The Morley Families of Berrien County, Michigan

WILLIAM S. MORLEY. Only four residents of Berrien county have longer resided within its borders than William S. Morley and no history of this part of the state would be complete without the record of this worthy and honored pioneer settler, who has now passed the eighty-fourth milestone on life's journey. He was born in the township of Burns in Allegany county, New York, August 19, 1822. His father, William Morley, was born in Pennsylvania near Harrisburg in 1796 and when a young man went to New York, being married in Allegany county, that state. He was an Episcopalian minister and also followed the occupation of farming. His mother lived to the very advanced age of one hundred and five years, while his sister Betsy reached the age of one hundred and two years. His last days were spent in New Troy, Berrien county, where he departed this life at the age of seventy-six years. In early manhood he had wedded Miss Jane Carroll, who was born in New York and died in Berrien county at the age of seventy-eight years. In their family were five sons: John, who died in 1871; Thomas O., who enlisted in the Union army in 1862 and died while in the United States service; William S., of this review; Ambrose, who died at the age of seventy-five years; and Louis W., a practicing physician of Nebraska.

William S. Morley spent the first eight years of his life in the state of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Marion county, Indiana, where they remained for two years. In 1832 the family settled on Portage Prairie in Bertrand township, this county, at which time there were more Indians that white settlers. The family home was established in the woods on the Carey Mission reserve almost immediately after the government had completed its survey. The trip was made from New York down the Allegany river to Maysville, Kentucky, and thence by steamboat to Madison, Indiana, which at that time was the capital of the state. From that city they proceeded to a point twelve miles north of Indianapolis, journeying by wagon and after two years passed in Marion county they continued on their way to the territory of Michigan. On reaching a beautiful country there they decided to locate and the father gave one hundred dollars for a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Bertrand township which had been entered by Eli Grice. Upon this farm William S. Morley remained until twenty-two years of age.

Starting out in life on his own account, he had as his capital good health, an axe and fifty dollars in money after he had paid the minister's fee, for he won a companion and helpmate for life's journey by his marriage on the 1 2th of May, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth Loan, who was born in Licking county, Ohio, November 5, 1827, and came to Berrien county with her parents in 1835. She was a daughter of William and Mary (Bashford) Loan, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Ohio.

The young couple began their domestic life upon a farm and Mr. Morley operated a breaking team through the summer of 1844. In that way he made enough money to pay for the team, after which he purchased forty acres of land in Lake township and took up his above thereon. He assisting in organizing the township in 1846. Two years were devoted to farm labor, after which he was engaged on the construction work of the Michigan Central Railroad until 1848 and assisted in running the first construction train through. After a time he sold his property in Lake township and in 1849 went to Wisconsin, where he purchased a land warrant for one hundred and sixty acres of land. He lived there for nearly two years and prospered in his business there, returning with one thousand dollars in money. This he invested in Michigan property, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land one mile north of New Troy.- Here he lived for two years or until 1854, when he sold out and removed to Iowa, where he purchased about a section of land. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits for ten years and on the expiration of that period he disposed of his property west of the Mississippi and in 1865 returned to Michigan, purchasing a farm in Wesaw township, upon which he has resided continuously since. Lie has ninety acres of land here in the home place, wliich is operated by his son, who has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the same township, eighty acres being on section twenty and eighty acres on section twenty-eight. Mr. Morley has bought and sold many farms and his business deals have usually proved profitable, bringing to him a comfortable income. In all of his business transactions he has been thoroughly reliable and he bears an honorable name in business circles.

In 1902 Mr. Morley was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away on the 3rd of October of that year. Eight children have been born of their marriage: Ambrose, who is living in Buchanan; Mary Jane, the wafe of C. O. Rose, of North Dakota; Alzina L., the wife of William Coleman, of Bertrand township; Cordelia Ellen, the wife of James O. Cromwell, of Oklahoma; James B., who is living upon the home farm with his father; Hannah Elizabeth, the widow of William Metcalf, of Vancouver, British Columbia; Harriet E., the wife of John Kelly, of Dumont, Iowa; and William LL, who operates the home farm and also a good farm of his own, giving his attention to the supervision of two hundred and fifty acres of land altogether. He has taken swamp land and converted it into a fine farm and is one of the active, enterprising and prosperous agriculturists of the community. Mr. Morley also has thirty-two grandchildren and thirty-six great-

424 grandchildren and the Morleys hold annual reunions here, which are delightful occasions and keep up the family spirit.

