Dorilus Morrison
Encyclopedia
Dorilus Morrison was a banker, businessman, and politician
who lived in the U.S.
state of Minnesota
. He was the first and third mayor of Minneapolis. Morrison was born in Livermore, Maine
, and was a lumber merchant in Bangor, Maine
(1842–53) before moving to Minnesota. He was the cousin of William D. Washburn
, who also moved to Minneapolis
from Maine. Washburn became a noted area businessman and later a U.S. Senator
.
Dorilus Morrison was elected to represent the 5th district in the Minnesota State Senate and served from 1864 to 1865. He served two non-consecutive terms as mayor
of Minneapolis
in 1867–68 and 1869–70. When the Northwestern National Bank of Minneapolis was chartered in 1872, Morrison was its president. Later the bank and its holding company survived the Great Depression
and became Wells Fargo
. Around that same time, he began building a streetcar line in the city. He joined with other businessmen, and eventually hired Thomas Lowry
, who got the line up and running in 1875. The line eventually merged with a line in neighboring St. Paul to become Twin City Rapid Transit
.
After Morrison died, his body was interred at Lakewood Cemetery
in Minneapolis.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who lived in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. He was the first and third mayor of Minneapolis. Morrison was born in Livermore, Maine
Livermore, Maine
Livermore is a town in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,106 at the 2000 census. It is included in both the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan New England City and Town Area. High schools students from...
, and was a lumber merchant in Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
(1842–53) before moving to Minnesota. He was the cousin of William D. Washburn
William D. Washburn
William Drew Washburn was an American politician. He served in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate as a Republican from Minnesota. Three of his seven brothers became politicians: Elihu B. Washburne, Cadwallader C. Washburn, and Israel Washburn, Jr...
, who also moved to Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
from Maine. Washburn became a noted area businessman and later a U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
Dorilus Morrison was elected to represent the 5th district in the Minnesota State Senate and served from 1864 to 1865. He served two non-consecutive terms as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
in 1867–68 and 1869–70. When the Northwestern National Bank of Minneapolis was chartered in 1872, Morrison was its president. Later the bank and its holding company survived the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and became Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
. Around that same time, he began building a streetcar line in the city. He joined with other businessmen, and eventually hired Thomas Lowry
Thomas Lowry
Thomas Lowry was a lawyer, real-estate magnate, and businessman who oversaw much of the early growth the streetcar lines in the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding communities in Minnesota...
, who got the line up and running in 1875. The line eventually merged with a line in neighboring St. Paul to become Twin City Rapid Transit
Twin City Rapid Transit
The Twin City Rapid Transit Company , also known as Twin City Lines , was a transportation company that operated streetcars, and buses in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Minnesota...
.
After Morrison died, his body was interred at Lakewood Cemetery
Lakewood Cemetery
Lakewood Cemetery is a large private, non-sectarian cemetery located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is located at 3600 Hennepin Avenue at the southern end of the Uptown area...
in Minneapolis.