John Wesley Morris Jr. was born to John Welsey Morris Sr and Alice Allison Morris on May 6, 1876 in Martin, Mi.  He was the youngest of three children.  I am unsure of when and where John Morris Jr and Alverna Bittenbender met and were married.  There first child was born in 1900, Goldie Mable Morris.  Violet was born two years later, but passed at a young age, I'm not sure when.  The third child, Hilda was born 1904.  Their last was a son, John Wayne 3rd, born in 1908.  His birth record shows that originally he was named John Stephen Morris.  He passed away in 1909 from lead poisoning from a penny he swallowed.  You can see in the pictures the difference of before and after the penny incident.  In 1910, they are found on the census for Wayland Twp, Allegan Co, Mi.  It lists as follows:  John Wayne(34, head), Verne(33, wife), Goldie(10, daughter), Hilda(5, daughter).  John's occupation is listed as a farmer on a general farm of own accord(self employed).  It also states he had immigrated in 1876 and he was naturalized.  I'm not sure of what that means since his birth certifacate was issued in Michigan.  It lists that John's birth place or nativity is Can. English, his father Eng English, and mother Can. English. Alverna's is listed as Michigan, her father and mother, Pennsylvania.  It also states that John and Alverna were married for 12 yrs.  And that Alverna gave birth to 4 children, but only 2 were still living.  The 1910 census also says all but Hilda can read and write, and Goldie and Hilda both attended school that year.  Additionally this census states that they owned their own home, it was mortgaged, and was a farm, farm schedule 160.  They are also found on the 1920 census, again in Wayland Twp, Allegan Co., Mi.  Listed is John(43, head), Elverna(43, wife), Goldie (19, daughter), Hilda (15, daughter).  Once again this census states that John immigrated in 1876, was natuarlized, but does not list a year for natrualization.  This time it says John was born in Canada, with English as his native tongue.  His father was born in England, and spoke English, and his mother was born in New York.  Alverna is listed as the same, born in Michigan, and both parents born in Pennsylvania.  It aslo say they own their home, but nothing is listed if its mortgaged or owned free.  They all can read and write, and once again, Goldie and Hilda attended school with in the past year.  Nothing else is readable on the 1920 census.  John Morris Jr died on Jan 5, 1955 in Shelbyville, Mi, and was buried in Wayland, Allegan Co., Mi.

Alverna Bittenbender

Born:  May 23,  1876
Place:  Cedar Springs, Mi
Death:  July 12,  1957
Place:  Wayland, Allegan Co.,  Mi
Burial:  Wayland Cemetery, Wayland, Mi
Husband:  John Wesley Morris Jr.
Occupation:  House wife
Number of Children:  4

Alverna Bittenbender was born May 23, 1876 in Cedar Springs, Kent Co, Mi, to Henry and Elizabeth Bittenbender.  She was the youngest of 11 known children.  See her life with John Morris Jr above.  Alverna passed away on July 12, 1957 in Wayland, Mi.  She was buried next to her late husband and children also in Wayland Twp, Allegan Co., Mi.

John Wesley Jr and Alverna Morris's Children:

• Goldie Mable (Hicks)  B: 03/14/1900  P: Martin, Mi  D: 05/14/1964  P: Grand Rapids, Mi
• Violet                          B: 1902            P: Martin, Mi
• Hilda (Smith)               B: 1904            P: Martin, Mi  D: 07/1929       P: Grand Rapids, Mi
• John Wayne                B: 05/16/1908  P: Martin, Mi  D: 03/1901        P: Martin, Mi

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Documents I have on this family:

• John's Birth Certificate
• Alverna's Birth Certificate
• John's Birth Record
• John Stephen (Wayne) birth record
• 1910 census
• 1920 census
• Lots of pictures

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