Walter D. Morris, born April 12, 1856, in Fredonia, New York, was a key figure in the banking industry in Watertown, South Dakota. After beginning his banking career in Minnesota, he co-founded the Citizens’ National Bank in Watertown in 1885, serving as its cashier and later as president from 1898 onward. Under his leadership, the bank became a stable and well-regarded institution. Morris was known for his business acumen and civic involvement, though he avoided political office. He married Mary A. Archibald in 1880, and they had four children: Archibald, Lorenzo, Walter Jr., and Fannie.
Walter D. Morris, president of the Citizens’ National Bank of Watertown, is a native of the old Empire state, having been born in Fredonia, Chautauqua County, New York, on the 12th of April, 1856, and being a son of Lorenzo and Fannie (Strong) Morris, who were likewise born and reared in New York. Lorenzo Morris died October 2, 1903, his wife in 1872, both honored and revered by all who knew them. The father of the subject was long one of the influential members of the bar of Chautauqua County, was a member of the state senate for several terms, and was a member of the state constitutional convention which framed the present constitution of that great commonwealth. He is a son of David Morris, who was one of the pioneer farmers of Chautauqua County, whither he came with an ox-team at a time when that beautiful section was still an untrammeled wild. The family is of Scotch-Irish descent and was founded in America in the early colonial epoch, while representatives of the name were found enrolled as valiant soldiers in the continental cause during the war of the Revolution.
The subject of this review attended the common schools of Fredonia, New York, in his boyhood and there prepared himself for entrance to the State Normal School in Fredonia, where he continued his studies for four years. In 1880, at the age of twenty-four years, he came to Minnesota, locating in Rochester, where he was made assistant cashier of the Union National Bank, retaining this incumbency for five years and showing ability in the handling of the executive details of the banking business. In 1885 he came to Watertown, where he became one of the organizers and incorporators of the Citizens’ National Bank, which institution opened its doors for the transaction of business on the 15th of June of that year, and with Mr. Morris in charge of its affairs in the capacity of cashier. This office he held until January 1898, when he was elected to the presidency of the bank, which had prospered under his direction, and of which he has since continued at the head. The bank is capitalized for $50,000 and is known as one of the solid, popular, and ably conducted financial institutions of the state. While Mr. Morris’s political allegiance is given to the Democratic party, he has never desired public office. He is the owner of valuable real estate in Watertown, including his attractive residence, at 623 Codington Avenue. Fraternally, he is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and with the Elks, and he is a member of the Congregational church.
In Fredonia, New York, on the 11th of August, 1880, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Morris to Miss Mary A. Archibald, a daughter of William B. and Amanda (Buell) Archibald, her father being a prominent music dealer of Fredonia, while both he and his wife are representatives of pioneer families of the Empire state. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have four children, namely: Archibald J. and Lorenzo T., who are assistants in the bank of which their father is president; Walter D., Jr., who is attending the military academy at Faribault, Minnesota, and Fannie, who is a student in the home schools.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.