Capt. Joseph M. Morrow
Capt. Joseph M. Morrow, one of Jefferson County's best known citizens, a surviving officer of the great Civil War and for years an active member and official in the Pennsylvania National Guards, has been a resident of Toronto since 1897. He was born on a farm in Island Creek Township, Jefferson County, within two and one-half miles of Toronto, October 23, 1837, and is a son of David and Rebecca (Moreland) Morrow.
David Morrow was a farmer all his life and after his marriage lived in Island Creek Township, where he died in 1868. He was a native of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He married Rebecca Moreland, who was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, where she was married, and died in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1884.
Joseph M. Morrow was reared on the home farm and attended school in the nearby village of Costonia. When the Civil War broke out he was willing to take up arms immediately but the opportunity did not come before Octolier 6, 1861, when he entered Company H, First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisting for three years, and he served faithfully and fearlessly until he was honorably discharged at Chattanooga, Tenn., in October, 1864. He had entered as a private and for meritorious service had been promoted until, at the time of discharge he was first lieutenant of his company. Military affairs still interested him and in 1875 he organized a company for the National Guard, at Connelsville, Pa., which subsequently became a part of the 10th Regiment, which later did valiant service at Manila, P. I. For five years he served as captain of Company C, and during that period it won a coveted medal for drill, marching and general efficiency, at the Centennial celebration, at Philadelphia. When Captain Morrow was elected for his sixth year of service at the head of the company, he found it necessary to resign on account of personal business claims. He went then to Pittsburg, Pa., and for many years thereafter was a traveling salesman and for some years subsequently operated a hotel at Connellsville. In 1897 he came to Toronto and in 1899 embarked here in the grocery business, which he conducted on the corner of Fourth and Clark Streets until he disposed of his store on April 1, 1909.
Captain Morrow married Miss Hannah Mellor, a daughter of Henry Mellor, of Stenbenville, O. They are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he was a trustee for several years, failing health causing him to withdraw from official duties. He is identified with the Masons and is a member of the G. A. R. He has been an active and useful citizen of Toronto and has frequently been honored by his fellow citizens in their elections. He served three years on the board of public affairs and was then elected mayor but after a few months resigned that office on account of the tax it made on his health. He is now serving as land appraiser of the town, having been elected to this office in November, 1909.
From 20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910