Leland Ray Morrison (1907 - 1948)

Born 1 Oct 1907 in Plankinton, Aurora, South Dakota, United States

Ancestors

Son of Orin Leamon Morrison and Iva Reed (Furman) Morrison

Husband of Elva Carolyn (Jeffers) Wilsey — married 2 Apr 1927 (to 26 Sep 1932) in Rochester, Monroe, New York, United States

Husband of Violet Marion (Pung) Morrison — married 27 Jun 1933 (to 27 Apr 1939) in Towanda, Bradford, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 31 May 1948 at age 40 in Lockport, Niagara, New York, United States

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Lee Morrison has English ancestors.

Lee Morrison has French origins.

Lee Morrison has Dutch Ancestry

Lee Morrison is the descendant of a New Netherland settler.

Lee was a Mechanic.

Biography

Early Life

Leland Ray "Lee" Morrison was born on 1 October 1907 in Plankinton, Aurora, South Dakota to Orin Lemon Morrison and Iva Reed Furman. His father was a farm laborer who became a Marshal in Plankinton for a few years before being elected Aurora County Sheriff, a position he served in for approximately two or three years. He went back to farm work when he was done with public service.

Leland and his siblings were mainly raised in the City of Plankinton. He was a laborer in his youth who completed up to the 8th grade. His family were members of the Presbyterian religion. At the age of 16 or 17, he was charged with petit larceny and convicted.

Adulthood

He moved to Rochester, Monroe, New York - where his maternal grandparents were from - when he was around 18 years old. His mother and most of his siblings eventually joined him and settled in the Rochester area.

First Marriage

Leland married Elva Carolyn Jeffers on 2 April 1927 in Rochester, with whom he had three children: Beulah Marie, Lloyd Richard, and Norma Jean.

The family lived in Rochester before moving to Elva's hometown of Wolcott, Wayne County. They temporarily lived in a house on Broadway Rd. in North Wolcott in early 1928, which burned down soon after they moved in. They moved to Wolcott that year, first living in a house on Williams St. Shortly after, they moved into a house on Tyrrell St., which also burned down. They also lived temporarily on Howard Street in Syracuse, Onondaga, New York in 1929, where Leland worked as a shipper. The stayed in Leland's hometown of Plankinton, South Dakota for a few months after their Tyrrell St. house burned down, and found their way back to the area later in 1929. They moved back to Rochester, where Leland found work as a lineman for Rochester Gas & Electric and the family lived at 44 Hickory St. for a time. He also bought, refurbished, and sold or rented out automobiles. Leland was granted the deed to a house on Harcourt Rd. in the west side of Rochester in 1930. Elva filed for and was granted divorce in Wayne County on 26 September 1932.

Second Marriage

Leland married again to Violet Marion Pung on 27 June 1933 in Towanda, Bradford, Pennsylvania. At this time, Leland worked as a truck driver and lived in Rochester. Together they had five children who were all born around the Rochester area: Leon Joseph, Gerald Gene "Jerry", Florence Edith, Janet May, and Violet Marion "Dolly".

They moved from Rochester to Fairport, then to Walworth, Wayne County, before settling in a duplex on the farm of Mrs. Alice Swarthout in Torrey, Yates County. Leland continued his work as an automobile mechanic and refurbisher, and was also a volunteer firefighter for the Village of Dresden Fire Department for a time.

Prison

On 24 April 1939, three days before Violet died due to childbirth complications, Leland was arrested by Yates County Sheriff Jay Fitzwater and Deputy Charles Kipp on a warrant charging him with second-degree rape involving a 17-year-old girl.

While awaiting action from the grand jury as a prisoner at Yates County Jail, he suffered from a sudden attack of acute appendicitis and was rushed to the hospital in Penn Yan to undergo emergency surgery.

He was indicted by the grand jury on May 16th and sentenced a couple days later to 5 years at Attica State Prison by Yates County Supreme Court Judge Nathan D. Lapham. A month later he was brought back to Penn Yan for re-sentencing due to a legal technicality that required an indefinite sentence; he was thus sentenced to 3-6 years.

He was imprisoned at Attica until 25 April 1940, where his inmate number was 5650. He was subsequently transferred to Wallkill Correctional Facility due to good behavior, where he was inmate number 2304. He was paroled on 29 April 1942, which is the day he registered for the World War II draft in Wallkill.

After Prison

Once out of prison, Leland lived on Moul Road in Parma, Monroe, New York and was employed on the farm of George Chase. He ultimately moved back into Rochester by 1944, which is where he would remain for the rest of his life. He worked primarily as an auto mechanic and owned, sold, and rented out multiple vehicles that he refurbished himself.

