William Morrison
Like his father, Mr. Morrison apprenticed as a tin and coppersmith, working in the South and St. Louis until 1840 when he relocated to Lexington. With various partners, he sold general merchandise here and opened a branch in the Kansas City area where he sold goods to Santa Fe traders. Demand became so great that he built a foundry on the Lexington riverfront in 1848, mainly to manufacture stoves which were sold throughout the West.
Mr. Morrison was a strong Union man. However, since Missouri State Guard Capt. Bledsoe had used the foundry to refit a Mexican War cannon called Old Sac and to make cannonballs, federal troops burned the foundry in 1861 to prevent further rebel use. During the federal occupation of Lexington, Mr. Morrison rebuilt and operated it for many years with up to forty employees.
In 1844, Gov. King had appointed Mr. Morrison as a director of the Fifth Branch of the Bank of Missouri at Lexington; he continued in that position when it became
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After serving as mayor, Mr. Morrison was in the state legislature in 1858, and later he served as president of the board of curators of Central Female College (Methodist) in Lexington. The building of the St. Louis and Lexington Railroad from Sedalia to Lexington in 1877 was mainly the result of his efforts.
Mr. Morrison married Elizabeth Funk in 1844, and they had four children. A grandson became a founder of the Lexington Rotary Club whose main objective is service to the community, nation and the world. At this time two great-grandsons and a great-granddaughter support Rotary International as Paul Harris Fellows. William Morrison, who died on May 4, 1894, was a public spirited leader in every aspect of life in the City of Lexington.
Erected 2007 by Lexington Rotary Club.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Rotary International series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1817.
Location. 39° 11.077′ N, 93° 52.799′
Regionally, this marker is in the Missouri River Corridor. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Steamboat Saluda Disaster (here, next to this marker); Christ Church (within shouting distance of this marker); The Library Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Mount Vernon Foundation Stones (within shouting distance of this marker); Lexington (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lafayette County Courthouse (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lexington's First Public School Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Wentworth World War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lexington.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 24, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 10, 2015, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 722 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 10, 2015, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
