Morris Family History
Ancestors of the Morris family serve as the custodians of Pine Gulch Cemetery today, helping families tied to the original homesteads find permanent rest with their loved ones who came before them. Their mark on this country began when the Morris, Burns, Fraser and Menzies families were among the throngs who came to America during the “Great Atlantic Migration.”
Originating from England, Scotland (George Frazer looks straight out of the Outlander series) and Germany, they ultimately settled in the Turkey Creek and Platte Canon areas. With their homesteads they became ranchers while also serving the community as stone masons, cabinet makers, road maintenance and law enforcement. The Two Bar Four brand from 1938 is still used by the family today and the seventh generation is still in the area calling Bailey home. We’re grateful for their stewardship of this local treasure.
- The paternal line of the Morris family in America began with Arthur Alfred Morris and Kate Charlotte Burns.
- Arthur was born in England (1866) and immigrated to the US in 1872. Kate was born in New York (1871) but her parents immigrated from Germany in 1866 (family name originally Brunes).
- In 1889 they married in Denver and built their family living in Denver and Boulder. Arthur worked for two esteemed cabinet and furniture companies – Wellington & Howard Company & McAllister Lumber Company.
- At the same time, Kate obtained 2 properties in Pine: 153 acres in 1907 and additional acreage in 1935. The latter was purchased from the famous musician and composer Isham Jones who retained the rights to farm the land for a period after. The family later moved to the mountains and lived on this ranch.
- Arthur and Kate had 4 children: Fred, Charlotte, Arthur and Charles.
- The maternal line of the Morris family harkens back to Scotland with Thomas Heaps Menzies and Ada Augusta Fraser.
- Thomas was born in Scotland (1886) and immigrated in 1902.
- Ada was born in Kansas (1887) but her parents, George and Kate Fraser, came to the US from Scotland in 1882.
- After living throughout the Midwest, George and Kate eventually settled in Edgewater, Colorado with their 9th child of 13 (Elizabeth) being the first child born in the town.
- George was a stone mason and created the eagles and corner friezes of the downtown Denver Post Office. Similarly, Thomas was a stone cutter who helped build the addition and the stained glass windows of the Edgewater Methodist Church where he and Ada married (1907).
- Thomas and Ada stayed in Edgewater while the elder Frasers bought 160 acres 1 mile south of Tiny Town in 1914. The family was hearty stock and lived in tents while rebuilding the ranch.
- The Morris and Menzies family were joined when the son of Arthur & Kate and daughter of Thomas & Ada married.
- Charles Morris and Elizabeth Menzies were in love but didn’t have the blessing from their parents (yet), so they decided to elope.
- Right before a massive snowstorm in January 1927 the pair married in Littleton and drove up to the Morris ranch in Pine and were snowed in for months. Elizabeth was only 16, but the marriage certificate listed her as 18.
- Charles’ parents had gone to Portland in hopes of helping Arthur’s failing health, but he unfortunately died in March.
- Charles and Elizabeth made their lives in Pine, welcoming 8 children and sharing their home with Charles’ mother Kate.
- Charles worked hard for his family. For 10 years he was a Road Supervisor and plowed snow for Jefferson County Road & Bridge. Then he served the Sherriff’s department as a patrolman, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and undersheriff for 23 years. In 1944 he served in the Army and was a WWII veteran.
- Charles was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, camping. Elizabeth was a wonderful mother and was renowned for her baking and worked in a bakery part-time.
- All the while, the Morris’ also worked their land, using the Two Bar Four brand, recorded 3/31/1938.
- They purchased 2 lots in the Silver Springs subdivision that surrounds the cemetery today
- The couple were the first of their family to be buried in Pine Gulch Cemetery and rest side-by-side under a pine tree that was tiny when Charles’ burial occurred in 1976.
- Several family members are buried nearby, reflecting the strong family bonds that remain still today.
Morris Family Tree
Charles Morris (1906-1976)
Elizabeth (Menzies) Morris (1911-2004)
Married in 1927
Both buried in Pine Gulch Cemetery
Children:
Wayne Morris (1929-2016)
Married to Norma Evelyn (Smith) Morris (1924-1991)
Buried in Pine Gulch Cemetery
Howard Ray Morris Sr. (1931-2017)
(ashes pending disbursement)
Married to Carol (Keyes) Morris (living)
Donald Robert Morris (1933-2007)
(ashes pending disbursement)
Married to Beverly (Castor) Morris (living)
Grandson Abraham Morris (1981-1981)
Buried in Pine Gulch Cemetery
Janet Ada (Morris) Rahne (1940-1980)
Buried in Pine Gulch Cemetery
Married to Ralph Robert Rahne (1940-1994)
Ashes distributed in Pine Gulch Cemetery
Elizabeth (Betty) Kathryn (Morris) Carter (1936-2009)
Buried in Pine Gulch Cemetery
Married to Ramon Lewis Carter (1930-2018)
Buried in Pine Gulch Cemetery
Daughter Betty Lynn (Carter) Welch (1952-1997)
Buried in Pine Gulch Cemetery
Thomas Charles Morris (1942-1943)
Possibly buried in Pine Gulch Cemetery
Glenda Morris
Vickie Morris
