WILLIAM P. MORROW AND MELVINA JONES FAMILY
Researched & submitted by Charlene Holland

William P. Morrow was born February 1857 in Indiana. His parents are unknown, although according to census records they were born in Indiana. There is a family story told by some descendants that William was orphaned when the family was traveling from Indiana. A party of Indians attacked the wagon train. This is how the story was told to me:

"William was a small child when all of this happened. His mother, during an Indian attack, put him on a mule and slapped the mule on the rear to get him out of the way. The mule took off, and another group of Indians rescued William. I don't know if they kept him for a while or took him somewhere. He was the only one to survive."

Whether this story is true or not, no one seems to know. There is some evidence that William did have surviving siblings. There was a nephew, Isaac Morrow, listed in census records as a nephew, born in 1886. It stands to reason, that William had a brother still living as late as 1886. I believe that he also had at least one surviving sister, Nancy Morrow, who married, James W. Jones, Jr., the brother of Melvina Jones. I believe that he also had at least one or two other brothers, but have not been able to prove it. It is believed that one brother, name unknown, moved to Oklahoma and his descendants live or did live in the Tulsa area.

The story that my family has passed down was that W.P. Morrow was born in Ireland or his parents were born in Ireland. The story goes that he inherited land in Ireland, but thought it was a joke. By the time he found out that this inheritance was a fact, it was too late and the land had gone to another family member. Again, whether this is true or not, I don't know. I have been unable to find any record of William P. Morrow before the homestead records, other than some possible 1860 Indiana census records.

Melvina Jones was born either February 15, 1860 or in December 1860 to James W. (William?) Jones and LuVicy James [daughter of Claiborn and Jenny James] in Sebastian County, Arkansas. As you can see there is a discrepancy in her birth dates. The February date is taken from her headstone and the December date is taken from the 1900 census.

At the time of Melvina's birth, the area of Scott County where James and LuVicy Jones lived was in Sebastian County in Lafayette Township. This area was taken from the western side of Scott County in 1851 when Sebastian County was formed. During the time it was a part of Sebastian County, it was divided into three townships, and therefore was still a part of Sebastian County when the 1860 census was taken. In 1861 this land was again returned to Scott County. During the time it was a part of Sebastian County, it was divided into three townships, and therefore was still a part of Sebastian County when the 1860 census was taken. In 1861 this land was again returned to Scott County.

William (He was called Bill by some friends and family) and Melvina were married sometime between 1880 and 1882 . . . I am assuming . . . in Scott County, Arkansas. The marriage and most all other Scott County records were destroyed in a fire that demolished the courthouse in 1882. The 1910 census shows William and Melvina as being married for twenty-seven years, but the 1900 census shows them as being married twenty years. As far as I know there are no bible records that indicate the date this couple were married. There is one small Bible that belonged to their daughter-in-law, Ollie Harris Morrow (wife of Ben Morrow), which gives only her husband's mother as Melvina Morrow, but no date of marriage. There is another family story that Melvina and William P. met "on the trail". Where they were going or where they were coming from is not known. I have not been able to find either Melvina Jones (Including her mother, stepfather and several siblings) or William P. Morrow in the 1880 census.

Melvina had three sisters, and two brothers by James W. and LuVicy Jones. She also had two half sisters, three half-brothers by LuVicy and her second husband, William Vaughn, and another half-sibling of unknown gender. Melvina had six stepbrothers and one step-sibling (gender, unknown) born to her stepfather and his first and third wives

The William P. and Melvina Morrow family is found on the 1900, 1910 and 1920 Scott County census in Jones Township.

William and Melvina Morrow homesteaded land in Scott County, and began living on that land in October 1888. I have the homestead documents to prove that. What I did not realize until just a short time ago was that although he did homestead his land, it was not land I thought it was. Until I studied homestead records, plus maps showing where the land was located, I did not understand that this property was not the farmland I had grown up knowing.

William P. Morrow homesteaded land located in the Northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 15 in Township 3 North of Range 27 West of the 5th Principal Meridian containing 40 acres. Final document signed May 15, 1894.

