Orsemus Morrison

After working on the construction of the Erie Canal, he moved from Buffalo, New York, to Chicago in early 1833.^[3]

His early work in Chicago was as a carpenter and contractor.^[3] One project he worked on was dredging the mouth of the Chicago River.^[3]

On August 15, 1835 he was elected the first High Constable and High Collector of Chicago.^[4] As High Constable, he was the city's first head of police from his election until May 2, 1837.^[5]

He was elected the Cook County Coroner in August 1836,^[3][6] having been nominated by the Democratic Party.^[7]

Morrison was elected and served as street commissioner.^[3][8] From 1840 to 1841, he served as an alderman from the 1st ward of Chicago.^[9]

In 1838, he purchased land on the corner of Clark and Madison in Chicago. This later became the location of the Morrison Hotel, the original building of which was built in 1860.^[3][10] He made a number of other real estate purchases in Chicago.^[3]

A Whig, originally, Morrison became an early member of the Republican Party.^[3]

He was married to the former Lucy Paul on April 7, 1836, in Aurora, Erie County, New York.^[3] Morrison died in Chicago on January 4, 1864, and was buried at Graceland Cemetery.^[5][11] When he died, he was survived by two daughters, Hannah Spofford and Lucy Mills, the latter of whom was married to congressman Daniel W. Mills.^[3][12]