Morrisonc
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
CHARLES A. MORRISON was a pioneer
in the saw mill business in the Wenatchee country and since the day of
his landing here has continued in that important industry which his skill
and energy have made a first-class success. He is the owner of a
fine plant in the town of Wenatchee, which has a capacity of twenty thousand
feet per day and is an up-to-date mill. In addition to the manufacture
of lumber and general building material, Mr. Morrison also has established
a fruit box manufactory, which has both been a good success from his standpoint
and also a great benefit to the valley. He was the pioneer in this
industry in this section. Mr. Morrison owns a good block of lots
where his mill stands, besides other property.
Charles A. Morrison was born in Virginia on
January 5, 1848, the son of Benjamin R. and Mary M. (Brown), also natives
of Virginia. They are now living with our subject, aged eighty-two
and seventy-five respectively. The father comes from an old Virginia
family and is of Scotch-Irish extraction. The mother is of German-English
descent. When our subject was five years of age, he came with his
parents to Minnesota and there received his education and remained with
his father until nineteen. After that he followed railroading for
four years and then turned his attention to sawmilling and in that industry
has been engaged since. In 1885 Mr. Morrison came to the state of
Washington, locating on Pleasant Prairie. There he operated a mill
until 1891, when he located in Wenatchee. He purchased a water mill
that had never made a success and freighted a large engine and boiler from
Coulee City, which was an arduous undertaking, as in many places they were
obliged to use block and tackle to get over the bad places. When
it was installed he at once began to do a good business and has continued
until the present. For a time he did work in the surrounding hills,
but is now located in Wenatchee as stated.
On September 4, 1879, Mr. Morrison married
Mrs. Bertha Schaeffer, daughter of Gustav and Dorothy Wendel, natives of
Germany. The wedding occurred in Alexandria, Missouri. Mrs.
Morrison has the following brothers and sisters: Gustav, Frederick,
Theodore, Louisa Tegner, Emma Breist and Lena Kranik, all in Minnesota.
To Mr. and Mrs. Morrison there have been born the following children, Benjamin
R., Dorothy M., Mary E., Fred W., Ray R., Bertha H. and Mont W., all at
home. Mr. Morrison is a member of the A. F. & A. M., also of
the chapter. He and his wife belong to the Yeomen. Politically
Mr. Morrison holds with the principles of the Democratic party.