Alonzo O. Morrison. One of the families that was established in Vermilion County, Illinois, in the early ’40s and has ever since been a representative agricultural one in east central Illinois bore the name of Morrison. This branch of the family was of pioneer stock in Ohio and doubtless can trace its far back ancestry to Scotland. The leading representative in Champaign County is Alonzo O. Morrison, a highly respected resident of Homer, Illinois.
Alonzo O. Morrison was born in Vermilion County, Illinois, November 17, 1859. His parents were James Perry and Harriet A. (Sterns) Morrison. The father was born in Ohio and the mother in Virginia. When they came to Illinois James Perry Morrison secured land from the government, and this land he developed and his subsequent life was devoted to general farming and stock-raising. He was a man of sterling character, just in all his dealings with his neighbors and generous to his children. His death occurred in 1888. His widow survived until 1894. They were the parents of the following children: Elijah, who is a resident of Homer, Illinois; James, who died in infancy; Alonzo O.; Jasper, who died in childhood; Florence, who is the wife of J. M. Boggess, of Homer; and Harland P., who resides at Homer.
Alonzo O. Morrison attended the public schools and remained at home assisting his father. When he was twenty-seven years old he took charge of a farm of 120 acres that his father had given him in Vermilion County, on which he carried on farming for two years and then sold advantageously and bought 1 a part of the old homestead and still owns eighty acres of the original land that his father secured from the government some seventy years ago. To the above purchase he added others, and continued his agricultural operations in Vermilion County for eleven years. In 1907 Mr. Morrison came to Homer and since then has been dealing in Belgian and Percheron horses.
Mr. Morrison was married March 24, 1886, to Miss Elizabeth Clutter, who was born in Vermilion County, Illinois, and they have one son, Howard Monroe, who is associated with his father in the horse business. The family home is a fine, modern structure of brick which stands in a pleasant part of the town. Mr. Morrison and family are members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a stanch Republican. For many years he has been a member of the order of Knights of Pythias. Mr.. Morrison is numbered with the solid, substantial and dependable citizens of Homer.