NameInez [MORRIS] 5755
Spouses
Birth Date15 May 1885
Birth PlaceDewitt, Saline Co., NE, USA
Birth Date14 May 1893|18952704
Death Date9 Mar 1964 Age: 78
Death PlaceCalgary, Alberta, CANADA
Burial PlaceForest Home Cemetery, Ponoka, Alberta, CANADA
MotherMary Ann Powell (1849-1935)
Misc. Notes
BIOGRAPHY: From the Calgary Herald

Greatest of ease

There was a copy of a billboard (Nov. 1957) forwarded to Calgary recently and it listed the star's of 1905 in the circus world. I happened to see it and underlined with such world names under the big top as Jules Tournier, Rhoda Royal, Felix Ortani, Peanuts Milup and Doc Kelly, was a familiar Frank Morris who can be no other than the gentleman who now lives and relaxes at 1036 1st. Ave. N.W.  Yes Frank Morris is the same man who was a super star as an aerialist 50 years ago with the famed Ringling Brothers Circus. He hasn't forgotten those days and admits he still gets itchy feet when he watches a specialty acts on television.,however, he's pretty well settled now and passed his 73rd. birthday in may. If there are any old-timers who followed the sawdust, they will remember the Flying Fishers and the chunky little fellow who was tossed through the air is our Mr. Morris.

He also star'd as a bareback horse rider as well as sang on stage, then the trapeze and after falling "They didn't use nets" he tried clowning but left the circus.

How did he come to Calgary and what happened during the years between his staring performances? Well, he had a serious fall in 1908 and that ended his Ariel career. For a few years he tried working as a clown but his heart was with the more dangerous acts. Actually, he had lived with excitement since his boyhood days in De Witt, Neb. After a spell of breaking horses he turned into a jockey and as a sideline did head stands and somersaults from the steeds. He figures riding racehorses around the early bull rings fitted him for any acrobatic performances, and he isn't far from wrong.

Anyway, he decided to try farming and, by a stroke of fate chose Ponoka.There he met his wife and after the agricultural bug wore off they moved to Canal Flats, B.C., where they operated a Dairy Farm for awhile, then the local Merchintile store (very successfully) until frank's retirement in 1948.

They lived on 1st. Ave. now for 11 years and I doubt whether more than two or three neighbors and friends would ever connect this friendly gentleman and the man on the flying trapeze. But there he was, with a treasury of memories and more than his share of lumps. Still give him a chance, and he'd be back with the circus today. This is where Frank Died after a few years of Retirement.
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Frank’s family lost contact with him after his mother's death.  He was said to be in Canada.2704
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Grandpa Frank did come to Canada after he and Inez, his first wife, divorced they farmed for a bit then he retired to Calgary.5755
Family ID13101
Last Modified 24 Oct 2011Created 17 May 2017 Rick Gleason - ricksgenealogy@gmail.com