Along with his brothers Irven and Harley, Leland was a locally known stock car racer and partook in various races all over Western and Central New York over the course of many years, and would occasionally act as track manager for them. He was a member of the Rochester Roadster Racing Association.

Death

Leland was killed in a single-car accident during a Memorial Day race on 31 May 1948 at the Niagara County Fair Grounds in Lockport, Niagara, New York before an audience of around 1,000 people. His car suddenly swerved to the inner rail and made contact with the fence near the home straightaway. The car spun out, flipping four times and pinning Leland underneath the wreckage. He died in an ambulance en route to Lockport City Hospital.

Leland was buried three days later in Oakwood Cemetery in Penfield.

Obituary

A funeral service for Leland Morrison, 40, of 4 Wayne Pl., a stock car racing driver, who was killed when his racer overturned Memorial Day (May 31, 1948) at the Niagara County Fairgrounds, Lockport, will be conducted at 2 p.m. tomorrow in the Van Horn Funeral Home, Webster.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Robert Brundridge and Miss Norma Jean Morrison; a son, Lloyd R., all of Wilcox; four sisters, Mrs. Pearl Heaveron of Rochester, Mrs. Agnes Jacobs of Penfield, Mrs. Vivian Schilstra and Mrs. June Geil, both of Walworth; four brothers, Bert of Webster, Jess of Macedon and Clarence and Irven of Rochester. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.

Note: Leland's five children with Violet Pung were not mentioned in his obituary.

Sources

Vital

• "South Dakota, Department of Health, Index to Births 1843-1914 and Marriages 1950-2016," database, FamilySearch, Leland Morrison, 01 Oct 1905; citing Birth, Aurora, South Dakota, United States, South Dakota Department of Health, Pierre. (Mistake with birth year, should be 1907.)
• "New York, County Marriages, 1847-1848; 1908-1936," database with images, FamilySearch, Marriage of Leland R Morrison and Elva C Jeffers, 2 Apr 1927, Monroe, New York, United States; citing ref. ID 2276, county clerk offices from various counties, New York; FHL microfilm 831,363.
• Marriage of Leland R Morrison and Elva C Jeffers in "New York State Marriage Index, 1881-1967." Ancestry.com, New York State Department of Health; Albany, NY, USA, 1927.
• "FACTS ABOUT FOLKS," first paragraph, son Lloyd Richard Morrison born on 3 September 1929 while staying in Plankinton, South Dakota. NYS Historic Newspapers, The Lake Shore News [Wolcott, New York], 12 September 1929, pg. 8.
• Marriage of Leland Ray Morrison and Violet Marion Pung in "Bradford County, Pennsylvania Marriage Records." entry #18974, 27 June 1933.
• "Get Marriage Licenses". Newspapers.com, The Evening Times (Sayre, PA), vol. XLI, no. 77, 29 June 1933, pg. 2.
• "COUNTY BRIEFS - Dresden," seventh paragraph from bottom, daughter was born on 5 February 1938 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital in Penn Yan. NYS Historic Newspapers, The Chronicle-Express [Penn Yan, New York], 10 February 1938, pg. 3.
• "VITAL STATISTICS," Born - Morrison, daughter born on 25 April 1939 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital in Penn Yan. NYS Historic Newspapers, The Chronicle-Express [Penn Yan, New York], 27 April 1939, pg. 4.
• "New York, Yates County, Swann Vital Records Collection, 1723-2009," database with images, FamilySearch, Lee Morrison in entry for Violet Pung Morrison, 27 Apr 1939; citing Death, Penn Yan, Yates, New York, United States, Yates County Genealogical and Historical Society and Oliver Museum and Underwood Museum, Yates.
• Lee Ray Morrison in U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Ancestry.com, Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
• "New York, State Death Index, 1880-1956", database, FamilySearch, Leland Morrison, 1948.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #119869353
• "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch, Leland Morrison in entry for Gerald Gene Morrison.
• "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch, Leland R Morrison in entry for Beulah Marie Morrison.

