Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 2.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 42.
 
HENRY E. MORRIS
 
     Of distinguished ancestry. Henry E. Morris is a worthy scion of his race
and his ability as an optometrist has won for him national prominence. For eight
years Salem has been the scene of his professional activities and his name is
also well known in other connections. He has been a constant and untiring worker
in behalf of projects for the advancement of his city and state and his life
presents a forceful example of what constitutes good citizenship. He was born
December 31, 1880, in Yamhill county, Oregon, and is a son of M. L. and Emma L.
(Daniel) Morris. His grandfather, E. S. Morris, was a native of Pennsylvania and
in 1843 joined those intrepid pioneers who aided in planting the seeds of
civilization in the empire of the west. He made the long and perilous journey to
the Pacific coast in a covered wagon drawn by oxen and was one of the earliest
settlers in Yamhill county. His ancestors, Robert and Lewis Morris, were among
the signers of the Declaration of Independence and his wife was a descendant of
James Madison, the fourth president of the United States. M. L. Morris was born
in Yamhill county, in which he still resides, and has reached the seventy-third
milestone on life's journey, while his wife is sixty-seven years of age.
 
     Henry E. Morris was reared on the homestead and attended the public schools
of his native county. His scientific training was received in a college at South
Bend, Indiana, from which he was graduated in 1899, and in 1901 he became
connected with L. C. Hendricksen & Company, Portland jewelers and optometrists,
with whom he was associated for live years. He entered business circles of
Tillamook, Oregon, March 4, 1906, and in June, 1911, moved to McMinnville, this
state. There he remained until May, 1919, when he came to Salem, and was
associated with Drs. Finlay & Steeves for two and a half years and has since
engaged in business for himself in the First National Bank building, a modern
structure of eleven stories at the corner of State and Liberty streets. His shop
is splendidly appointed and includes a large reception room, richly carpeted,
furnished in beautiful walnut and contains big, comfortable chairs upholstered
in Spanish leather. Adjoining this are two refracting rooms supplied with the
most modern optical equipment to be found anywhere in the state. Dr. Morris is
an acknowledged expert in the line in which he specializes, and a large and
rapidly increasing clientele is indicative of the confidence reposed in his
knowledge and skill.
 
     In 1910 Dr. Morris married Miss Ruby Whittemore, a native of Pendleton,
Oregon, and a daughter of James and Helen (Sedore) Whittemore. Her father was a
member of the emigrant train of which Ezra Meeker was the captain and the mother
came to Oregon in the 70’s. They located on a ranch near Eugene and later moved
to Pendleton. Dr. and Mrs. Morris have one child, Kenneth W., who is attending
high school. Mrs. Morris is a registered optometrist and practices with her
husband. Along fraternal lines she is connected with the Rebekahs and the
Eastern Star, while her religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the
Presbyterian church. She has been president of the Kensington Club and is also a
member of the Business & Professional Women's Club and the Ladies Club of Salem.
 
     Dr. Morris is an adherent of the democratic party and in 1926 was a
candidate for the state legislature but the election was won by his opponent. He
is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the United Artisans,
the Encampment and White Shrine of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is
a Royal Arch Mason. He belongs to the Country Club and for three years has been
chairman of the program committee of the Ad Club. He is a charter member of the
Kiwanis Club, of which he was the first secretary. He acted in that capacity for
two and a half years and was the third president of the club. He was largely
instrumental in organizing the Kiwanis Clubs at McMinnville, Oregon City,
Dallas, Corvallis and Salem, Oregon, and is president of the Federated Clubs. He
was president of the Willamette Council of Boy Scouts, has been the executive
head of the forum of the Young Men's Christian Association and was formerly a
director of the Salem Chamber of Commerce and for three years has been chairman
of its membership committee. Dr. Morris was instrumental in the movement to
enlarge Willamette University and headed the project to complete the Salem
Hospital. He organized the Associated Charities, of which he was president, and
is now manager of the local branch of the Red Cross Society, formerly acting as
chairman. He is an ex-president of the State Optical Association and for nine
years served on the Oregon hoard of optometry, of which he was secretary for
five years. He was formerly a member of the executive committee of the American
Optical Association and has been vice president of the National Association of
State Optical Boards.  Dr. Morris is a broad-gauged man whose activities have
touched the general interests of society to their betterment, and his
professional standing is indicated by the offices which he has filled.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2016 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.