Robert A. Morris of Birmingham, Alabama was an auditor in Jefferson County, Alabama. He was born in Chambers County, Ala., June 10, 1867, to William H. and Arabella (Wright) Morris, both natives of Alabama. William left the farm for the Confederate army and fought under General Forrest and was in the famous fight at Franklin, Tennessee. Robert A. Morris moved with his parents to Birmingham in 1871 and spent practically all his life there His father was the third mayor of Birmingham. In the 1880 census of Jefferson County, Alabama, William Morris was listed with the occupation of Express Agent and was born in 1847 in Alabama but his parents were from North Carolina.
Arabella was born in Alabama in 1846 and her parents were from Georgia.
They had the following children:
Robert Morris (b. 1868 AL);
John L. Morris(b. 1869 AL);
Arabella R. Morris (b. 1878 Alabama)
Robert attended the local schools, and spent one year at Howard college and was educated as a bookkeeper. His devotion to arduous office work brought failing health, and he, therefore, gave up bookkeeping and entered the United States mail service as a clerk in the post office in Birmingham. After a few years’ service, he was promoted to superintendent of mails. He held this position until a change of administration when he resigned and engaged in other pursuits.
Robert was selected, in 1895, by Probate Judge M. T. Porter as chief clerk in the department of estates in the probate court. He continued in this position until elected auditor of Jefferson county in 1902.
Robert spent about fourteen years as a member of the Alabama National guard and was one of its hardest workers. He rose from private in Company M, Second regiment, to lieutenant, but severed his connection with the guard in 1894. While a member of the guard his company took part in quelling the Hawes riot.
On Nov. 12, 1890, he married Lillian M. Walker., the daughter of William T. and Fannie (Kennedy) Walker, both natives of Alabama. Mrs. Morris’ grandfather, William H. Kennedy founded the town of Kennedy, in Lamar County, Ala., and was one of the progressive citizens of the State.
Robert and Lillian (Walker) Morris had one child, Willie Lucille Morris who married Theodore N. Cottrell.
Robert was a member of the Baptist church and Knight of Pythias. He was an alderman from the Fourth ward of East Lake was chairman of the judiciary committee of the board of aldermen and was also chairman of the Lake committee. Robert Morris was able to trace his ancestry to Robert Morris, signer of the Declaration of Independence. He passed away in 1928 and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama.
![This is what once stood at 1st Avenue and 19th street in Birmingham [vintage pictures & film]](https://www.alabamapioneers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Morris_Hotel-2-400x150.jpg "This is what once stood at 1st Avenue and 19th street in Birmingham [vintage pictures & film]")
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