He bought land from Thomas Hamilton for on January 24, 1887. It was located in the east half of the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter - E 1/2 of the SW 1/4 - of section 16 and all that portion of the south east of south east quarter - SE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 - lying on the north side of Dutch Creek all lying in Section sixteen (16) in township 3 north of Range 27 (27) west containing in the aggregate 22 acres (East 1/2 SW1/4SE1/4 and Pt SE1/4SE1/4) The papers were filed on April 7, 1893 at 10 AM. He bought more land from John Hamilton on March 14, 1892. This land was located: A part of the SE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 and a part of the SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 16, in Township 3 North, Range 27 West, more particularly described as follows: Commencing at the channel of Dutch Creek (which creek runs east and west through said forties (?) on the east line of the SE 1/4 of the SW 1/4, running therein north on the east line of said last described forty to the north east corner thereof, thence west to the northwest corner of said SE 1/4 SW 1/4, thence continuing west 16 rods to a stone; thence south to the channel of said Dutch Creek; thence east with the channel of said creek to the place of beginning, containing 20 acres more or less, on north side of said creek (Pt SE1/4SW1/4 and pt SW1/4SW1/4). This deed was filed also on April 7, 1893 at 10 AM.

The area of James Township where William homesteaded his land was in the area around Olio in Dutch Creek Valley, on or near what is now Highway 80. This is where I found them in the 1900 census. When I found the Morrows in 1910, they were living in Jones Township, formerly part of LaFave Township

I thought at first that land my grandparents lived on had been a part of James Township of 1900. But Nola was in Lafave Twp until after 1900. In fact on July 4, 1904, Jones Township was formed from land taken from LaFave Township.

The Morrows moved to the Nola area between October 31, 1901, when their oldest daughter married (they were living in Olio in James Township), and November 15, 1903 when their oldest son married. They were then living in Nebraska in Jones Township, which from an old 1911 map looks to be just east from Nola.

I found that William P. Morrow had sold land to George Terry on November 17, 1903. Those deeds were filed July 23, 1917 at 2 PM. This land was described as: Part of the Southeast quarter of the Southeast quarter of Section 16, and east half of the Southwest quarter of the Southeast quarter E 1/2 SW 1/4 of Section 16, and all that part portion of the Southeast of the Southeast -Southeast quarter lying on the north side of Dutch Creek, all in section 16, and the east half or part of the Northwest quarter of the Northeast quarter of Section 21 all in Township 3 N Range 27 West containing 62 acres more or less. (SE 1/4 SE 1/4 E1/2 SW 1/4 of SE1/4 E 1/2 SW 1/4 E 1/2 N 1/4 NE 1/4 Sec 21)

The second transaction between W. P. Morrow and George W. Terry was made on the same date and was described as: The northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 15 in Township 3 North of Range 27 West of the 5th Principal Meridian containing 40 acres. (NW 1/4 of SW 1/4). This was the homesteaded land.

By the 1900 census, Melvina and William Morrow had five children, all still living. The children of William Morrow and Melvina Jones were:

