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.
