MA SUNSHINE – DAVIESS COUNTY’S CELEBRITY POET

Jennie June Elmore was born June 26, 1875 in Morgan County, Indiana, the daughter of James R. Elmore (1844-1936) and Sarah Ann (Comp) Elmore (1837-1921). She married William H. “Will” Morris of Daviess County in 1894. They lived on a farm near Elnora and had three children: Consuelo Venus “Connie” (Morris) Greene (1895-1950), Joseph Elmore Morris (1897-1974) and Mabel Harriet (Morris) Pershing (1901-1984).

In 1907 Jennie’s husband was diagnosed with active tuberculous, a bacterial lung infection that in those days was almost always fatal. Will, Jennie and their children moved to the dry climate of Colorado hoping to extend Will’s life, but he died within a few months on January 19, 1908.

Jennie June Morris and her three children: Joseph, Connie and Mabel (ca. 1908)

Jennie married Harry Goss in 1916. She discovered that Mr. Goss was already married and had to have their marriage annulled. In 1918 she married John Lively from Cincinnati, Ohio, but their union was stormy with frequent separations. They did not have any children and divorced in 1930.

Jennie returned to Daviess County in 1920 and worked for a time making shirts at the Reliance factory in Washington. She lived in a small, wooden trailer on 707 N.W. 2nd Street in Washington that her son built for her. Jennie did not own an automobile and peddled around Washington on a large tricycle.

In 1929 she embarked on a literary career that made her, for a time, a local celebrity. Using the pen name “Ma Sunshine,” Jennie wrote narrative poems—intended to be read by mothers to their young children—that were printed in The Washington Democrat newspaper from 1929 to 1931. She created stories about flying about Daviess County in a make-believe airplane and visiting children in the area. Using only a child’s first name, she would write about children she knew and transform their routine, every-day lives into charming, literary adventures. Her poems were always upbeat, positive and often humorous.

The first Ma Sunshine poem published January 25, 1929

The Ma Sunshine poems became a popular feature with a loyal following of parents and children. Ma Sunshine invited her younger readers to write to her at The Washington Democrat and “stacks of letters” from children poured into the newspaper’s office.

For over a year, the identity of Ma Sunshine was not revealed. With the success of the Ma Sunshine poems, The Washington Democrat publishers, Henry Backes and Matilda Boyd, organized a “Ma Sunshine Party” for children at the Eastside Park in Washington held June 1930. A $3 cash prize was awarded to the child who suggested the name selected by Ma Sunshine for her mythical airplane. Another $2 cash prize was given to the youngster that brought the largest number of Ma Sunshine clippings to the event. The highlight of the gathering was the announcement that Jennie June Lively was Ma Sunshine.

Article announcing the June 1930 Ma Sunshine children’s party

Ma Sunshine poem published May 21, 1930

Ma Sunshine poem printed after Jennie Lively’s identity was revealed

Jennie and her tricycle with her trailer in the background (ca. 1960)

The last Ma Sunshine poem was printed March 3, 1931 and Jennie’s celebrity status faded into a distant memory. She lived the rest her life quietly in her small trailer in Washington. She continued to use her tricycle to get about town until shortly before she passed away January 16, 1969. Jennie June (Elmore) Morris Lively is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Washington.

This article was prepared by Bruce Smith and Jeannie Eaton. The information about the Morris family came from Mabel Harriet Morris Pershing and Her Family (2023) by Jeanie Unversaw Wiesler that can be viewed at the Daviess County Museum’s online site at daviesscounty.pastperfectonline.com (2025.0023).