JAMES M. MORRIS.   Although he has not yet completed the ascent of the sunny side of the hill of life, this gentleman has risen to a position of considerable prominence in Madison County, being the Postmaster at Lilly Chapel.  He is very popular with the people, intelligent and cordial, and has an assured place in the community.
     The Rev. James K. Morris, the father of our subject, was born in Fayette County, this State, near Washington C. H., in 1817, of which county his mother, who bore the maiden name of Phoebe Horney, was also a native.  After their marriage the parents continued to reside in their native place for several years, the father teaching school for fourteen years after establishing a home of his own.  On removing to Vermilion County, Ill., they remained there but a twelve month, and then returning to Fayette County, made their home in that vicinity until 1857, when they took up their abode in this county, residing in Range Township for five years.  Mr. and Mrs. Morris at the end of that removed to Paint Township, and after a year went to Union Township, and two years later became identified with the residents of Franklin County.  Remaining there three years, however, they again established a home in Fairfield Township, this county, where the father of our subject was engaged in farming for several years, and then returning to Franklin County, resided there for the three succeeding years.  After this they again went to Fairfield Township, the father here departing this life in September, 1886; the mother is still surviving.  Mr. Morris was a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church for some forty years, and was greatly beloved in the various charges over which he was placed.
     Of the parental family of twelve children, James M., of this sketch, was the third in order of birth.  He was born in Fayette County, Sept. 14, 1847, and received a fair education in the common schools.  He remained under the parental roof until reaching his twentieth year, when he started out in life on his own account, working out for two years.  At the end of that time, our subject took a six-months' course in the schools at London, and then worked land on shares for two years.  He later farmed on his own account in Madison County, until the spring of 1891, when he disposed of his farm land, and, removing to Lilly Chapel, engaged in the mercantile business, in which line of trade he was more than ordinarily successful.
     Mr. Morris was appointed to his present position in July, 1891, and in addition to that responsible office, has served his fellow-townsmen as Township Trustee for seven years, and has done efficient service in other local positions.  He is an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party, and is looked upon as one of the most public-spirited men in his community.  Mr. and Mrs. Morris are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which body they are earnest workers.
     Mar. 28, 1873, Miss Margaret J., daughter of Thomas Cullumber, and our subject were united in marriage.  Her father is one of the old settlers of Fairfield Township, and served during the late war as a member of Company K, First Ohio Cavalry.  Her mother, who bore the maiden name of Susan Lilly, was born in Virginia, and departed this life in Fairfield Township, in 1870.  Mrs. Morris was born in the above-named township, June 25, 1849, was the fifth in order of birth of her parents' family of eight ehildren.  By her union with our subject, she has become the mother of three children, namely: Frank O., George W., and Harley, who died when an infant.  Socially our subject is a member of Gilroy Lodge No. 695, I. O. O. F.
Source:  Portrait and Biographical History of Fayette,  Pickaway and Madison Counties, Ohio. Publ. Chicago: Chapman Bros. 1892 - Page 282

JOSIAH MORRIS, who resides on his pleasant and well-appointed farm nine miles west of Plain City in Monroe Township, is one of the leading farmers and public officers in this part of Madison County.  He is a native of the afore-mentioned township, born here in pioneer times, Mar. 23, 1837, being the date of his birth.  His grandparents on both sides of the house were among the original settlers of Ohio, and his parents among the early settlers of this county.
     The father of our subject, David Morris, was born in Kentucky, in 107, and when he was seven years old he came to Ohio with his parents, Joseph and Lavina (Drake) Morris, who settled in Clarke County.  He there met Sarah Weaver, a native of the county, who was born in 1813, and in course of time they married.  Her parents, George and Elizabeth Weaver, were early pioneers of that part of Ohio, having settled there in 1802, coming from Virginia.  They came to Madison County in 1835, to brave the dangers of the wilderness, that they might build up a comfortable home.
     After their marriage in Clarke County in 1831, the parents of our subject located on a new farm in Logan County, whence they came to Madison County three years later.  The father improved a good farm in Monroe Township and here died in his eighty-fourth year.  His name will always be preserved in the annals of the township as one of its noble pioneers who did good service in reclaiming it from the wilderness.  His good wife died in her sixty-eighth year.  They were the parents of six children, five of whom grew to maturity, namely: Solomon and Josiah (twins); Sarilda, wife of J. M. Breadley; John and Benjamin.
     He of whom write is the fourth child of his parents in order of birth.  His education was conducted in the local schools of his native town, and on his father's farm he gained a thorough knowledge of farming in all its details, which experience was of use to him when he began his independent career as a farmer.  He remained an inmate of the parental household until he was twenty-one, in the year 1858, and then went out into the world, going Westward as far as Missouri, where he remained until 1861, devoting himself to farming.  The breaking out of the war caused a decided change in his plans.  He was a strong Unionist at heart, but was drafted into the rebel army.  Not caring to fight against the Stars and Stripes, he quietly deserted three days after his enforced enlistment, and, coming back to his native county, he joined the Federal army in 1862, becoming a member of Company E, Eighty-fourth Ohio Infantry.  He served honorably four months and was then discharged at Delaware, Ohio.
