A year later he
moved to Powellsville, Scioto county, but in five months started
merchandising at Harrisonville, so continuing for about two years.
In 1850 he sold out his store and resumed practice for three years
in Ironton. In 1853 he passed five months speculating at
Gallipolis, whence he moved to Ashland, Kentucky, and practiced
for three years, also editing a newspaper and carrying on a store.
During 1856 he moved on to a farm near Burlington, Ohio, and
stayed there one year. Then he returned to Ironton, where he has
since resided and enjoyed an extensive medical practice, except
during the war. In 1861 he entered the army as Surgeon of the 9th
Virginia Regiment, and served with it till the spring of 1865,
being mainly with the 8th Army Corps, in Virginia, part of the
time as Brigade Surgeon and part as Division Surgeon. Captured at
Guyandotte, Virginia, on November 10th, 1861, he was confined in
Libby prison for four months, then paroled and afterwards
exchanged. He is a Republican, but has never sought political
office. In 1873 he was elected to the Legislature, and served two
years. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and is remarkable
for high character, untiring energy and industry. In 1848 he was
married to Emily J. Wilson, a native of Cabell county, Virginia.
