Biographical Sketch of

Charles S. Morris

Transcribed by Suzanne Folk for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 389 - 390

Charles S. Morris, proprietor of the Fourth Ward Flouring Mills, is one of the leading business men of Berlin. 
In connection with his milling business he deals in all kinds of flour and feed, together with wood, coal, lime, 
stucco, etc., and is engaged in the manufacture of brick and drain tile. He established his present business in 
the fall of 1870, and has carried it on continuously since with marked success.

Mr. Morris was born on a farm in the town of Berlin, Marquette County, Aug. 9, 1849, and is a son of Isaac H. Morris, 
whose biography will be found in this volume. The Morris family, of which Charles S. is a member is descended from 
one of the most honored in the history of the American Republic. Among the names of the most illustrious are those 
of the patriotic Robert Morris and Gouverneur Morris, of the State of New York.

Our subject was reared on his father's farm until fourteen years of age and in his youth received liberal education 
advantages, attending the schools of Berlin, while his education was completed by a year's course in Ripon College. 
He was an excellent student in mathematics, and when only fourteen years of age obtained a position as book keeper 
in a store at Berlin. Subsequently, he served two years as assistant postmaster under Col. Bugh, of Berlin, and was 
next employed on the home farm during the summer months, until twenty-one years of age. He attained his majority in 
1870, and then formed a partnership with James McNish, under the name of McNish & Morris, proprietors of the Fourth 
Ward Flouring and Feed Mill, but after eighteen months the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Morris becoming sole 
proprietor. Since that time he has done business alone and his efforts have been crowned with a high degree of success. 
His annual business aggregates from $60,000 to $75,000 and is steadily increasing.

Mr. Morris was married in the town of Green Lake, Green Lake County, May 17, 1876, when his destiny was united with 
that of Miss Lucy E. Smith, daughter of Samuel and Almena (Connable) Smith. She was born in the town where her wedding 
was celebrated and where her parents were early settlers. Her father is one of the best known and most prominent 
farmers of the country.

In politics, Mr. Morris is a Republican and has taken a warm interest in the success of his party. He is a member 
of the Republican County Committee and has served two years as its chairman, doing good work in promoting the success 
of his party. He has served nine years as alderman in the Berlin City Counsel and would doubtless have been re-elected 
if he would have accepted the nomination. He is a member of Berlin Lodge, No. 56, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled 
all the chairs, and at one time was a member of the Encampment of that order. He and his wife attend the Union Church 
of Berlin. Although comparatively a young man, Mr. Morris has been prominently identified with the manufacturing and 
commercial interests of Berlin for nineteen years, and with the municipal government of that city for nine years. He 
is an active enterprising business man and has by energy and industry succeeded in building up a large and prosperous 
trade. As a citizen and neighbor he is known as an upright man of unquestioned integrity, genial and affable in his 
intercourse with the world. His fellow townsmen have recognized his public spirit and enterprise by electing president 
of the Business Men's Association of Berlin, which position, he has held since the association was formed.







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