Mary Jane Davis (1857 - 1908)

Born Aug 1857 in Soap Creek Post Office, Benton, Oregon Territory, United States

Wife of Thomas Austin Morris — married 1 Dec 1875 in Polk, Oregon, United States

Died 5 Nov 1908 at age 51 in Holley, Linn, Oregon, United States

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Biography

Mary was born in 1857. She was the daughter of David Davis and Sarah Kindred. She married Thomas A. Morris Dec 1, 1875 (Nov 27, 1875) in Polk Co., Oregon. She passed away in 1908.

The several newspaper articles listed below give a tragic story. Mary Jane (Davis) Morris had been despondent ever since her son, Charlie, had lost his life in a drowning at a saw mill five years before. The family had been digging up potatoes in their garden but Mary Jane stayed inside. About 6PM, one of the children went inside the house but could not find his mother, no dinner had been prepared. So, back outside, he told his father. A search was made. They found her in the apple house where she had purposely shot herself with a 22 gauge gun through the heart.

[Editorial comment: Although it is understandable how someone can be despondent in the midst of life’s losses, life does not have to end in this way. A simple message such as ‘Don’t give up’ can help people.]

Sources

• Year: 1860; Census Place: Soap Creek, Benton, Oregon; Page: 37

• Year: 1870; Census Place: Monmouth, Polk, Oregon; Roll: M593_1287; Page: 332A

• Year: 1880; Census Place: Monmouth, Polk, Oregon; Roll: 1083; Page: 478A; Enumeration District: 106

• Year: 1900; Census Place: Crawfordsville, Linn, Oregon; Page: 10; Enumeration District: 0042; FHL microfilm: 1241348

• Find A Grave [1]

• A Boy Drowned, Brownsville Times, Linn County, Oregon, Sep 4, 1903, p. 3, col. 5

• Mrs. Morris Kills Herself, Brownsville Times, Linn County, Oregon, Nov 6, 1908, p. 3, col. 5

• Brownsville Times, Linn County, Oregon, Nov 6, 1908, p. 4, col. 6

• SUICIDE AT HOLLEY, Albany Democrat, Nov 13, 1908, p. 5, col. 1