In his political views William S. Morley has been a life-long Democrat, casting his first presidential ballot for James K. Polk. He served as justice of the peace in Wesaw township for six years and was also justice of the peace in Iowa for ten years. He has likewise acted in other official positions and has held some school offices. Long a devoted and faithful member of the Methodist Protestant church, he has been active in its work for thirty-five years and has been ordained one of its elders. He has also been a stalwart champion of the temperance cause and he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Only four people in all Berrien county have longer resided within its borders. When he arrived here in 1832 there were only three buildings in South Bend, Indiana, and the village of Buchanan and the city of Benton Harbor had not been founded. He did considerable hunting in his younger days arid has killed all kinds of wild animals that haunted the forest here save panthers, which he frequently saw. Many days he hunted with the Indians and he went through all of the hardships, trials and experiences of pioneer life. He retains very vivid recollections of the early days and relates many interesting incidents of pioneer times when the work of civilization had scarcely been begun here. At long distances were seen log cabins and little clearings, but the greater part of the county was still covered with the native forest growth and gave little promise of future development.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRANGIS HENRY MORLEY, who for the past twenty-five years has been engaged in the operation of a flouring mill at New Troy, is a well known representative of the industrial life of this community and has made a creditable business record. He was born in New Troy, Wesaw township, June 28, 1853, a son of Ambrose A. Morley, whose birth occurred in New York, November 7, 1825. He was a son of William Morley, also a native of New York, who came to Michigan as a pioneer resident and died in Berrien county at an advanced age. In his family were four sons: John C, deceased; William S., of Wesaw township; Ambrose A.; and Dr. Lewis W. Morley, who is located in Iowa.

Coming here with his parents, Ambrose A. Morley located on the prairie near Buchanan, and about 1852 or 1853 located at New Troy, where he established the milling business wliich is still carried on under the family name. He built the mill now owned and operated by his son, Francis H., to whom he sold the property about thirty years ago. He previously went to the west, where he remained for three years, after which he returned and retired from active business life, spending his remaining days in the enjoyment of a well-earned rest. He was closely associated with the lumber interests of the state for many years and won success in that undertaking, having extensive interests along that line. He was also connected with agricultural pursuits in the county, and through his well-directed efforts accumulated a competence that enabled him in his later years to rest from further toil. In politics he was a stanch Democrat but he never sought nor cared for office. He passed away in 1900, having spent the last years of his life in the home of his son. In early manhood Ambrose A. Morley was married to Miss Cordelia Carroll, who was born in New York, near Nunda, and died in this county in 1875, at the age of thirty-nine years. There were five children of that marriage, namely: Francis H., of this review; Thomas, who is living in Wesaw township; Aliston A., of Oregon; Frank D., living in Galien township; and Lodell Jane Dunham, deceased.

Francis Henry Morley was reared under the parental roof and has always resided in

New Troy. Throughout his entire life he has been connected with milling interests in the operation of a saw and flouring mill. He has been identified with the manufacture of flour for the past quarter of a century and the mill has a daily capacity of fifty barrels. The plant is equipped with good machinery and the product is of excellent quality, so that the output finds a ready sale on the market. Mr. Morley's broad experience in the business and his thorough understanding of the trade well qualify him to carry on a profitable enterprise and he is accounted one of the foremost business men of New Troy.

In 1876 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Morley and Miss Emily Smith, who was born in Indiana in 1854, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Smith. Her father, Peter Smith, was born in Salem county, New Jersey, June 9, 1830, a son of Samuel and Sarah (Smith) Smith, who were also natives of New Jersey. The latter died when her son was only about three years old, while Samuel Smith died in 1869 the advanced age of seventy-three years. In 1 85 1 Peter Smith wedded Elizabeth Ann Huffer, who was born in Fountain county, Indiana, December 14, 1834, a daughter of John and Katharine (Shafer) Huffer, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Smith was only four years of age at the time of her father's death, and was left an orphan at the age of sixteen.

When only five years of age Peter Smith accompanied his parents on their removal from New Jersey to Warren county, Ohio, where they lived for twelve years, when the family went to Fountain county, Indiana, and there he was married. Tie came to Berrien county on the 23d of January, 1865, and locating in Wesaw township has resided continuously upon his farm here with the exception of a period of sixteen months. He has one hundred and sixty acres of land on sections 2 and 11. When he came there were about fifteen acres cleared on section 2 and eighty acres of the home farm on section II. Now the entire place is under cultivation except about ten acres and he has added good buildings and developed a well improved property. His life has been one of hard work and the success he has achieved is due entirely to his own efforts. In politics he has always been a Democrat, and for two terms served as supervisor of his township and was treasurer for two years. Unto him and his wife have been born six children: Sarah, the wife of John Hatfield, of Three Oaks township; Emily, the wife of F. H. Morley, of New Troy; Tamsen, the wife of Horace Morley, of Wiesaw township; Laura,the wife of F. O. Hall, of Muskegon; Clayton, of Wesaw township; and Charles, who is engaged in merchandising in Glendora. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Morley has been blessed with four children: Linwood, Floyd H., Hazel D. and Dean.

