Amanda Hatton Morrison
A Life Rooted in the Hills of Kentucky
Early Life
Amanda Hatton Morrison was born on November 5, 1879, in Frenchburg, Menifee County, Kentucky. She was the daughter of John P. Hatton and Mary Ann Pitts Hatton, one of several sisters who grew up surrounded by the rich forests, hollers, and tight-knit farming communities of the eastern Kentucky hills. Her early years were spent helping tend to the home and land, steeped in the rhythms of rural life.
By the time the 1880 census was taken, Amanda was just six months old and already listed among the residents of neighboring Powell County—early proof that her family’s roots were planted deep across that region. Life in those hills was not always easy, but it built strong women—and Amanda was no exception.
— four daughters of the Kentucky hills, bound by blood, memory, and a thousand shared days.
Marriage and Family
On April 18, 1896, Amanda married Ephraim Morrison in Menifee County, Kentucky. Their marriage record shows the ceremony was conducted by G.W. Miller with her father, John Hatton, listed among those present—a moment both humble and full of meaning, surrounded by family.
By the 1900 census, the couple was living in Rothwell, Menifee County, raising two young children. Over the years, Amanda would become the mother of ten children—guiding her family through times of joy, challenge, and deep change. The 1920 and 1930 census records place them in Leatherwood, while later years found them settled on Indian Creek Road, a part of the land Amanda called home for much of her life.
— April 18, 1896, Menifee County, Kentucky.
A Life of Faith and Resilience
Amanda was described as an active member of the Church of God. Her faith likely shaped her daily life and offered strength in difficult times, including the loss of her beloved husband Ephraim in 1951. Yet, she continued on with grace and quiet fortitude, watching her family grow through the decades.
By the time of her passing, Amanda had 26 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and 16 great-great-grandchildren—a living legacy of the home she built and the values she carried.
Final Years and Legacy
Amanda passed away on May 1, 1965, in Montgomery County, Kentucky at the age of 85. Her funeral services were held in Mt. Sterling, and she was laid to rest in the Fagan Cemetery back in Menifee County, with arrangements handled by Eastin and Ritchie Funeral Home. Her obituary highlights her devotion to family, her faith, and her long life rooted in tradition.
From the Appalachian foothills where she was born to the branches of a family that stretched across generations, Amanda's story is one of strength, simplicity, and enduring love. Her memory lives on in the stories passed down and in the hearts of all who came after.
in Menifee County, Kentucky.
dated May 3, 1965.
published in The Daily Independent on May 5, 1965.
Help Us Preserve Our History
of Amanda Hatton Morrison or the Hatton family line?
We would love to hear from you.
