Born in Perth, Scotland, in 1838, a son of James Morison, who settled in Canada in 1842, and there resided until his death. Mr. Morison left Canada about 1865, after his marriage to Martha Gage, and settled in Jackson County, Iowa, where for a time he followed the trade of blacksmith. In 1869, he removed to Tama County, and settled on a farm in Crystal Township, which he carried on until the founding of Traer. He was one of the earliest settlers in Traer, locating there in September, 1873, before there was a railroad, and helped lay out the town, and started one of the first general stores. Mr. Morison was also an auctioneer and cried sales all over that section and many other parts of the state. He followed this occupation until about 1893 and cried sales for the Milwaukee railroad. He continued his store until about 1885, when he, in company with James Wilson, for a time conducted a paper at Traer, known as The Clipper, later consolidated with the Star, now the Star-Clipper. He has lived a life retired from active business since 1895. His wife died in 1893. Mr. Morison has been very successful financially and in all other ways. Some years ago he served as secretary to James Wilson, secretary of agriculture. Mr. Morison owns a home at Washington, also a winter home at Palm Beach, Florida. He is a stanch Democrat and served in the state legislature two terms, from 1888 to 1892. He was a candidate for senator, but was defeated by a small majority. He still owns some farm lands in Tama County, and was well known and universally respected in that region. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic order, and is a Knight Templar in the order. James Morrison died in 1915.
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