Residence

• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch, Leland R Morrison in household of Orrin L Morrison, Plankinton, Aurora, South Dakota, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 5, sheet 6A, family 117, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1476; FHL microfilm 1,375,489.
• "South Dakota State Census, 1915," database with images, FamilySearch, Leland R Morrison; citing State Historical Society, Pierre; FHL microfilm 2,283,686.
• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch, Leland Morrison in household of Orin L Morrison, Plankinton, Aurora, South Dakota, United States; citing ED 8, sheet 10A, line 22, family 7, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1714; FHL microfilm 1,821,714.
• "South Dakota State Census, 1925," database with images, FamilySearch, Leland Morrison; citing 482, State Historical Society, Pierre; FHL microfilm 2,368,911.
• "NORTH WOLCOTT NEWS AND VIEWS BY READY READER," ninth paragraph down, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Morrison move into Sherman house on Broadway. Fulton History, The Lyons Republican [Lyons, New York], 27 January 1928, pg. 3.
• "NORTH WOLCOTT NEWS AND VIEWS BY READY READER," last paragraph, moved into house on Broadway in North Wolcott and a week later house burns down and all possessions are lost. Fulton History, The Lyons Republican [Lyons, New York], 24 February 1928, pg. 11.
• "WOLCOTT," third from last paragraph, moved to Stillman house on Williams Street in Wolcott. Fulton History, The Cato Citizen and Tri-County Leaders [Cato, New York], vol. XXXIII, no. 41, 30 August 1928, pg. 3.
• "FACTS ABOUT FOLKS," 11th paragraph down, temporarily moved to Plankinton, South Dakota after their home on Tyrrell Street burned down and they lost everything. NYS Historic Newspapers, The Lake Shore News [Wolcott, New York], 4 July 1929, pg. 8.
• Leland R Morrison in U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995. Ancestry.com, Syracuse, New York, City Directory, 1929.
• Leland Morrison in U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995. Ancestry.com, Rochester, New York, City Directory, 1929.
• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch, Leland Morrison, Rochester, Monroe, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 87, sheet 12A, line 17, family 270, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1451; FHL microfilm 2,341,186.
• "Real Estate Transfers," George J. Neracker and wife to Lee R. Morrison and wife, Harcourt Road. Fulton History, The Democrat and Chronicle [Rochester, New York], 28 April 1930, pg. 13.
• "United States, New York Land Records, 1630-1975", database with images, FamilySearch, Lee R Morrison, 1930.
• "LOCALS," 6th paragraph in first column, moved into house of James H. Harris at 18 East Street. Fulton History, The Herald-Mail [Fairport, New York], 13 June 1935, pg. 4.
• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch, Lee Morrison, Attica Town, Wyoming, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 61-5, sheet 19A, line 19, family , Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2816.
• Lee R Morrison in U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995. Ancestry.com, Rochester, New York, City Directory, 1944.
• Lee Morrison in the U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995. Ancestry.com. Rochester, New York, City Directory, 1948.

Business

• "Chattel Mortgages," third one down, Lee R Morrison to G W Henner, sedan, $175. Fulton History, The Daily Record [Rochester, New York], vol. 21, no. 135, 10 June 1930, pg. 2.
• "AUTOMOBILE LICENSES ISSUED BY COUNTY CLERK," Commercial - 219-262: L R Morrison, 61 Marshall St Chev Tk 29. Fulton History, The Daily Record [Rochester, New York], 22 October 1932, pg. 4.
• "Chattel Mortgages," eighth one down, Lee R Morrison to American Auto Supply Co. Inc, truck, etc, $78.70. Fulton History, The Daily Record [Rochester, New York], 16 November 1932, pg. 2.
• "Chattel Mortgages," Lee Morrison to Margaret Pung, truck, $1200. Fulton History, The Daily Record [Rochester, New York], 15 August 1933, pg. 1.
• "Automobile Conditional Sales," Standard Motor Sales - Lee Morrison 28 Schank ave sedan $249. Fulton History, The Daily Record [Rochester, New York], 12 September 1933, pg. 2.
• "Automobile Conditional Sales," International Harvestor Co of America - Lee Morrison, 140 Estall rd, sedan, $80. Fulton History, The Daily Record [Rochester, New York], vol. 26, no. 81, 8 April 1935, pg. 1.
• "Chattel Mortgages," last paragraph, Lee Morrison to The Goodrich Silvertown Stores, auto, $63. Fulton History, The Daily Record [Rochester, New York], 7 February 1936, pg. 2.
• "Automobile Conditional Sales," Churchill Bros - Lee Morrison 26 Edward st auto $154. Fulton History, The Daily Record [Rochester, New York], 26 February 1936, pg. 4.
• "Chattel Mortgages," Lee Morrison (37 Canary st) to Arthur E Desbrow, auto, $300. Fulton History, The Daily Record [Rochester, New York], 22 October 1946, pg. 4.
• "Roy's Texaco Service," offered complete automobile overhaul services under Mr. Lee Morrison of Findher Motors. Fulton History, The Tenth Ward Courier [Rochester, New York], 3 April 1947, pg. 2.

