Gravesend Characters Past: Charles E. Morris (1858-1925)

Continuing the challenge posed by my fellow members of the Society for One-Place Studies that we blog about 52 residents of our respective places in as many weeks, here is a profile of Charles E. Morris from The Eagle and Brooklyn: The Record of the Progress of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle Issued in Commemoration of its Semi-Centennial and Occupancy of its New Building; Together With the History of the City of Brooklyn From its Settlement to the Present Time, edited by Henry W. B. Howard (Brooklyn, N.Y.: The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1893), vol. 2, 1140-1142:

Charles E. Morris (1858-1925)

Filling the position of collector of the town of Gravesend, Charles E. Morris, since his election in the fall of 1891, has performed his duties in a thorough and efficient manner. Mr. Morris was born at Gravesend, on November 21, 1858. His paternal ancestors for some generations have been natives of that town, being direct descendants of the famous Gouverneur Morris. For five years young Morris attended the public school in his native town, and subsequently, public school No. 10, in Brooklyn, where he was graduated in 1876. He then became identified with the Knickerbocker Ice Company, and in a very short time was placed in charge of the business of that corporation at Coney Island. This position he retained for many years. He has been an active member of the John Y. McKane Association ever since its organization, on for the past four years he has been a delegate to the Democratic General Committee, from Gravesend. Since 1887 he has been clerk to the board of health of Gravesend, and from the beginning of 1892, of the street improvement and town boards. He was one of the commissioners appointed to superintend the grading and construction of Surf avenue. He is secretary to Atlantic Hook and Ladder Company of the Coney Island fire department, and is president of the Atlantic Gun Club.