Historic Berryhill-Morris Farmhouse

Posted to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, the Berryhill-Morris House is a historic marvel. Constructed by Samuel Berryhill, the son of a prisoner of war in the Revolutionary War and the grand-nephew of the first secretary of the First Continental Congress, the Federal style brick farmhouse is a flagship design of early settlers in the eastern midwest. Crafted of red brick fired on the property, the house is regarded as a well-kept example of the architectural style of prosperous settlers.

The Berryhills occupied the home from its construction in 1832 to the late 1850s, wherein the Morris family kept the house and farm as an heirloom until the late 1970s. Whickliff Morris and his sister Olive Morris became the heads of the household around 1900, giving a home to his daughters Bertha and Frances, eventually his nephew Howard Morris, and several boarders.

Frances Morris and Howard Morris were among the last inhabitants from the Morris family, with Howard bequeathing the home to his helpful neighbors-turned-friends in 1979. Tasked with being the stewards of a farmhouse dating to Ohio’s pioneer period, the Henderson family enjoyed the house, the land, the antiques, and the history until the passing of their matriarch this year. While heirlooms have remained in the family, the selection available for public bidding each have cherished memories seeking a home to honor the history.

The collection of this sale showcases over 160 years of Bellbrook farming history, inclusive of Victorian furniture, 19th century farming tools, an original oil painting by Olive Morris, books and a trunk belonging to Frances Morris, as well as staples from the Henderson family to enjoy the harvest and the farm yielded through hard work.

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