History of Monroe County Illinois United States of America

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William Ralls Morrison, representative, was born in Monroe county, Ill., Sept. 14, 1825; son of John and Anne (Ralls) Morrison, and grandson of William Morrison, who came from Pennsylvania to Illinois in 1790, was a representative in the state legislature, school commissioner and county judge. He attended McKendree college, served during the war with Mexico as a private and was in the fight at Buena Vista. In 1849 he joined a party of gold seekers and went to California. He returned to Illinois in 1851; studied and practised law; was clerk of the circuit court of Monroe county, 1852-54, when he resigned; a representative in the state legislature, 1854-60, and again in 1871-72, and was speaker of the house, 1859-60. At the outbreak of the civil war he organized the 49th Illinois volunteer infantry, of which he was colonel. He was severely wounded while leading a charge against a Confederate battery in the capture of Fort Donelson. While in command of his regiment in the field he was elected Democratic representative in the 38th congress, and served, 1863-65. He also served as a representative in the 43d-49th congresses, 1873-87. He was an advocate of free trade; was chairman of the committee on ways and means, 1873-75 and 1883-87, and introduced several tariff measures which came within a few votes of passing the house, and were defeated by Democratic protectionists. He was a delegate to the Union national convention at Philadelphia in 1866; and to the Democratic national conventions of 1856, 1868, 1884 and 1888; and was chairman of the committee on resolutions in the convention of 1884. Upon the expiration of his term in congress he was appointed by President Cleveland a member of the interstate commerce commission, and was re-appointed by President Harrison in 1892. He was chairman of the commission from 1891 until he retired in January, 1898, when he resumed law practice in Waterloo, Ill.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Monroe County Illinois

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