Pioneers of Ellis County McDaniel & Morrel Families   Abstracted from A Memorial and Biographical History of Ellis County, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill. 1892. James McDaniel, a son of Lunar McDaniel and Margaret Gibbs, natives of Virginia, came to Texas in 1835, fought in the Texas Revolution, and was within one day's march of being at the massacre at the Alamo. After a three-year stay in Texas he returned to Alabama where he married and returned to Texas, settling in Cherokee County where his first child [J. K.] was born.  He again returned to Alabama, spent time in Mississippi and  Arkansas before returning to Cherokee County, Texas. He moved to Ellis County in 1851 where he died Jan. 11, 1885, age 75 years. He was a man full of energy and enterprise, owning many slaves (which he sold before the War) and much land. Opposed to secession, he remained loyal to the Union throughout the War although he gave freely to the women and children of the soldiers.  In 1864 he and his family moved to Fayette County, Texas, returning home after the War ended.  Mr. McDaniel was converted at the age of fourteen years, and was a consistent Christian the remainder of his life. He was a member of the F. & A. M. James McDaniel married Miss Isabella B. Weir, ( born in Alabama, March 8, 1818) , a daughter of Dr. Hugh Weir. Her fatherr moved to Texas about 1860, settling on Mill Creek, Ellis County, where he died. James and Isabella McDaniel had nine children: Elizabeth, ( born April 17, 1842, married W. J. Hamlett, of Ennis, Ellis County, who served as a captain in the War);  Margarette J., (born Oct. 4, 1843, died Sept. 2, 1852) ; Angeline V., ( b. Mar. 30, 1846, d.  Jan.5, 1851); J. K., b. July 1, 1848, d. Sept. 10, 1853) ; Mary E.,(b. Dec. 31, 1859, married J. W. Hamlett, a merchant of Italy) ; W. R. and J. K., (twins), born Feb. 9, 1854); and Bascom, (born Nov. 19, 1856, served at one time as County Judge of Ellis County). After his parents' move to Ellis County in 1855, J. K. McDaniel received a liberal education, and grew to manhood under the guidance of his Christian father and mother. When he was 20 years of age, his father gave him and his brother [W. R.] a tract of 300 acres, which they kept in cultivation - also dealing in livestock. About 1879 they opened a merchandise store at Milford but were forced to sell it after some five years because their other businesses required more of their time. They owned [in 1892] the old homestead of 500 acres, and an additional 1,000 acres - operating the farm together - although each had a separate title to the land. It was located in Mill Creek valley, some three to five miles from Milford and was the finest quality of black wax land. The McDaniel brothers were well known in Ellis and surrounding counties. J. K. McDaniel married Kate Morrel  Nov. 28, 1878 . She was born March 3, 1858, a daughter of Ralph. D. Morrel and S [Sarah]. A. Arnold,  natives of Tennessee. Although Kate was born in Ellis County, she was reared in Navarro County  [Texas] where the grandparents died. Mr. and Mrs. McDaniel had three children: Jimmy H., ( born Nov. 19, 1879); Helen A.,(b. Nov. 19, 1882), and Annie L., (born Nov. 21, 1884). McDaniel is an Alderman of Milford, a Mason, Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. R. D. Morrel  was an early merchant of Milford. After his marriage in 1853, he returned to Navarro County, but was back in Milford a year later where he had a mercantile business for some fourteen years, also farming and raising live stock. He moved to Hillsboro, Hill County, about 1884 , where he continued his mercantile business until his death, March 13, 1886. The Morrels had seven children - the two youngest dying in 1891. G. W. Morrel was one of the most successful merchants in Milford.. The Morrel family is of Irish descent, and the mother was a full cousin to John G. Carlisle.   Copyright © 2005-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. This page was last modified: Monday, 10-Sep-2018 10:23:09 MDT