Morrison, O. J.

Passed: 1952-02-11

Age: 83

Source: Charleston Daily Mail

Death Notice: 1952-02-12

Obituary Date:

Information: MERCHANT, 83, TAKEN IN FLA. - O. J. Morrison, 83, of 1505 Quarrier St., owner of a chain of department stores in West Virginia, died last night at 10:30 at his winter home in Coral Gables, Fla.  Death was caused by a heart attack that followed an extended illness caused by a heart condition.  Born Jan. 10, 1869, in Jackson county, Mr. Morrison started his merchandising career there in the village of Kenna and expanded it over the period of years that followed until he owned stores in Charleston, Huntington, Ripley, Spencer, Point Pleasant, Clarksburg, Morgantown, Fairmont and Logan at the time of his death.  He opened his first store more than 60 years ago.  Mr. Morrison often related that his ambition to become a store owner was realized after he had saved $200 from the sale of candy, lemonade and other confections.  In April of 1890 he was able to buy a partnership in the Kenna store.  While his partner, L. Maddox, remained at the store, Mr. Morrison ran a peddling wagon throughout the region, trading goods for produce.  Once a week he took the produce to Ravenswood, 24 miles away, to sell it on the market there.  In 1910, Mr. Morrison opened his first Charleston store and 10 years later purchased the old Burlew Opera house and remodeled it into the present modern merchandising center.  On April 23, 1940, business leaders from throughout the Kanawha valley gathered at the Daniel Boone hotel here to honor Mr. Morrison on the occasion of his 50th anniversary in the merchandising world.  He attributed much of his success to ""working a little harder than most people"" and to ""having more energy than most people"".  Mr. Morrison was an active member of Christ Church Methodist here and had long been deeply interested in the growth of Morris Harvey college.  In 1950 he gave the college $25,000 toward its building fund and praised it as an institution that ""is already paying great dividends in the city"".  He was also active in the West Virginia Anti-Saloon League and had traveled and spoken throughout the state in behalf of its campaign against whiskey.  Mr. Morrison's sons, Charles and Carroll, who had engaged in the merchandising business with their father, left Charleston by plane this morning for Coral Gables to make arrangements to return the body here for funeral and burial services. The wife, Mrs. Cora Morrison, was with her husband when death occurred, as were his two daughters, Mrs. Faye Britt and Mrs. W. L. Smith, both of Coral Gables.  Other survivors include two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.