April 21, 2015 - Louisiana was born 8/27/1834 in in Marengo County, Alabama to Elijah Morris and Sarah Pope. She arrived in Texas in 1838 with her family and grew up in the area that is now Joaquin. Her sisters were Elizabeth J. Morris Foreman, Sarah Lelia Morris Kirkland, and Mary Morris Burns.
Her brothers were Benjamin Franklin (Frank), James, John, and William.
East Texas was a typical wilderness when the Morris family arrived. The soil was rich and the tall virgin timber seemed to reach almost to the sky. There was an abundance of wildlife, and fish from the local streams and the Sabine River contributed to their food supply.
After a few years of hard work and determination, the family had a good pioneer home, extra supplies of food, cotton fields white for harvest and money on hand. Timber was another source of income. Riverboats transported crops from Logan’s ferry to Orange, Texas to sell.
Louisiana married Levi Marion Truitt, the son of Sarah Hall and James Truitt sometime after the 1850 census was taken where she was listed as living with her parents and sister at age 16.
Louisiana and Levi had thirteen children, twelve lived into adulthood. Children listed for the household in the 1860, 1870, and 1880 census were S. J., E., A., (the 1860 census used initials only for the children} Susan, Bettie, Henry Clay, Levi, James E., John, Dora, Alfred J., Lula, and Robert.
When Levi enlisted in the Confederate States Army in April of 1862 Louisiana assumed the responsibility of her husband’s farm and store in addition to her home and young family. Levi (Captain L.M. Truitt) was discharged from the CSA in 1864 to resume supervision of mail delivery in the East Texas area. The Truitts provided aid and care to exhausted sometimes wounded Confederate soldiers passing through the area.
Louisiana inherited five hundred acres from her father, Elijah Morris, in addition to the lands that she and Levi had already acquired. They provided the land for the Truitt School that served the children living in the Pine Ridge area until consolidation with Joaquin School. Louisiana was a devout Baptist and traveled to church by horseback and wagon as long as her health permitted. She died December 20, 1898 and is buried in Truitt Cemetery. The Truitt Cemetery Homecoming will be held this year on Saturday April 25, and annually on the 4th Saturday in April.
Direct descendants of Louisiana Morris Truitt are eligible to apply for membership in The Daughters of the Republic of Texas or The Sons of the Republic of Texas organizations. For information contact Maggie Casto at 936-248-3361.
Sources:
1. History of Shelby County, Texas Published 1988 Vol. I by Shelby County Historical Society.
2. http://www.shelbycountytexashistory.net/Shelby/Census/1870census-t.htm
3. http://www.shelbycountytexashistory.net/Shelby/Census/1860censust.htm
4. http://www.shelbycountytexashistory.net/Shelby/Census/1880census.htm
5. Personal files of the late Cynthia Cockrell Whiddon.
6. Oral family history given by Lula Truitt Cockrell.
