Person:John Morris (114)

John Turner Morris' enlistment record shows he enlisted in Co. D, 132 Illinois infantry on May 7, 1864 for 100 days. He was elected Squad Corporal by the Company troops. The 132 infantry was mustered into Federal service on June 1, 1864, at Camp Fry, IL. The 132 Regiment was assigned to guard and rebuild the railroad near Paducah, KY. While located near Paducah, John suffered sunstroke in July, 1864. He was mustered out on October 17, 1864, at Chicago, IL.

Oral history reports that sometime after October 1864, Co. D troops elected John as an Honorary Captain of the company. Thereby, the title of "Capt." is found in both oral and written reports.

Glenda Anderson, 2G granddaughter of John Turner and Mary (Childers) Morris, says: "John and Mary Childers were married on August 20, 1857, in Lewistown, IL. While still legally married to Mary Childers, and using the alias, John Robert Morris, he married Mary Elizabeth Carnes on May 25, 1880 in Richland Co., IL, and the record of this marriage and the birth of their son, George Judson Morris, can be found there. The birth certificate of George Judson Morris, identifies his parents as John Robert Morris, age 39, and mother as Mary Elizabeth carnes, age 25. Mary E.'s mother was in attendance at the birth, per the copy of the Birth Certificate. However, after re-examining the extensive family files given me by Maurice A. Childers and Joann Swarner and finding numerous family files of John Turner and Mary (Childers) Morris descendants in which they discussed John Turner Morris' marriage to Mary E. Carnes, their actual marriage date in Illinois, the birthdate of their son, George Judson Morris, letters and family births, marriages, deaths, etc. naming George Judson and his wife and their children's names and births, pictures of George Judson and letters discussing being in each other's homes over the years and their discussions over long years past, I went to the courthouses in Emporia, Lyon Co., KS, and Burlington, Coffey Co., KS, on September 8, 2000, and obtained copies of John T. and wife's divorce in 1884, their remarriage in 1885, and their second and final divorce in 1905.

"In Emporia, Lyon co., KS, Mary (Childers) MOrris filed on January 23, 1884, for divorce from John Turner Morris, on grounds of abandonment, saying that 'On the 20th day of August 1875 she and said defendant, J.T. Morris were intermarried at Fulton Co., IL, and ever since that time she has conducted herself toward him as a faithful wife. That said defendant disregarding his marital duties toward this plaintiff has been guilty of abandonment for a period of more than one year last past. That as the fruit of said marriage there has been born to them the following named children now under age, Samuel, 19, Maggie, 17, Addie, 14, Minnie, 11, Jennie, 6. Plaintiff therefore prays that she may be divorced from said defendant and that the care, custody, and control of said minor children may be given to her and that said defendant may be forever barred from setting up or asserting any interest or title in and to any of the property now or hereafter owned by this plaintiff.' A notice of the divorce action was mailed January 24, 1884 to John Turner Morris at Olney, Richland Co., IL, in which he was told to answer said petition on or before March 4, 1884, or said petition will be taken as true and judgment rendered accordingly, divorcing said plaintiff from you and giving her the care, custody and control of the following named minor children.

John Turner was present for the actual divorce and the "plaintiff introduced her evidence in support of the allegations of her petition and rested and the defendant introduced no evidence." Divorce was granted.

"From the overwhelming evidence in the above-stated family records, including a letter stating that "he then left Mary E. (Carnes) and went back to Kansas and married his wife again". I and others researching this family are convinced that John Turner Morris married Mary E. (Carnes) under the alias of John Robert Morris. There were many Morris/Childers/Gustine relatives living at that time in the Richland Co., IL, area and we believe they were quick to tell the Emporia, KS and other family members of Mary E. and her parents that John Robert Morris was their relative, and that he was actually John Turner Morris and married with a wife and family in Emporia. Just as the letter said, John T. returned to Emporia where he and his first wife were remarried on July 5, 1885.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 World Family Tree.
2. ↑ World Family Tree -.
3. ↑ Catherine Chamberlain Duncan.
4. ↑ John Morris, in Find A Grave.

   Memorial page includes his photograph.