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Captain Tom Morrissey
Photo
Credit:Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division,
Detroit
Publishing Company Collection.
The
Waterways Journal, Saint Louis, Missouri 10 April 1943
Capt. Tom Morrissey Died Last Week at Vicksburg.
His Packets included Belle of the Bends, Duncan, Menge, Fall City and Ben
Hur.
Thomas Michael Morrissey 68 known to many as "Captain" one of
Vicksburg's
substantial citizens died at 9:PM on Sunday March 28, at his home 1117
Cherry
Street after a short illness. He was a resident of Vicksburg for 59 years
going
there when he was a mere boy. He was born in Waterford, (sic) Ireland
and
was a member of Saint Paul's Catholic Church.
Capt. Morrissey was closely associated with the business and civic life
of
Vicksburg, being a large reality owner and a stockholder in large business
and
banking interests. He was interested in steamboats and barges and levy
buildings
and was well known up and down the Mississippi. At Eagle Lake he had a
large
farm and his registered cattle took prizes. His interests were varied and
many.
Surviving members of his family are his wife, Josephine Morrissey, a daughter
of
the late Sam Romano (sic); one son, Michael T. Morrissey, and four
daughters,
Mrs. E. V. Griefield, Mrs. Craig Nasahl, Mrs. Wylie Towne, Mrs. Jesse Jones
Jr.
and Miss Hazel Morrissey all of Vicksburg: also another brother, John
Morrissey,
living in Ireland and three sisters living in Seattle, Wash and eight
grandchildren.
Captain Morrissey came to the United States when he was 10 years old
and
went directly to Vicksburg. He attended Saint Aloysius High School. He
was
engaged in business for himself at the age of 21. Capt. Morrissey operated
a
fleet of steamboats between Vicksburg and Greenville and was well known
up
and down the Mississippi.
During the flood of 1913 his boats did rescue work bringing many a family
and
their possessions out of the high water area. He had the honorary title
of
"Commodore" and was known to his friends as "Capt. Tom."
He was a
devoted husband and a loving father and enjoyed home life. He was a
loyal
friend and his word was his bond. He was most happy when aiding and
assisting
others along life's roadway. Through his kindness and generosity
many have benefited.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday morning, March 30 proceeding from
the
deceased's home at 9 o'clock and from St. Paul's church at 9:30 o'clock,
with
Monsignor D. J. O'Beirne officiating a requiem mass at the church. Interment
was
at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Among many honorary pallbearers were Bart
C. Tully of
Memphis and Mayor J. C. Hamilton of Vicksburg.
Contributed
by Jesse Jones
Contributor's note:( My mother was in Annapolis, Maryland with
my father when
he died. Since it was wartime and she was also afraid of flying,
she came home
by train. Consequently Poppa Tom was waked for three days in the Pink
Parlor
at the Big House waiting for Mama to come home. One of the days was set aside
for "Colored People" and they came by the hundreds.
Ethel Kendrick has the
sign-in books. Most signed with nicknames that Poppa Tom had given them
such
as Shortstuff, Son Ab, Alligator and some simply signed with an
"X." It had to
have been one of the biggest funerals that Vicksburg ever had. I could not
go
because I had the chicken pox. There are some mistakes in the obituary.
Josephine Morrissey's father was not Sam Romano he was her brother. We
do
not think Poppa Tom was born in Waterford, Ireland. He was born in Tipperary.
)
Update 11-7-2008:
I am the person who posted my Grandfather's Thomas M
Morrissey's obituary. As an aside note
I stated that the obituary in the Waterways Journal
dtd 10 April 1943 was in error when it stated
that Capt. Morrissey was born in Waterford County, Ireland. The
article is correct. Thomas M.
Morrissey was born in Killmacomma, Waterford, Ireland on 4 Sep 1874. I
have been to Ireland
since those comments were made and have seen his birthplace and birth
certificate.
Jesse F Jones III
Son of Josephine Morrissey Jones and Jesse F Jones
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