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From: "Kevin Borland" <>
Subject: [OHCARROL] Carroll County in the mid 1800s: Essay by Margaret E. (Morrison) Price: Part 3
Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 20:04:46 -0400


The mother of the little girl [Sarah Ann Johnston] was a wonderful
woman--not great as the world calls great, not blessed with much of this
world's goods, and her education limited. She was blessed by Nature and
grace, with a large fund of good, Christian common sense, and impressed one
favorably as one who knew. She was a great reader, a good talker, and
active in all home and community duties. She was one how "lived by the side
of the road and was a friend to man." Her home was always open to all, and
was the rendezvous of the young people. Like the only woman called great in
the Bible, she had a prophet's chamber in her home, and when traveling
ministers came to preach, they found a home there. She was a helper to her
pastor, one upon whom he could always rely. Early left a widow with seven
children, she brought them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Early were they sent to Sabbath school and church, and whenever possible,
she went with them. Three times a day a blessing was asked upon the food,
and night and morning she gathered her family together for family prayers.
The children were taught to pray, read the Bible, and learn the catechism.
On Sabbath afternoons they remained at home, no gadding about, but reading
some good literature; and in the evening the mother examined them in the
catechism--and later the children rose up and called herblessed. All were
members of their father's and mother's church, the Presbyterian. Left alone
as she was, she had to work hard to provide for her family, and many were
the sacrivices she made for them, and I am glad to pay this tardy tribute to
her memory.
The village boasted of an Academy, founded in 1837 by the godly men of the
church. It was a great advantage to the neighborhood, and she counted among
its Professors many able men; and was well patronized by people for many
miles around. This mother sent all her children to the Academy, after
finishing school in the public school, and thus they were enabled to secure
a good education and developed into a teaching family, six of the seven
becoming successful teachers--some of them at a very early age, and the
eldest and youngest daughters not only taught in the public schools, but in
the Academy as well.
The years rolled on and brought the Civil War. The two elder sons, who had
left home and were teaching in the western part of the State, enlisted in
the Union Army, one as Captain, the other as Orderly Sargeant. They fought
at Fort Donelson, Shiloh and other places; later were transferred to a gun
boat and were in the vicinity of Vicksburgh, at the time of the surrender.
The older son [Samuel M. Morrison] was wounded, took sick with pneumonia,
and his life was sacriviced for his country. He was then a Major. The
other son [John T. Morrison] served through the three years, re-enlisted,
became a Captain, and at the close of the war returned home. After a short
time at home, he, with other pioneers, went to the new State of Kansas,
where they founded a town. He was active in all the affairs of his adopted
State, was a member of the State Legislature, and finally died in Kansas.
The wife and three children remain.
During the war, in 1864, the second daughter [Nancy E. Morrison] married a
well-to-do man of her own village [John C. Forbes] who owned a farm on the
outskirts. [John and Nancy are my great-great-great grandparents!!!] She
lived at this place until her death [6/22/1871]. Only one of this family is
now living [Frank Morrison Forbes, my great-great grandfather died 1945,
after this essay was written.] The oldest daughter [Martha B. Morrison]
married a Presbyterian minister who preached in Ohio for seven years, then
removed to Pennsylvania, where he served the same charge forty years, then
retired. Just prior to the 50th anniversary of their marriage, he was
called home, and his grave is in the cemetary where two former pastors had
served the same church the same length of time. His wife survived him about
seven years, then God called her. Five children survive.
But two of the family remain, the youngest daughter--the writer--and the
youngest son [Alexander Johnston Morrison]. This daughter is the "other
little girl," and she is so thankful to the Heavenly Father that her home
was in this family and that her life has been spared so long, and has been
such a happy one. Before she was eighteen she became a teacher and always
found pleasure in the work. She loved it, and had many pleasant experiences
which would be interesting to record, if there were time. She made many
friends and has the blessed assurance that she has helped many among whom
she worked to lead a better life. She feels greatly indebted to many of her
old pastors for the lessons they taught her in early life, which have helped
to influence her later life.l She taught different public schools in
Carroll, Tuscarawas and Harrison counties, Ohio; then for several years in
the New Hagerstown Academy, which she left to become the wife of a
Presbyterian minister [Benjamin McLeanly Price], to share his work in
bringing souls to Christ. The life was a trying one, but had many pleasures
and rewards. The work began in Ohio, our native State, then among the
warm-hearted Nebraska people, back in Ohio, then to Pennsylvania, and back
to Ohio. She worked in missionary societies--local church societies; and
feels grateful that she was permitted to do so, and her prayer is that her
work was not in vain.
In 1921, her husband was not;--for God took him while he was still in the
prime of his usefulness. Since then, she has passed through many trials,
but not alone, for God has been kind to her, and her three children do all
possible for her comfort and happiness. She and daughter live together in
Shadyside, Ohio.

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