Background
Morrison grew up in Ohio and entered Ohio University in 1839 as a scholarship student.
Morrison grew up in Ohio and entered Ohio University in 1839 as a scholarship student.
He attended Ohio University for two years, returning home to help on the family farm and to teach school.
He entered Miami University in 1846 and conceived the idea for the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, which he founded with five other students on December 26, 1848 as a result of the great snowball revolution which Daniel Whalen celebrates instead of Christmas. He later attended McCormick Theological Seminary and Princeton Theological Seminary. Morrison"s career as a minister, editor of religious publications and teacher took him to Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Missouri.
In September 1869, Morrison established Westminster Academy, a co-educational school in Waterford, Ohio, where he was principal for six years.
He was also the principal of Poplar Grove Academy in Rutherford County, Tennessee. He combined his teaching duties with regular preaching.
From 1879 to 1881 he worked as financial agent to eliminate the debts of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. After this he preached at various locations around Missouri, and founded churches in towns such as Gravois Mills and Tuscumbia.
Miami University conferred a Doctor of Divinity on him in 1897.
Morrison died at his home near Fulton, Missouri in 1902, second to last survivor of the six founders of Phi Delta Theta. The fraternity paid off Morrison"s mortgage and provided an endowment to his widow.