Augustus M. Morrow

AUGUSTUS M. MORROW, M. D. Perhaps no call is so insistent in man as that of personal service to others. In no profession does this personal service exemplify itself more strongly than in medicine and surgery, and undoubtedly its chief compensation is the knowledge of the facts of science and the ability to helpfully apply them.

One of the high minded and successful practitioners of Seward County is Doctor Morrow of Liberal, who has gained a front rank position in the profession since locating there February 14, 1914.

Doctor Morrow was born at Mount Vernon, Illinois, June 6, 1871. His grandfather, Monterville Morrow, was a native of Georgia. He came to the North during the discovery of gold in California, and his aversion to the institution of slavery as practiced in the South, including his own people, caused him to remain in Illinois, and he pre-empted a claim in Jefferson County of that state and spent the rest of his days there. He married Harriet Casey, and their family consisted of the following children: Alonso; Mrs. Marietta Collins, of Abilene, Kansas; Mrs. Belle Maxey, of Pierce City, Missouri; Mrs. John Robinson, of Mount Vernon, Illinois; Melissa, who died at Christian, Illinois; Mrs. Dick Raynard, who lives on the old Morrow home near Mount Vernon.

Alonso Morrow, father of Doctor Morrow, was born near Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois, in February. 1847. When the war came on he was a member of the Illinois Home Guard, but was refused acceptance in the volunteer army because of overweight. He had the gift of song to a remarkable degree. All his active career he taught vocal music and was choir leader and singing master wherever he lived. His children all inherited similar talents. His daughter Mrs. F. O. PoIson, in California, is one of the talented singers of that state. Alonzo Morrow was an active republican in politics, and after coming to Kansas loyally supported the aspirations of Bristow, Stubbs and Capper. He was a delegate to local conventions, and was throughout a bitter opponent of Populism. He was also a leader in the Patrons of Husbandry movement and was president of the County Grange several years. He was a Methodist, and prominent both in church and Sunday school. He took little interest in fraternal orders.

Alonzo Morrow married Annie Short, daughter of Alfred Short. Nearly all her life she was an invalid. She died June 11, 1882, mother of Mrs. Polson, of California. Dr. Augustus M. and of Angus H. of Garfield, Kansas.

Doctor Morrow was fourteen years old when in 1886 his father came to Kansas from Mount Vernon, Illinois. His father established a home in Pawnee County, and Doctor Morrow grew up near Garfield. Alonzo Morrow a few years ago sold his place near Garfield and located six miles south of Spearville, where he died April 13, 1917. He was a practical farmer and in Kansas followed both farming and stock raising.

Doctor Morrow was educated in the common schools of Illinois and Kansas, and at the age of eighteen began studying medicine with Dr. J. B. Ingles of Larned. He left his office to enter the Keokuk Medical College of Iowa, from which he graduated M. D. in 1898. The next two years he spent as an interne in St. Joseph's Hospital at Keokuk, and since then has taken three postgraduate courses in the Chicago Polyclinic. Doctor Morrow first practiced at Lockridge, Iowa, where he remained until his return to Kansas in 1910. In Iowa he engaged in the drug business at Lockridge, was health officer, a member of the local medical society and served on the school board.

On returning to Kansas Doctor Morrow established himself at Garfield, his boyhood home, but in 1914 gave up his practice there to identify himself with Liberal. At Liberal Doctor Morrow conducted a small hospital, and is widely known as a specialist in surgery. He is surgeon for the Rock Island Railway, is a member of the Railroad Surgeons Association, and is a member in good standing of the Kansas State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He is also special examiner for the Rock Island Railway Company and holds commissions as examiner for some of the old line insurance companies, including the New York Life, Farmers and Bankers, Guaranty Fund Company and Pacific Mutual.

Doctor Morrow has been a republican both on state and national issues. He is a Knight of Pythias, served in all the chairs of the Subordinate and Encampment degrees of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has also been an official in the Modern Woodmen of America.

At Keokuk, Iowa, March 17, 1898, about the time he finished his medical course, Doctor Morrow married Lillie A. Lindquist. She was born at Burlington, Iowa, December 31, 1870, and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick L. Lindquist, were married in that city. Mr. Lindquist, a native of Sweden, spent most of his career at Keokuk in the furniture business. Mrs. Morrow was one of six children. She and Doctor Morrow have a family of young people whose names are Louis A., Vernon P., Frances, Bert William, Frederick Alonzo and Margaret Ethel.

Pages 2133-2134.