John Wesley Morris Jr & Alverna Bittenbender Morris
John Wesley Morris Jr.
Born:� May 6,� 1876
Place:� Martin, Mi
Death:� January 5,� 1955
Place:� Martin, Mi
Burial:� Wayland Cemetery, Wayland, Mi
Wife:� Alverna Bittenbender
Marriage:� unknown, possibally abt 1898
Place:� unknown, probally Allegan Co, Mi
Occupation:� Farmer
John Wesley Morris Jr.�was born to John Welsey Morris Sr and Alice Allison Morris on May 6, 1876 in Martin, Mi.� He was the youngest of three children.� I am unsure of when and where John Morris Jr and Alverna Bittenbender met and were married.� There first child was born in 1900, Goldie Mable Morris.� Violet was born two years later, but passed at a young age, I'm not sure when.� The third child, Hilda was born 1904.� Their last was a son, John Wayne 3rd, born in 1908.� His birth record shows that originally he was named John Stephen Morris.� He passed away in 1909 from lead poisoning from a penny he swallowed.� You can see in the pictures the difference of before and after the penny incident.� In 1910, they are found on the census for Wayland Twp, Allegan Co, Mi.� It lists as follows:� John Wayne(34, head), Verne(33, wife), Goldie(10, daughter), Hilda(5, daughter).� John's occupation is listed as a farmer on a general farm of own accord(self employed).� It also states he had immigrated in 1876 and�he was naturalized.� I'm not sure of what that means since his birth certifacate�was�issued in Michigan.� It lists that John's birth place or nativity�is Can.�English, his father Eng English, and mother Can. English.�Alverna's is listed as Michigan, her father and mother, Pennsylvania.� It also states that John and Alverna were married for 12 yrs.� And that Alverna gave birth to 4 children, but only 2 were still living.� The 1910 census also says all but Hilda can read and write, and Goldie and Hilda both attended school that year.� Additionally this census states that they owned their own home, it was mortgaged, and was a farm, farm schedule 160.� They are also found on the 1920 census, again in Wayland Twp, Allegan Co., Mi.� Listed is John(43, head), Elverna(43, wife), Goldie (19, daughter), Hilda (15, daughter).� Once again this census states that John immigrated in 1876, was natuarlized, but does not list a year for natrualization.� This time it says John was born in Canada, with English as his native tongue.� His father was born in England, and spoke English, and his mother was born in New York.� Alverna is listed as the same, born in Michigan, and both parents born in Pennsylvania.� It aslo say they own their home, but nothing is listed if its mortgaged or owned free.� They all can read and write, and once again, Goldie and Hilda attended school with in the past year.� Nothing else is readable on the 1920 census.� John Morris Jr died on Jan 5, 1955 in Shelbyville, Mi, and was buried in Wayland, Allegan Co., Mi.
Alverna Bittenbender
Born:� May 23,� 1876
Place:� Cedar Springs, Mi
Death:� July 12,� 1957
Place:� Wayland, Allegan Co.,� Mi
Burial:� Wayland Cemetery, Wayland, Mi
Husband:� John Wesley Morris Jr.
Occupation:� House wife
Number of Children:� 4
Alverna Bittenbender was born May 23, 1876 in Cedar Springs, Kent Co, Mi, to Henry and Elizabeth Bittenbender.� She was the youngest of 11 known children.� See her life with John Morris Jr above.� Alverna passed away on July 12, 1957 in Wayland, Mi.� She was buried next to her late husband and children also in Wayland Twp, Allegan Co., Mi.
John Wesley Jr and Alverna Morris's Children:
Documents I have on this family: