William Joseph Morris1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 9012, (1893 - 1959)
FatherWilliam A. Morris4,5,2 (10 Jan 1868 - 14 Oct 1939)
MotherMargaret Jennie Reigle6,2 (Nov 1871 - 9 May 1923)

Key Events:

Birth: 11 Jan 1893, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania7,8,9
Marriage: 4 Sep 1917, Joplin, Jasper Co., Missouri, Gertrude Anna Jones (Apr 1873 - )10,11
Divorce: 1 Dec 1929, Washoe Co., Nevada, Gertrude Anna Jones (Apr 1873 - )12,13
Marriage: 1930, Martha [surname unknown] (about 1892 - )14,15,16
Divorce: after 1940, Martha [surname unknown] (about 1892 - )17,18,19
Death: 24 Sep 1959, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California2,20
Burial: 28 Sep 1959, Pomona Cemetery21,22
ChartsDescendants of Jacob K. and Christiana Ohl Riegel
AncestryThe Reigel Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     William Joseph Morris was born on 11 Jan 1893 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania.7,8,9
     He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Trucksville, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania, in the household of his parents, William A. Morris and Margaret Jennie Reigle.4
     William was not listed on the 1910 Federal Census of Luzerne, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania with his parents and younger siblings. At age 16 he may have been living elsewhere, but he has not been found in another household.23
     William moved to Missouri by 1917. He registered for the draft for World War I on 5 Jun 1917, while living at 1420 McBee St., Kansas City, Missouri, reporting he was employed as a salesman by Senic Art Studio in Kansas City.1
     William married first Gertrude Anna Jones, daughter of Zachariah Jones and Susan B. Willis, on 4 Sep 1917 in Joplin, Jasper Co., Missouri, with G. F. C. Corb, justice of the peace, officiating. They had obtained their marriage license in neighboring Newton Co. She had previously been married to William F. Pool and Stephen Matney.10,11
     William and Gertrude moved to Colorado by 1920. They appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Limon, Lincoln Co., Colorado, at Greer Hotel, enumerated 8 Jan 1920, reporting they rented their home.24
William J. Morris and Gertrude in his Denver Restaurant
courtesy Larry McWilliams

     He was a cook in a hotel in 1920. He later owned a restaurant in Denver, Colorado, which he operated with his wife.25,26
     He lived in Sheridan, Wyoming, for a time, apparently after he lived in Denver.27
     William moved to Los Angeles, California, about 1927.28
     William filed for divorce from Gertrude 3 Sep 1929 in Washoe Co., Nevada, on grounds of extreme cruelty. The decree was granted 1 Dec 1929.12,13
     William married second Martha [surname unknown], in early 1930 apparently, but no record of the marriage has been found. She had been apparently been married previously but no record of her prior to her marriage to William has been found.14,15,16
     William and Martha appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, at 2417 West 6th St., enumerated 8 Apr 1930, reporting that they were renting their home for $130 per month, and owned a radio. His father was listed as living with them.5
     He was a life insurance salesman by 1930. By the middle 1930's he was a music teacher operating a music store. In 1940 he reported he had worked 40 hours the last week of March, and had worked 52 weeks the prior year, earning $600. He reported in the 1950 census he had not worked the prior week and was not looking for work.29,30,31,32
     William and Martha appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, at 3000 S. Grand, enumerated 8 Apr 1940, reporting they were renting their apartment for $18 per month.33
     William and Martha were divorced after 1940.17,18,19
     Martha appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Inglewood, Los Angeles Co., California,, but no record of her after that has been found.34
     William registered for the draft for World War I on 27 Apr 1942, while living at 2121 Westminster Rd., Alhambra, Los Angeles Co., California, reporting he was a self-employed music teacher at that address.35
     William moved to Pomona, California, about 1949 and operated a music store known as Morris Music Studio there.36,37
     William appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Hesperia, San Bernardino Co., California, at Main St.,, enumerated 26 Apr 1950.38
     He was living with his sister Margaret at 872 Laurel, Pomona, California, at the time of his death.39
     William died on 24 Sep 1959 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, at age 66.2,20 He was cremated and his remains were interred at the Pomona Cemetery on 28 Sep 1959.21,22

