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Lewis G. Morris

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Lewis G. Morris
Born(1808-08-19)August 19, 1808
Fordham, New York[1]
DiedSeptember 19, 1900(1900-09-19) (aged 92)
Mount Fordham, New York[2]
Occupation(s)maritime advocate, sheep and cattle breeder
SpouseEmily Lorillard (1839-1850)
ChildrenFordham Morris
Francis Morris
Parent(s)Robert Morris
Frances Ludlam
RelativesGouveneur Morris [1]
Gouverneur Morris Jr.[1]
Lewis G. Morris Jr. (grandson)

Lewis G. Morris (1808–1900), a resident of Morris Heights, New York, maintained a small farm at Fordham, until it was encroached upon. He then purchased another farm in Scarsdale and on these farms bred sheep and cattle.[1] [3]

In 1838, he took up his lifelong fight to restore and improve the Harlem River. After careful legal consultation and planning, on September 14, 1838, he led a raid on the Macombs Dam, and restored the channel. After a long legal battle with the dam's owner, he persevered in Renwick v. Morris. The removal of the dam was justified as being a public nuisance in violation of the original provisions of the dam's public authorization.

Morris also championed the design of the Croton Aqueduct to soar over the Harlem River at High Bridge, rather than block the channel. He also pushed to see the Harlem River Ship Canal become a reality.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "LEWIS G. MORRIS DEAD: Member of Distinguished American Family - Advanced Harlem Ship Canal Project" (PDF). The New York Times. 20 September 1900. Cite error: The named reference "death" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Funeral of Lewis G. Morris" (PDF). The New York Times. 23 September 1900.
  3. ^ Henry Collins Brown (1922). Valentine's manual of old New York. Vol. 2. New York (N.Y.): Common Council. p. 250.