Prison

• Arrest mention, 4th paragraph down in 4th column. NYS Historic Newspapers, Penn Yan Democrat, Vol. 122, no. 3, 28 April 1939, pg. 5.
• Rushed to hospital while awaiting trial due to acute appendicitis, last full paragraph in third column. NYS Historic Newspapers, Chronicle-Express (Penn Yan, NY), vol. CXVI, no. 19, 11 May 1939, pg. 5.
• "Sentenced to Attica Prison". NYS Historic Newspapers, Penn Yan Democrat, vol. 122, no. 7, 26 May 1939, pg. 1.
• Re-sentenced due to legal technicality, 6th paragraph down in 3rd column. NYS Historic Newspapers, Penn Yan Democrat, vol. 122, no. 12, 30 June 1939, pg. 4.
• The People of the State of New York vs. Lee Morrison. Office of Yates County Clerk, Penn Yan, New York. 24 April 1939 to 20 June 1939.
• Lee Morrison in New York State Prison Records. New York State Archives, Albany, New York. Record series 21833.

Racing

• "Racing Meet Lists 16 Cars." Newspapers.com, The Democrat and Chronicle [Rochester, New York], 13 July 1946, pg. 14.
• "Machine Hurtles Into Rail Crowd in Opening Race." Newspapers.com, The Post-Standard [Syracuse, New York], 12 August 1946, pg. 2.
• "Roadster Races Slated Sunday at Caledonia Track." Newspapers.com, The Democrat and Chronicle [Rochester, New York], 6 November 1946, pg. 25.
• "Roadster Auto Racers." Newspapers.com, The Democrat and Chronicle [Rochester, New York], 20 April 1947, pg. 56.
• "Auto Race Card Listed Sunday." Newspapers.com, The Democrat and Chronicle [Rochester, New York], 18 September 1947, pg. 28.
• "Roadster Racing Association." Newspapers.com, The Democrat and Chronicle [Rochester, New York], 19 March 1948, pg. 34.

Miscellaneous

• "AUTOMOBILE LICENSES ISSUED BY COUNTY CLERK," Passenger - SM-57-37: L R Morrison, 420 Averill Ave Bck Sed 26. Fulton History, The Daily Record, 28 March 1931, pg. 4.
• "AUTOMOBILE LICENSES ISSUED BY COUNTY CLERK," Passenger - SM-47-46: L R Morrison, 61 Marshall St Bck Cch 27. Fulton History, The Daily Record, 13 July 1932, pg. 4.
• "Traffic Law Violations," Lee R. Morrison, 61 Marshall Street, speeding, judgement suspended. Fulton History, The Rochester Times-Union [Rochester, New York], 30 September 1932, pg. 9.
• "DRIVER GIVEN SENTENCE FOR INTOXICATION - Six Persons Injured in Automobile Accidents - One Leads to Penitentiary for Motorist --> Gets Sunday Sentence," third paragraph, accidentally hit a teenager with his truck on Lyell Ave. Fulton History, The Rochester Times-Union [Rochester, New York], 8 June 1934, pg. 8.
• "Car Injures Boy." Newspapers.com, The Democrat and Chronicle [Rochester, New York], 9 June 1934, pg. 13.
• "Keuka Lake Water Finds Another Outlet Into Seneca", pictured in fire truck. NYS Historic Newspapers, Chronicle-Express (Penn Yan, NY), Vol. CXVI, no. 3, 19 January 1939, pg. 1.

Death

• "Racing Driver Killed Competing in Lockport." Fulton History, The Evening News of the Tonawandas [Tonawanda, New York], 1 June 1948, pg. 6.
• "Rochester Race Driver Killed at Lockport." Fulton History, The Niagara Falls Gazette [Niagara Falls, New York], 1 June 1948, pg. 24.
• "Last Rite Set For Race Driver". Newspapers.com, The Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York), vol. 116, 2 June 1948, pg. 25.
• "RACED AT LEON," killed in race in Lockport. Fulton History, The Jamestown Post-Journal [Jamestown, New York], vol. VII, no. 209, 3 June 1948, pg. 27.
• "Lockport," lower-lefthand corner. Fulton History, The Jamestown Post - Journal, 4 June 1948, pg. 15.
• "Morrison Killed in Lockport". Google Books, The Billboard [magazine], 12 June 1948, pg. 50.