1. Samuel Franklin Morrow was born August 1882 in Arkansas and died June 5, 1944 in Rangerville, Texas. He is buried at Restlawn Cemetery. He married Millie Ann Jones November 15, 1903 in Scott County Arkansas (Scott County Marriage Book C, page 233). Millie was born October 22, 1888 in Gravelly, Scott County Arkansas and died February 9, 1967 in Harlingen, Cameron County, Texas. She is also buried at Restlawn Cemetery She was the daughter of William Smith (Bill) Jones and Julia Henson. Frank and Mille Morrow had six sons, all but one who lived to adulthood.
2. Alice C. Morrow, the second child of William and Melvina, was born December 27, 1884 in Scott County, Arkansas. She married Jacob Dolphin Hale October 31, 1901 in Scott County, Arkansas (Scott County Marriage Book C, page 49). He was nineteen, she was sixteen, and they both were from Olio in James Township. Jacob Dolphin Hale was born January 31, 1883 in Arkansas. He was the son of John H. Hale and Mary E. Williams. Alice and Jacob are found in 1910 census of Scott County, Jones Twp #106/106. They may have moved to Yell County by 1920. He died May 9, 1966 and is buried Parks Cemetery at Nola. She died December 20, 1970 in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is buried at Parks Cemetery at Nola. They owned land in the Northwest quarter of the Southeast quarter of Section 36, Township 3 North of Range 26 containing 40 acres. Jacob and Alice Hale had one child.
3. Ella (Lou Ella) Morrow was born October 12, 1886 in Scott County, Arkansas and died February 29, 1972 in Scott County, Arkansas. She married Henry Albert Joslin August 20, 1905 in Scott County Arkansas. He was born 1884 in Arkansas and died 1947 in Scott County, Arkansas. He was the son of Jim Joslin and Margaret Farr. Ella and Albert Joslin had two daughters.
4. Benjamin Allen Morrow was born June 20, 1888 in Olio, Scott County, and died April 3, 1974 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is buried in Parks Cemetery near Nola in Scott County. He married Ollie Clementine Harris September 1, 1907 in Scott County, Arkansas. Ollie was born May 25, 1891 or May 5, 1891 [date is uncertain] at Parks, Scott County and died February 16, 1961 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is also buried in Parks Cemetery near Nola in Scott County. Her parents were Robert (Bob) M. (Matthew) Harris and Laura Bell Journey. They are my grandparents. They had six children, two of whom (baby girls) died before my father was born. Their oldest son, Charles Matthew Morrow, was my father.
5. Mollie S. Morrow, the youngest child of William Preston and Melvina Morrow, was born February 2, 1893 in Scott County, Arkansas, and died November 16, 1960 in Scott County, Arkansas. She is buried at Parks Cemetery near Nola. She married Governor Mitchell before 1918. Governor Mitchell was born August 27, 1889 and died March 24, 1979. He is buried at Parks Cemetery also. They had three children.

William P. Morrow died on Saturday, March 30, 1929 in Scott County and is buried in the Parks Cemetery. This is the cemetery near Nola and the Yell/Scott County line.

Melvina was a member of the Mulberry Free Will Baptist Church at Gravelly until her death. She lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Alice and Jake Hale until her death. Melvina Jones Morrow died a little less than two years after her husband, on Friday, January 23, 1931 and is also buried in Parks Cemetery, lying by her husband's side.

The "old home-place" of Melvina and William Morrow in Nola was the house where my grandparents lived when I was a child. That house no longer exists, although the old barn still stands. Where the house was located is now only a walnut tree and a pile of chimney stones, one of which I now have sitting on my hearth. And every spring blue Irises bloom where the old house once stood.

Pictured above are William and Melvina Jones, about 1900 with their children. Front row is William P. Morrow, Mollie Morrow with doll, and Melvina Morrow. Second row behind William P. was Benjamin Allen Morrow on the far left, with Alice in the middle, Frank Morrow and Ella Morrow behind her mother. This picture was badly damaged when the Morrow house was broken into after my grandfather moved out of it. It had been stored in an old trunk.

Melvina Morrow and her daughter, Alice Hale, wife of Jacob Hale. Taken in the late 1920's and before January 23, 1931, when Melvina died.

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That we, W.P. Morrow of the County of Scott and Melviney Morrow his wife for and in consideration of the sum of five hundred 500 dollars the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged do hereby Grant, Bargain, Sell and Convey unto the said G.W. Terry and unto his heirs and assigns, forever, part of the Southeast quarter of the Southeast quarter of Section 16, and east half of the Southwest quarter of the Southeast quarter E 1/2 SW 1/4 of Section 16, and all that part portion of the Southeast of the Southeast Southeast quarter lying on the north side of Dutch Creek, all in section 16, and the east half or part of the Northwest quarter of the Northeast quarter of Section 21 all in Township 3 N Range 27 West containing 62 acres more or less.

To have and to hold the same unto the said G.W. Terry and unto his heirs and assigns, forever, with all appurtenances thereunto belonging. And we hereby covenant with said GW Terry that I will forever warrant and defend the title to the said lands against all claims whatever.

And I, Melviney Morrow wife of the said W.P. Morrow for and in consideration of the said sum of money, do hereby release and relinquish unto the said GW Terry all my rights of Dower and Homestead in and to the said lands.

Witness our hands and seals, on this the 17 day of November 1903
W P Morrow (his X mark) [Seal]
Melviney Morrow (her X mark)[Seal]

State of Arkansas
W.P. Morrow
County of Scott
Melviney Morrow

Be it remembered, that on this day came before me, the undersigned, Israel Brothers a Justice of the Peace within and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and acting _____________________ to me well known as the Grantor in the foregoing Deed, and stated that he had executed the same for the consideration and purposes therein mentioned and set forth.

