Real Sons of the American Revolution: Part 3
When the Maryland Society SAR was founded in 1889, it was well over 100 years after the War ended. All the Patriots were long since deceased. (The last surviving veteran was Daniel F. Bakeman who died in 1869 at age 110 years old and was placed on the pension rolls by an act of U.S. Congress. He is listed as the last survivor of the military conflict by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs.) You would also think that after 100 years, all the children of the Patriots were long since deceased too and only grandchildren or great children were then living. However there were still a few children of Patriots living in 1889 and the Maryland SAR was fortunate to have 3 actual sons join our Society based on their fathers’ service. We call these men - “Real Sons”.
Those three men were notable in their own right aside from their own longevity and service of their father. They contributed greatly to their country themselves. Here are brief biographies researched by Rev. Christos Christou Jr., about each of the three MDSSAR Real Sons. This is the third and final part of a Three part series.
Rev. John Gottlieb MORRIS
Born: November 14, 1803 - Died October 10, 1895
SAR Number:1020
MDSSAR Number: 20
Patriot Father: John Morris (bef 1760-1808)
Rev. John Gottlieb MORRIS was born in York, Pennsylvania on 14 November, 1803. He died Oct. 10, 1895 in Baltimore Maryland. He was a charter member of the Society joining April 20, 1889.
He was the son of John Morris who served in York Co, Pa and was born in Saxony as Johannes Gottlieb Moritz. He became Second Surgeon to the First Partizan Legion commanded by Armand Marquis de la Rouerie and served in 1782-1783 using the name John Morris. He was a member of the Society of Cincinnati as Gottlieb Morris.
Rev. Morris was a clergyman and graduated from Dickinson college in 1823,. He studied theology at Princeton theological seminary in 1823-'6 and at Gettysburg seminary in 1827, being a member of the first class in the latter institution, and was licensed to preach in 1827. He received the degree of D. D. in 1839, and that of LL.D. in 1873, both from Pennsylvania College in Gettysburg. Dr. Morris was the founder of Trinity English Lutheran church, Baltimore, Maryland, and its pastor in 1827-1860, librarian of Peabody institute, Baltimore, in 1860-1865, pastor of the 3d English Lutheran church, Baltimore, in 1864-1873, and since 1874 of a congregation at Lutherville, Maryland He has been lecturer on natural history in Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, since 1834, on pulpit; eloquence and the relation of science and revelation in the theological seminary there since 1874, and has delivered lectures in Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. He was secretary of the general synod in 1839, president of the same body in 1843 and 1883, and president of the First Lutheran Church diet in Philadelphia in 1877. He has been a trustee of Pennsylvania College and director of the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg for many years. With his brother he founded Lutherville Ladies' Seminary. In science he has devoted himself specifically to entomology and microscopy. He has been elected to membership in many scientific societies in this country and abroad, and has been chairman of the entomological section of the American association for the Advancement of Science. He was president of the Maryland Bible society and the Maryland Historical Society. During the year 1846 he travelled extensively in Europe, and in the same year he aided in establishing the Evangelical Alliance at London. He founded the Lutheran Observer in 1831, was its editor until 1833, and since then has been one of its contributors. He was the leader of the conservative party in the general synod, and its ablest representative. In addition, he translated many works, and wrote addresses, review and magazine articles, tracts, and scientific papers. He served as the first Chaplain of the Maryland Society and was Vice President General in 1889.
OBITUARY: The late Dr. Morris. His funeral will take place today - "Incarnation of Luther". The funeral of Rev. Dr. John G. Morris will take place today from his home at Lutherville. Services will be conducted at the house by Rev. Dr. W.H. Dunbar, pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran church, Baltimore, after which the body will be taken to that church. At Calvert Station the body will be met by the active pall-bearers Prof. Philip R. Uhler, provost of the Peabody Institute, Dr. Bernard C. Steiner, librarian of the Enoch Pratt Free library, Dr. W.F.A. Kemp and Messrs. Samuel W. Harrison, A. Dobler, and Harry Hines. The honorary pallbearers who will be at the church, represent organizations with which Dr. Morris was prominently connected. They are Judge Ritchie of the Maryland Historical Society, Mr. Louis P. Henninghausen of the German Historical Society, Mr. Francis P. Stevens of the Sons of the American Revolution, Mr. Joshua Levering of the House of Refuge board, Rev. Gere A. Leakin of the Maryland Academy of Science, and Messrs Joseph M. Cashing and Joseph R. Marston. The service at the church will be conducted by Dr. Dunbard, Rev. O.C. Roth, Rev. Dr. Benjamin Sadler, and Rev. Dr. Chas. S. Albert. Dr. Morris' family and a few friends will accompany the body to York PA where the burial will take place. Dr. Dunbar yesterday gave the Maryland English Evangelical Lutheran Synod, in session at Grace church, as invitation from the family to attend the funeral. The synod received to attend in a body. The following committee was appointed.... The following committee was appointed on the part of the synod to prepare a paper upon Dr. Morris' death... Rev. Dr. John G. Morris (News Article) Date: 1895-10-12; Sun Newspaper
He has published several books "Catechumen's and Communicant's Companion" (Baltimore, 1831); "Henry and Antonio of Brettschneider, translated from the German (Philadelphia, 1831; altered ed., entitled "To Rome and Back Again," 1853): "Catechetical Exercises on Luther's Catechism," altered from the German (Baltimore, 1832); Von Leonard's " Lectures on Geology," translated from the German (1839); "Popular Exposition of the Gospels" (2 vols., 1840); "Life of John Arndt" (1853); "Life of Martin Behaim, the German Cosmographer" (1856); " Life of Catherine de Bora" (1856); "The Blind Girl of Wittenberg" (Philadelphia, 1856); "Quaint. Sayings and Doings concerning Luther" (1859); "Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of North America " (1860); "Synopsis of the Diurnal Lepidoptera of the United States" (Washington, 1862); "The Lords Baltimore "(Baltimore, 1874); "Bibliotheca Luther-aria" (Philadelphia, 1876); "Fifty Years in the Lutheran Ministry" (1878); " A Day in Capernauru." translated from Franz Delitzsch (1879); "The Diet of Augsburg" (1879); "Augsburg Confession and the Thirty-nine Articles" (1879); "Journeys of Luther" (1880); "Luther at Wart-burg and Coburg" (1882); "Life of Luther," translated from Kostlin (1883); "Lutheran Doctrine of the Lord's Supper" (1884); and "Memoirs of the Stork Family" (1886).
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia, Copyright © 2001 VirtualologyTM posted on http://famousamericans.net/johngottliebmorris/
Michael J. Kurtz wrote a biography of his life entitled John Gottleib Morris Man of God, Man of Science copy 1996. Michael is Assistant Archivist for Records Services in Washington, DC
Rev. Morris is buried in York, Pennsylvania.
