Timothy D. Morris

Timothy D. Morris
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 7th district
In office January 5, 1863 – January 2, 1865
Preceded by	William L. Utley
Succeeded by	Jerome Case
Sheriff of Racine County, Wisconsin
In office January 1, 1857 – January 1, 1859
Preceded by	James O. Bartlett
Succeeded by	William G. Everit
In office January 1, 1853 – January 1, 1855
Preceded by	John A. Carswell
Succeeded by	James O. Bartlett
Personal details
Born	(1818-07-04)July 4, 1818 De Peyster, New York, U.S.
Died	April 26, 1876(1876-04-26) (aged 57) Caledonia, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Mound Cemetery, Racine, Wisconsin
Political party	Republican Whig (before 1854)
Spouse	Ellen Maria Emerson ​ ​ (m. 1843⁠–⁠1876)​
Children	at least 8
Occupation	Farmer

Timothy D. Morris (July 4, 1818 – April 26, 1876) was an American farmer, Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing Racine County during the 1863 and 1864 sessions. He also served four years as sheriff of Racine County, and, in that capacity, played a significant role in the Joshua Glover affair in 1854. His name was often abbreviated as T. D. Morris in historical documents.

Biography

Timothy Morris was born in the town of De Peyster, New York, in 1818.

He came to the Wisconsin Territory in the Fall of 1838 and established a claim in the town of Caledonia, in Racine County. His brother also came to Racine County and established a claim on a neighboring plot. The two of them collaborated to clear the first plot of farmland in this area of the county.

In 1852, he was elected sheriff of Racine County, running on the Whig Party ticket. During his second year as sheriff, a significant controversy arose from attempts by federal authorities to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act in Racine County in the case of Joshua Glover.

Glover had come to Racine via the Underground Railroad after escaping from slavery in the south. His presence in Racine became known, however, and his former captor, Bennami Garland, came north to reclaim him and return him to slavery. On the evening of March 10, 1854, Garland seized Glover with the assistance of the U.S. marshal, and Glover was taken from Racine and imprisoned in Milwaukee while his case was being heard. Morris, however, responded by using his authority as sheriff to try to arrest Garland and his assistants—including federal agents—on charges of kidnapping and assault.

The next day, other Racine abolitionists led a mob to protest at the jail in Milwaukee. Morris joined the protest that evening, taking another 100 Racinians by boat to Milwaukee. Within an hour of their arrival, the abolitionists stormed the jail with pickaxes and wood slabs. Morris arrested Garland at the Milwaukee jail and Glover was liberated. Garland ultimately sued in federal court and was ordered released. But by then, Glover had taken a boat to Canada and was beyond his reach.

Morris did not run for re-election in 1854, but was elected again in 1856, running on the ticket of the new Republican Party.

In 1862, he received the Republican Party nomination for Wisconsin Senate in the 7th State Senate district, over Philo Belden. He won the Fall general election and represented Racine County for two years in the Wisconsin Senate.

Morris died at his home in western Caledonia on April 26, 1876, after suffering from lung inflammation. He was interred at Racine's historic Mound Cemetery.

Personal life and family

Timothy Morris married Ellen Maria Emerson, the daughter of Stillman Emerson, in 1843. The Emersons had come to Racine from Vermont, after a short time in New York state. Morris and his wife had at least seven sons and one daughter.