Children:
     There were no children with Gertrude Anna Jones

Children:
     There were no children with Martha [surname unknown]

Citations

  1. [S5533] William Joseph Morris, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.
  2. [S5529] William Joseph Morris, Certificate of Death.
  3. [S5031] William Morris household, 1900 U.S. Census, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania, shows name as William Morris.
  4. [S5031] William Morris household, 1900 U.S. Census, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania.
  5. [S5034] William J. Morris household, 1930 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California.
  6. [S5031] William Morris household, 1900 U.S. Census, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania, shows him as the son of her husband and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  7. [S5533] William Joseph Morris, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, shows date, city, and state.
  8. [S5529] William Joseph Morris, Certificate of Death, shows date and state.
  9. [S5031] William Morris household, 1900 U.S. Census, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania, shows month, year, age 7, and state.
  10. [S12541] Marriages Licenses, Newton Co., Missouri, R:480, W. J. Morris and Gertie Anna Matney, shows date, county, state, and officiant.
  11. [S12542] "Marriage Licenses," Miner and Mechanic, 7 Sep 1917, shows license issued to W. J. Morris, of Kansas City, and Gertie Anna Jones, of Springfield.
  12. [S12557] "Summons," Reno Gazette-Journal, 4 Sep 1929, William J. Morris, plaintiff, vs. Anna Gertrude Morris, defendant, shows date, county and state, and grounds.
  13. [S12558] "Decrees Granted," Reno Gazette-Journal, 2 Dec 1929, shows granted but not date.
  14. [S5034] William J. Morris household, 1930 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California, shows married, with his first marriage at age 25 and hers at 26.
  15. [S5532] William Morris household, 1940 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California, shows married.
  16. [S12558] "Decrees Granted," Reno Gazette-Journal, 2 Dec 1929, shows his divorce from his previous wife granted.
  17. [S12540] Edna M. Carter household, 1950 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California, shows her as divorced.
  18. [S12538] Wm Joseph Morris household, 1950 U.S. Census, San Bernardino Co., California, shows him as widowed.
  19. [S5529] William Joseph Morris, Certificate of Death, shows him as divorced.
  20. [S12559] William J. Morris obituary, Progress-Bulletin, shows died Thursday, and city.
  21. [S5529] William Joseph Morris, Certificate of Death, shows date and cremated.
  22. [S5535] William J. Morris obituary, Progress Bulletin, shows date as Saturday and cemetery.
  23. [S5032] William A. Morris household, 1910 U.S. Census, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania.
  24. [S5263] W. J. Morris household, 1920 U.S. Census, Lincoln Co., Colorado.
  25. [S5263] W. J. Morris household, 1920 U.S. Census, Lincoln Co., Colorado, shows occupation as cook, industry as hotel.
  26. [S5534] William J. Morris, photograph of restaurant, inscribed on reverse "the Res't I owned in Denver" shows him, and Anna in waitress uniform.
  27. [S12559] William J. Morris obituary, Progress-Bulletin.
  28. [S12559] William J. Morris obituary, Progress-Bulletin, shows year.
  29. [S5034] William J. Morris household, 1930 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California, shows occupation as salesman, industry as life insurance.
  30. [S5532] William Morris household, 1940 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California, shows occupation as music teacher, industry as own business.
  31. [S12538] Wm Joseph Morris household, 1950 U.S. Census, San Bernardino Co., California, shows occupation as music teacher and industry as musician.
  32. [S5529] William Joseph Morris, Certificate of Death, shows occupation as music teacher, for 25 years.
  33. [S5532] William Morris household, 1940 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California.
  34. [S12540] Edna M. Carter household, 1950 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California.
  35. [S5536] William Joseph Morris, World War II Draft Cards (4th Registration) for the State of California.
  36. [S12559] William J. Morris obituary, Progress-Bulletin, shows year and store.
  37. [S5529] William Joseph Morris, Certificate of Death, shows last employer as Morris Music Studio, and industry as music store.
  38. [S12538] Wm Joseph Morris household, 1950 U.S. Census, San Bernardino Co., California.
  39. [S5529] William Joseph Morris, Certificate of Death, shows address, and her as informant at same address.