THE MORRIS FAMILY HISTORY

Rev. Ferrell W. Morris, Jr., the son of the late Deacon Ferrell W. Morris, Sr. was born April 1872 in Brenham, Washington County, Texas. His mother's name was Maliza. Ferrell came to Burleson County with his father and was reared by his stepmother Martha Tasker. He was the oldest of six children (all deceased), two sisters and three brothers: Beatrice, Mittie, Voice, Eddie, and Rev. Walker K. Morris. The family settled in Burleson County, in the Tunis community.Rev. Ferrell W. Morris, Jr. married Miss Cora Bell Butts in 1896. They had six children: Sedalia, Mittie, Theresa, Vance, Clinton, and Nathaniel. Ferrell and Cora were assets to the community. Ferrell attended public school and united with the Old Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church. He served as Assistant Pastor, Sunday School Teacher and was a counselor. Cora was a busy housewife, loving mother, dedicated Christian and a social worker. She sewed for the entire neighborhood and taught her children about the finer things in life. She served as the leader of the Knights and Daughters of Tabor and was the President of the Senior Women Missionary Society of the Old Bethlehem Church, until her death in 1929.Ferrell was skilled in farming, raising what was necessary to support his family (i.e., livestock, truck  patches, cotton, and com). As the family grew larger, he was forced to seek a larger farm; so, they moved to the “bottom” on the “Jim William” farm where through joy and pain they proved they could survive through anything. 

 

THE BUTTS FAMILY HISTORY

The Butts family roots can be traced as far back as to the end of slavery. Henny Butts and his son Deacon Aaron Butts, Sr. were ex-slaves who migrated to Texas from Eufaula, Barbour County, Alabama in 1880, shortly after the abolishment of slavery. When they came to Texas they settled in the "White House Place" as it was called. They operated a cotton gin for several years. The Butts family settled in the Burleson County area, primarily in the community of Tunis, TX.Aaron Butts, Sr. met and fell in love with Ms. Jane Elbert, they were married in 1869. The couple later married and to this union six children were born. They were Cora Bell, Ella, Rhoda, Amy, Aaron Jr., and Eugene (Coon). After the older heads deceased and gave up the gin, they all moved to the "Cy Myles" Fam in Burleson County. Of these six children, three remained in the community, each marrying and starting their own families. It is not clear the direction the others took, but those that remained all became resourceful contributing citizens.Aaron Butts, Jr. married Callie Elmore. They had six children: D.J., Berthenia, William, Marion, Lonnie, and Lorenza. Rhoda Butts married Orlene Lucas and had three children: Clarence, Orie and James (Buddy).