Theodosius Bartow Morris

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

Theodosins Bartow MORRIS, secretary, treasurer and director of the Madison Trust Company, Madison, New Jersey, bears a name well and favorably known in the financial circles of Morris county, and he has shown exceptional business ability. To his wise direction is largely due much of the prestige and success of the banking institution with which he is personally connected. He has always taken a keen personal interest in its operations, and the results are to be seen in the reputation it has acquired. His family name is of Welsh origin, and traceable back to Rhys, sometimes called Rhys Fitzgerald, brother to Rhys, Prince of Geventland. In 1171, in conjunction with Richard Strongbow, Rhys Fitzgerald led an expedition into Ireland and, owing to his achievements there, received the name of Maur Rhys, that is "Great Rhys." In the course of time his descendants have changed the name into Maurise, Maurice and MORRIS. John Howe MORRIS, grandfather of Mr. MORRIS of this sketch, was born in Lancashire, England, where he was a merchant. He was a communicant of the Church of England. He married Katherine FORBES, a lineal descendant of Captain Cleveland Alexander FORBES, who was of the FORBES family of Scotland, and who took the first sailing vessel around Cape Horn. Children:

John Forbes, of further mention;
Susanna Forbes;
Thomas Forbes;
Mary Forbes.

John Forbes, son of John Howe and Katherine (FORBES) MORRIS, was born in Newark, Ohio, in 1837. He was a merchant all the business years of his life, and served for a time as deputy collector for the Port of New York. He was in active service in the Commissary Department during the Civil War. His political support was given to the Republican paity, and he was a member of the Protestant Episcopal church. He married Ellen VAN WINKLE, born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1845, and they had children:

Katherine Waldron;
John Harwood;
Theodositis Bartow, whose name heads this sketch.

Theodosius Bartow MORRIS was born at Perth Amboy, New Jersey, June i8, 1873. He acquired his education tinder private tuition in his own home, and at the age of thirteen years entered the employ of Clarks Cove Guano Company, with whom he remained one year as office boy. He next found a position with Messrs. Blake Brothers & Company, bankers of New York and Boston, and rose from grade to grade with this concern untfl he became the head of the commercial paper department. He resigned his position with this firm in 1909, and entered into a partnership with Edward P. Holden Jr., forming the banking firm of Morris & Holden, with offices at No. 45 Wall street, New York. In 1910 Mr. MORRIS was one of the organizers of the Madison Trust Company of Madison, New Jersey, since which time he has been secretary, treasurer and one of the directors. He is also a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Madison. He takes a deep interest in all matters which concern the welfare of the community, and casts his vote in favor of the candidates of the Republican party. He is a member of Grace Protestant Episcopal church, and of the following social organizations: Madison Golf Club, of Madison, New Jersey; New Jersey Historical Society; Canoe Brook Country Club, of Summit, New Jersey. Mr. MORRIS married, in New York City, September 5, 1900, Edith Cannon IRVING, born in New York City, January 17, 1882, a daughter of Edward Washington and Mary Brewster (BARLING) IRVING, the latter a daughter of Judge Henry A. BARLING. Their only other child was Janet Barling IRVING. Mr. and Mrs. MORRIS have had children:

Theodore Forbes, born February 8, 1903, a student at the Madison Academy;
Elizabeth Forbes, born August 27, 1906, is under private tuition;
Susanna Forbes, born August 21, 1908, is also under private tuition;
Edith Irving, born August 21, 1913.