Allan Morrison (fur trader)

Allan Morrison (June 3, 1803 – November 21, 1877), alternatively spelled Allen Morrison, was a Canadian-American fur trader and politician who served in the House of Representatives during the first session of the Minnesota Territorial Legislature.

Allan Morrison
Morrison, circa 1865
Member of the Minnesota Territorial Legislature House of Representatives
In office
September 14, 1849 – December 31, 1850
Preceded byWilliam Sturgis
Personal details
Born(1803-06-03)June 3, 1803
Montreal, Quebec
DiedNovember 21, 1877(1877-11-21) (aged 74)
Present-day White Earth Indian Reservation, Minnesota
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseCharlotte Charbouillier
RelationsWilliam Morrison (brother)
OccupationFur trader

He is the namesake of Morrison County, Minnesota, along with his brother William.

Biography

Morrison was born in Montreal[1] to Allan Morrison, Sr. and Jane Wadin. Wadin's father was Jean-Étienne Waddens, a fur trader who was killed by Peter Pond in 1782.[2]

Morrison came to northern Minnesota for the fur trade c. 1820 and was associated with William.[1] He successively ran posts at Big Sandy Lake, Leech Lake, Red Lake, Mille Lacs Lake, and Old Crow Wing.[3] He stayed at Old Crow Wing until 1874 and is considered the first white person to settle there.[1] Upon the establishment of Crow Wing County in 1857, Morrison was listed as one of its county commissioners.[4]

Morrison was elected to the Territorial House of Representatives in 1849, following the resignation of William Sturgis. He was a representative until the session ended at the start of 1851.[3]

Morrison, with his brother William, became the namesake of Morrison County when it was founded in 1856. This was in large part due to the fact that Allan forwarded a letter to Alexander Ramsey detailing William's exploration of Lake Itasca. Ramsey circulated the letter and gave it large publicity, perhaps influencing the legislature to name the county after the brothers.[1][2]

In 1874, Morrison accompanied Chippewas as they were relocated to the White Earth Indian Reservation. He died there on November 21, 1877, and was buried there.[3]

Morrison married Charlotte Charbouillier, a part Chippewa. With her, Morrison fathered eleven children.[3]

References
  1. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 350. Retrieved February 5, 2021 – via Internet Archive.
  2. Mellor, Bruce (14 July 2009). "William Morrison – Fur Trader". Morrison County Historical Society. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  3. Hubbard, L.F.; Murray, W.P.; Baker, J.H.; Upham, Warren (1908). Minnesota in Three Centuries, 1655-1908: Early history. Publishing Society of Minnesota. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  4. Minnesota and Its People. S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. 1924. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
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