Morrison Funeral Home
Graham, Young County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Mississippi native John Edward Morrison (1848-1926) and his family moved to Texas in 1874, settling first in Tarrant County. They arrived in Young County in 1876, and Morrison purchased several tracts of land. By January 1877 he had opened a blacksmith shop on the Town Square, and in 1884 he formed a partnership with Spencer Boyd Street. Their new venture was called Morrison & Street Family Grocery. Over the years, J. E. Morrison expanded his business interests to include dry goods, hardware, and lumber. Eventually he opened branch stores in nearby towns. In 1888, with the addition of undertaking supplies to the company's inventory, the Morrison Funeral Home was begun. The partnership with Street was dissolved in 1895, and several of Morrison's children joined the family businesses. Following Morrison's death his son, Adger A., became head of the undertaking business. He expanded the company, and a new building was completed in 1938. The businesses of John E. Morrison have played an important part in Graham's history. Now in its second century, the Morrison Funeral Home continues to be operated by descendants of John Edward Morrison.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Mississippi native John Edward Morrison brought his family to Young County in 1876 and opened a blacksmith shop on the town square, steadily building an empire of grocery, dry goods, hardware, and lumber stores. In 1888 he added undertaking supplies to his inventory, giving rise to the Morrison Funeral Home. Passed to his son Adger and later descendants, the business has now served Graham for more than a century.
Why it matters
It traces how a single frontier merchant's diversified enterprises anchored the commercial life of a growing Texas county seat for generations.
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Related people
- · John Edward Morrison
- · Adger A. Morrison
- · Spencer Boyd Street
Themes & tags
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