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Name: LONDON, Morris William
Birth Date: 3.4.1869 Saole, Lithuania
Death Date: 16.10.1963 California
Nationality: American
First Date: 1903
Profession: The earliest settler in the Rongai area who grew the first maize.
Area: Londondale, Nakuru, Rongai
Married: 1909 Freda Bott b. 4 Dec 1886 Germany. d. 2 Sep 1953 Sonoma County, California
Children: Arthur (7.3.1910 Rongai River, Nakuru-1957); Esther H. (1912); Alexander Louis (31 Aug 1913 Nairobi-2008); Alma G. (19 Aug 1916 Kenya-1991); Eveline (1923); Charmine
Book Reference: SE, HBEA, Joelson, Roosevelt, Hut, Drumkey, Red 22, Land, Jews, EAHB 1906, AJ, Gazette, North, Glimpses, Red Book 1912
General Information:
SE - M.W. London - July 1910
Roosevelt - Two days after leaving Lake Hannington they camped near the ostrich farm of Mr London, an American from Baltimore. He had been waging war on the lions and leopards, because they attacked his ostriches. He had killed at least a score of each, some with the rifle, some with poison or steel traps.
Land 1909 - M.W. London - Grazing and agricultural, 2006.4 acres - Rogai River - 4/10/06 - Leasehold for 99 years from 1/1/09 - Registered 16/10/09
Jews - Mention of London by Wilbusch in his diary (1905)
EAHB 1906 - W. London - Nakuru Agricultural Journal - Brands Allotted and Registered, September 1908 - M.W. London, Londondale, Nakuru - Naivasha V1L
Gazette - 7/4/15 - Liable for Jury service, Nairobi District - M.W. London, The Hill
Glimpses - 1903 - The larger group of Jewish pioneers came a more roundabout way, from South Africa. This was a group of 7 who disembarked at Mombasa in July 1903. They were young men from Central European farming backgrounds who, having got wind of the 'Uganda Plan', came to take up farming in Kenya. A couple did not like what they saw, turned around and left. But 5 stalwarts stayed: Abraham Block (aged 20), I. Hotz, M.W. London, Simon Medicks and W. Sulsky. Glimpses - The first serious complication in the Jewish community arose when a Mr London, a local resident (non-member) wanted to marry a non-Jewess. The problem arose when it was discovered that the Rabbi had been privately approached by the couple who "requested him to perform the marriage ceremony according to Jewish rites and also to convert the child of Mrs London to Judaism. …….. However the communal meeting, far from being shocked on Jewish legal grounds, was mainly concerned about Mr London's non-payment of membership fees and proposed "that Mr London be written to, asking for payment of arrears in subscription." (Dr Manfred Lehman)
Glimpses - 1907 - London gave up farming in Rongai to open a grocery shop on Hardinge Street in Nairobi.
Red Book 1912 - M.W. London - Naivasha
Gazette 23/3/1921 - Notice - Take notice that Morris William London of Nairobi has by deed poll dated 31/1/1921 appointed Frederick Herbert Kelly of Nairobi (with Digby Green of Nairobi as the said Frederick Herbert Kelly's substitute if necessary) to be his Attorney to deal with his affairs in the Colony of Kenya.