John Bingle Morris was born in Kentucky on December 3, 1806, married Julia Ann Shumate on June 5, 1827, and settled in Mexico, Missouri, in 1836. He built the first residence and business house there, served as postmaster for 15 years, county clerk for 18 years, and county judge for 16 years, and had 18 children. He was remembered as honest, strong willed, patriotic, and public spirited, and he died on December 30, 1875.