Morris, Dr. Lewis Rutherfurd Died Dec. 9, 1936 at age 74

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=67173215&PIpi=39923822
Above is the link to his Find A Grave memorial created by Bob Thomas.  It has a very
clear photo of Dr. Morris' headstone.

Morris, Dr. Lewis Rutherfurd Age 74 Died in 1936

Dr. Lewis Morris Dies in New York

Benefactor of Oneonta, Morris, and Vicinity,

Succumbs Unexpectedly---Funeral Friday

Dr. Lewis Rutherfurd Morris, 74, of Morris and New York, philanthropist and physician, died of cerebral hemorrhage at 5:45 yesterday morning at his apartment in New York city. Funeral services will be held at St. Thomas church in New York at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning and the committal will be made on his estate, Morris Manor, sometime tomorrow afternoon following brief services at All Saints' chapel which his father helped to build with his own hands.

Dr. Morris was widely known for his generous gifts not only in Morris, which was named for his family, but in Oneonta, to which he donated Neahwa park, and Norwich, where he contributed largely to the remodeling of the hospital there. The central school at Morris, which bears his name, was made possible by the generosity of Dr. and Mrs. Morris, who contributed half of the original cost.

Dr. Morris had spent the past summer, as usual, at the Manor house in Morris, except for a few weeks in Canada fishing for salmon in the Ristigouche river. He and Mrs. Morris returned to New York shortly after election day, and intended to pass the cold months at their winter home, Pleasant Hill plantation, at Harnett, S. C.

About five years ago, Dr. Morris underwent a serious operation and his health had never been robust since, although in his uncomplaining way he called himself well. On his arrival in New York, he took a turn for the worse and the southern trip was cancelled that he might have expert medical attention. His reserve strength had been spent and this time he failed to respond to skillful ministrations.

Born in Morris 75 years ago September 27, he was the third and youngest child of James Rutherfurd and Ellen Elizabeth (Howe) Morris. The other two children were daughters who now reside in California. They are Mrs. Anna (Morris) Pomeroy and Mrs. Laura (Morris) Hartmann.

The family was one of rare culture, and all its members were leaders in their communities. They were noted also for their exceptional memories. Dr. Morris was named for his ancestor, Lewis Morris, a signer of the Declaration of Independence from the colony of New York.

In his early and middle life, Dr. Morris was a well known physician of exceptional ability in New York city, and his list of patients included members of the most prominent families of the city. He had traveled widely about this country and abroad, and was an interesting conversationalist.

He married Miss Katherine Clark, a daughter of the late Senator William R. Clark of Montana and New York. To them was born one daughter Katherine Elizabeth Clark Morris, now the wife of John Hudson Hall, Jr., of Scarsdale.

Dr. Morris was a man of strong convictions and attachments. He was devoted to his home and family, including his three grandchildren, who were his especial love and pride. He was loyal to his God, his country and his friends. People whom he had helped were legion.

In addition to aiding in the building of the Lewis Rutherfurd Morris central school at Morris, Dr. and Mrs. Morris made many gifts to Zion Episcopal church at Morris and All Saints'chapel on the Manor estate. He was a member and vestryman of Zion church. With his wife, he also contributed to the erection of the chapel at South New Berlin as well as the remodeling of the hospital at Norwich.

In giving Neahwa park to the city in 1908 and 1909, Dr. Morris vetoed the suggestion that it be named Morris park, and asked that Willard Yager, noted Indian authorty, select a name. He offered Neahwa, which means “meadows by the river.” Dr. Morris wanted no elaborate reminder of his gift and asked that only a simple marker be placed at the gateway. The right hand pillar there now bears the inscription, “Presented to the city of Oneonta by Dr. and Mrs. Lewis R. Morris of Morris, N. Y.,” and on the left says simply, “Neahwa park.”

In addition to Dr. Morris' many local benefactions, he extended much help to students. His generosity to the Salvation Army, Red Cross and to churches, hospitals and schools in New York and elsewhere were known only to Dr. and Mrs. Morris' intimate friends.

A trustee of the Corcoran art gallery in Washington, D. C., he had many other interests, but loved his native Butternut valley and often said that in all his travels, no place could be found that held a greater appeal of beauty. He had attended services many times in the little chapel by the roadside between Morris and Gilbertsville which was built in part by his father's own hands.

The loving sympathy of hundreds of friends will be extended to the devoted wife, and daughter in their grief.

Comment: Because of the way this article is written, I think it came from the Morris Chronicle. Articles from that paper and time were written like this: Morris central school. The first word in many things like churches, places, etc. were capitalized on the first word only. And since he was a beloved local son, a nice write up gave tribute to his life. This obituary is transcribed from the Mary Boice Gale collection by Donna Davenport. 

http://greenburghnaturecenter.org/uploads/gnc_history.pdf 
You can find more history and a photo of Lewis Rutherfurd Morris in this story about the Greenburgh Nature Center near Scarsdale, NY.