     After his return from the army, our subject resumed farming, and after his marriage he at once took up his residence on his farm in Monroe Township.  There were but few improvements and he built the first house on the place, a small frame structure.  He has since cleared away the brush and forest trees with which the land was encumbered, and has wrought a wonderful transformation, placing the land under fine cultivation and erecting neat and commodious buildings for every needed purpose, and he has now a model farm, embracing three hundred and thirty-one acres of land in all, one hundred and eighty-one acres in the home place and one hundred and fifty acres elsewhere in the same township.  When he started here, aside from his land, he had only two horses and a cow.  From that small beginning he has become veiy prosperous and raises many cattle, horses and hogs.   His fellow-citizens, appreciating his capability for managing affairs, as well as his sterling merit, have entrusted various important offices to his care.  He is now Trustee of the township and Supervisor of Roads.  He was Captain of militia in 1863.  He is well known as a Mason and is identified with Urania Lodge No. 311, Plain City.  In politics, he a Republican.
     The marriage of our subject with Miss Orpha Sidebottom took place Feb. 21, 1865.  To them have been born two daughters: Rosa, wife of C. D. Trimble, a boot and shoe dealer at Zanesville, and Carrie, a teacher in Union County.  Mrs. Morris was born at Mr. Pleasant, Jefferson County, Nov. 10, 1846, and is the third child and eldest daughter of John H. and Eliza (Taylor) Sidebottom.  Her father, who was Fife-Major of the Eighty-fourth Ohio Infantry during the war, serving four years in that capacity, was born near Winchester, Va.  Her mother was born in Jefferson County, and there both died and were buried in the cemetery at Mt. Pleasant.  They were the parents of ten children.
Source:  Portrait and Biographical History of Fayette,  Pickaway and Madison Counties, Ohio. Publ. Chicago: Chapman Bros. 1892 - Page 475
Sharon Wick's NOTE:
Found the following:
--- 1850 Census -
Dwelling 321  Family 335
John H. Sidebottom ae 29 M Carpenter - b. OH
Eliza " ae. 27 F - b. OH
John " ae 7 M - b. OH
James " ae 5 M - b. OH
Orthia A. " ae 3 F - b. OH
Barbary " ae 1 F - b. OH
---  1873 -Marriage of John H. Sidebottom and Margaret Ann Scott on May 19, 1873 by David A. Pierce, VDM
--- 1880 Census - Mt. Pleasant Borough, Jefferson Co., Ohio on June 16, 1880:
Dwelling 97 - Family 102
Sidebottom, John H. - W M 59 - Husband Married - Carpenter - b. Ohio  fath. b. Eng  Moth. b. VA
" , Margarett - W F 28 - Wife Married - b. PA  fath. b. PA  moth. b. PA
" , Charles E. - W M 6 - Son b. OH   fath. b. OH  moth. b. PA
" , Sarah E. - W F 1 - Dau b. OH  fath. b. OH  moth. b. PA
Sidebottom, Elizabeth - W F 81 - Mother Widowed b. VA  fath. b. VA  moth. b. VA
Death of John H. Sidebottom:
pg. 18 Record of Deaths, Probate Court, Jefferson Co., OH
1882 - Record No. 68 - Sidebotom, John H. - died 1881 Dec. 11 - Married aged 61 y 2 m 13d at Mt. Pleasant - Trenton - Occupation Weaver - White - Asthma - Died at Mt. Pleasant. - Reported by (blank)
--- Death of Charles Elmer Sidebottom, Male, Ae. 76 y, born May 23, 1874, Mt. Pleasant, O, s/o John Haley Sidebottom & Margaret Scott on Nov. 3, 1950 at Belmont County, Ohio (Bethesda Town) - Cause of death: Coronary occlusion & Arteriosclerosis.  Buried Nov. 6, 1950 at Ebenezer Cem., Bethesda, Ohio.
--- Death of John H. Sidebottom, ae. 61 y.  He lived at Mt. Pleasant, OH.
Was born at Trenton, OH - Married, Weaver.  He died Dec. 11 1881 at Mt. Pleasant Twp. Jefferson Co., OH
--- Death of Sarah Elizabeth Strous ae 80 yrs. on Oct. 1, 1959 at Bethesda, Goshen Twp., Belmont Co., OH.  Dau. of John Sidebottom & Margaret Scott.  Burial at Ebenezer Cem., Bethesda, Belmont Co., OH