John Moses Morris

John Moses Morris (April 27, 1837 – November 27, 1873) was an American minister, author, and newspaper editor.

Morris, son of Moses and Laura W. Morris, was born in Wethersfield, Conn., April 27, 1837. He graduated Yale College in 1860. In Nov 1860, he entered the Divinity School of Yale College, and remained there until February, 1862. On the 25th of the following April he was ordained in New Haven as an Evangelist and accepted an appointment as Chaplain of the 8th Connecticut Volunteers. In this position, which he occupied until Sept., 1863, he shrank from no service or exposure, however severe. On his resignation he returned to New Haven and conducted the newspaper the Connecticut War Record until the close of the American Civil War. He then began the compilation of a History of Connecticut during the Civil War, which was completed in conjunction with W. A. Croffut, and was published in 1868 (pp. 891, 8vo.) In the meantime he became in 1865 assistant clerk of the Connecticut House of Representatives, and in 1866 clerk of the same body. In 1867 he was clerk of the Connecticut State Senate, and at the close of this service went to Washington as private secretary to Senator Orris S. Ferry. In Oct., 1868, he established the Charleston Weekly Republican, which he conducted as editor for two years, it becoming a daily paper after Aug., 1869. In March, 1869, he was elected executive clerk of the Secretary of the United States Senate, which position he held until his death. During the winter of 1870-71 he purchased the Washington Chronicle and continued as principal stockholder and editor-in-chief until June, 1872, when he withdrew from the management on account of declining health. He died in Washington, of consumption, Nov. 27, 1873, aged 36 years. He married, Dec. 31, 1863, Miss Augusta R. Griswold, of Wethersfield, who survived him.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Yale Obituary Record.