And on the same day also voluntarily appeared before me, the said Melviney Morrow wife of the said W.P. Morrow to me well known, and in the absence of her said husband declared that she had, of her own free will, executed said Deed and signed and sealed the Relinquishment of Dower and Homestead in the said Deed for the consideration and purposes therein contained and set forth, without compulsion or undue influence of her said husband.

Witness my hand and seal as such Justice on this the 17 day of November 1903
Israel Brothers, J.P.
Filed for record on this 23 day of July 1917 at 2 o'clock P.M.
T.O. Abbott, Clerk
Recorded July 23, 1917 by Lee Piles Jr. D.C.

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That we, W.P. Morrow of the County of Scott and Melviney Morrow his wife for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred 300 dollars the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged do hereby Grant, Bargain, Sell and Convey unto the said G.W. Terry and unto his heirs and assigns, forever,

The northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 15 in Township 3 North of Range 27 West of the 5th Principal Meridian containing 40 acres. 40

To have and to hold the same unto the said G.W. Terry and unto his heirs and assigns, forever, with all appurtenances thereunto belonging. And we hereby covenant with said GW Terry that I will forever warrant and defend the title to the said lands against all claims whatever.

And I, Melviney Morrow wife of the said W.P. Morrow for and in consideration of the said sum of money, do hereby release and relinquish unto the said GW Terry all my rights of Dower and Homestead in and to the said lands.

Witness our hands and seals, on this the 17 day of November 1903
W P Morrow (his X mark)[Seal]
Melviney Morrow (her X mark) [Seal]

State of Arkansas
W.P. Morrow
County of Scott
Melviney Morrow

Be it remembered, that on this day came before me, the undersigned, a Israel Brothers Justice of the Peace within and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and acting _____________________ to me well known as the Grantor in the foregoing Deed, and stated that he had executed the same for the consideration and purposes therein mentioned and set forth.

And on the same day also voluntarily appeared before me, the said Melviney Morrow wife of the said W.P. Morrow to me well known, and in the absence of her said husband declared that she had, of her own free will, executed said Deed and signed and sealed the Relinquishment of Dower and Homestead in the said Deed for the consideration and purposes therein contained and set forth, without compulsion or undue influence of her said husband.

Witness my hand and seal as such Justice on this the 17 day of November 1903
Irael Brothers, J.P.
Filed for record on this 23 day of July 1917 at 2 o'clock P.M.
T.O. Abbott, Clerk
Recorded July 23, 1917By Lee Piles Jr. D.C.

These deeds were "made for the purpose of conveying all the right, title and interest of the Grantors herein as heirs-at-law of W.P. Morrow, deceased, and the Grantors herein represent that S.F. Morrow, Alice Hale, Ellar Joslin, B.A. Morrow and Mollie Mitchell are the only children and heirs-at-law or in equity of W.P. Morrow, deceased, and that Melvina Morrow is the lawful widow of the said W.P. Morrow, deceased."

To Mollie
The Southeast quarter of the southeast quarter (SE1/4SE1/4) of Section Thirty-four (34) in Township Three (3) North, Range Twenty-six (26) West, containing 40 acres more or less.

To Ben
The Southeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter (SE1/4SE1/4) of Section thirty five (35) in Township Three (3) North, Range Twenty-six West, containing 40 acres more or less

To Frank
The southeast quarter of the northeast quarter (SE1/4NE1/4) of Section Thirty- four (34) containing 40 acres more or less

Also part of the Northeast quarter of the Northeast quarter of said Section Township and Range and more particularly described as follows: Beginning at the SW corner of said NE1/4NE1/4 and running thence North 70 yards; thence East 140 yards; thence South 70 yards; thence West 140 yards to the place of beginning and containing 2 acres more or less, and containing in the aggregate hereby conveyed 42 acres more or less

To Ella
All that part of the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter (NW1/4NE1/4) Section 2 Twp 2 north Range 26 west

W.P. Morrow
E1/2 of the NE1/4 - Pt NW1/4NE1/4 - S1/2 SE1/4 - NW1/4SE1/4 of Section 34 Twp # Range 26 containing 166 acres