Michael Morrison was born in Inishuron (near Louisburgh), County Mayo, Ireland, in 1798, the son of John and Mrs. Morrison. The Morrison family ran a shebeen near the grounds of Gowlaun Roman Catholic Church, Killadoon.
Michael married Mary Gibbons in the Westport area, east of Louisburgh, County Mayo, Ireland, prior to 1818. After the death of Mary Gibbons Morrison in County Mayo, Ireland, Michael and his children emigrated from Ireland to Canada in 1832. He subsequently married Mary Ann O'Hora (1814-?) in Canada between 1832 and 1834.
Michael was a farmer and inspector of hotel and liquor establishments in Westport, North Crosby, Leeds County, Ontario, Canada, where he and his family lived on the east half of Lot 10, Concession 8. The family immigrated to the United States from Canada in 1858 with several other families in wagons drawn by seven teams of oxen. Michael continued to farm in Iowa. The family settled in Cass Township, Wapello County, IA. The family later lived in Franklin Township, then Jackson Township, both in Monroe County, IA.
On Monday, September 7, 1863, Michael became a naturalized citizen of the United States at the Monroe County (IA) Court in Albia. According to county judge William P. Hammond, Michael "did absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, or sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly Victoria Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, whereof before he was a subject."
Michael was a Roman Catholic. In Leeds County, Ontario, he was a member of St. Mark's in Prescott, St. Francis Xavier in Brockville, St. Philip Neri in Kitley, and St. Edward's in Westport. In Georgetown, IA, he was a member of St. Patrick's.
Michael and Mary Gibbons Morrison had 3 sons and 1 daughter: John (1818-1900, buried in Killiney, Ireland), James (1820-1900), Edward (1821-1874), and Catherine (Quinn) (1829-1920). Michael and Mary Ann O'Hora Morrison had 4 sons and 4 daughters: Mary Ann (Pheney) (1834-1914), Bridget (Mahony and Walsh) (1836-1918), Thomas (1839-1870), Nancy (Carr) (1843-1940), Ellen (Logan) (1846-1885), Patrick (1848-1889), Michael (1851-1851), and John (1854-1933).
Michael, 76, died on Thursday, August 27, 1874, in Jackson Township, Monroe County, IA. Following a funeral Mass at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, he was buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Georgetown, Monroe County, IA. After Michael died, his widow moved to Oklahoma with her son John.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Jan 1798 | |
| Date of Death | 27th Aug 1874 | |
| Father (First Name/s and Surname) | John Morrison 1780-1866 | |
| Mother (First Name/s and Maiden) | Mary Keane 1775- | |
| Spouse (First Name/s and Maiden/Surname) | Mary Gibbons 1800-1832 Mary Ann O'Hora 1814- | |
| Place & Date of Marriage | Mary Gibbons before 1818 Westport, east of Louisburgh, County Mayo, Ireland Mary Ann O'Hora abt 1834 Leeds County, Ontario, Canada | |
| Number of Children | 12 | |
| Names of Children | Gibbons - John, James, Edward, Catherine O'Hora- Mary Ann, Bridget, Thomas, Nancy, Ellen, Patrick, Michael, John | |
| Occupation | Canada- Inspector of hotel and liquor establishments United States- Farmer | |
| Place of Death | Jackson Township, Monroe County, Iowa, United States Buried: St. Patrick's Cemetery, Georgetown, Monroe County, Iowa, United States | |