In his political views Mr. Morley is a stalwart Democrat, which party he has supported throughout his entire life. Fie is at present township clerk and has filled the office at intervals for twenty-five years. He has also been a member of the school board for a quarter of a century and the cause of education has found in him a warm and stalwart friend. There is a fine school in Troy, and Mr. Morley does everything in his power to advance its interests. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to the lodge at Three Oaks, and he also affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Glendora. His entire life has been passed in this locality and his friends are almost as numerous as his acquaintances, showing that he has so lived as to merit the esteem and good will of all with whom he has come in contact.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

EBENEZER P. MORLEY. The name Morley has been a prominent one in Berrien county for more than sixty years, and it is as a pioneer record that the biography of the above named is preserved in this work by Mrs. Maria A. Jones, of Galien, a daughter of Mr. Morley and herself one of the esteemed residents of that part of the county.

Ebenezer P. Morley was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, in 18 14, and was reared and gained his schooling in Onondaga county, New York, where he met and married Alzina Lansing. She was born in Onondaga county July 24, 1822, and their marriage was celebrated August 8, 1840. They lived for a time in Susquehanna county and again in Onondaga county, and in 1845 joined the great movement of settlers to the lands of southern Michigan. Crossing Lake Erie by sail boat and completing the journey along one of the great highways by wagon, they located in Lake township, Berrien county, and there entered eighty acres of land in section thirty-five. The first tree filled on that land was cut by Mr. Morley. Here he lived a number of years, until his first wife died in 1862, and in 1864 he married Mrs. Isabel Russell, of Burlington, Iowa, and in 1866 moved to New Troy, in Wesaw township, where he lived until his death October 2y 1882. He was a farmer and surveyor, and in the latter capacity did much work in Berrien county. He served as supervisor from Lake and Wesaw townships, being in that office altogether for twelve years, and was a justice of the peace many years. He was a stanch Democrat and in religion a Spiritualist.

By his first marriage Mr. Morley was the father of ten children, of whom Mrs. Maria A. Jones was the first. The others were: Harriet A. Wilhams, of Ohio; and Helen N. Adams, of Wesaw township, being twins and natives of Onondaga county, New York; Charles E., of Wesaw township; Alvin, of WiCsaw; Henrietta Spaulding, of Kansas; Horace L., of Wesaw; Mary Henderson and Adelaide A., deceased; and Stephen Douglas, of Ohio. The two children of Mr. Morley's second marriage were Eliza J. Kelly, of Wesaw township, and Edgar Poe, of Nebraska.

Maria A. Morley was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, March 26, 1843, spent a short part of her childhood in New York, and in 1845 came to Berrien county, which has been her home for sixty years. By her first marriage on November 6, 1864, she became the wife of Gottlieb Hagley, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, December 1, 1839, and came to Michigan with his parents when twelve years old. He died February 11, 1889, the father of six children, namely: Alice L., wife of John F. Painter, of Wesaw township; Nellie M. wife of Stephen A. Norris, of Michigan City, Indiana; Alma B., wife of Edwin A. Brodbeck, of Wesaw township; Warren A., on the Hagley farm in Wesaw township; Elda E., wife of Clarence Reubarger, of Niles; and Festus G., who died at the age of nine months.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ALVIN MORLEY, living on section 2, Wesaw township, was born in Lake township, this county, on the 22d of March, 1850. His parents were Ebenezer P. and Alzina (Lansing) Morley, both of whom were natives of New York and in 1847 they became residents of Lake township, Berrien county, casting in their lot wath the early settlers who aided in reclaiming this region for the purposes of civilization. In the family were ten children, of whom the subject of this review was the fifth in order of birth.

Alvin Morley resided upon the old homestead farm of his father in Lake township until 1866, when the parents removed to New Troy. He completed his education in the high school of New Troy and in a select school at New Carlisle, Indiana, where he remained as a student for two years. He then began teaching in the winter seasons and worked on the farm in the summer months and thus he made his start in the business world. In 1877 he went to the Black Hills and the Big Horn country of the northwest, spending three years in that section of the country engaged in prospecting most of the time. He then returned to Michigan and purchased the old homestead in Lake township, since which time he has owned and operated this farm. It comprises one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 35 and he resided there for ten years, when in 1889 he purchased his present home place. Here he has seventy-three acres of land which is just across the road from his other tract, on section 2, Wesaw township. It is called the Fairview Farm and is well named. Stock raising is the principal feature of the farm work and the place is well improved, having many fine buildings upon it together with the latest improved machinery and other evidences of the progressive and enterprising spirit of the owner. Mr. Morley devotes his entire time and attention to the further cultivation and improvement of these two farms and is justly accounted one of the leading agriculturists of his part of the county.

Mr. Morley has been married twice. In 1882 he wedded Miss Emma J. Harper, a native of Crown Point, Indiana, and a daughter of B. D. Harper, a printer and newspaper man, now deceased. There were three children by the first marriage: Etha O., now the wife of Henry Wolkins, of Wesaw township; Winifred C, a stenographer of Elkhart, Indiana; and Bernice L, who resides at home and attends school. In 1892 Mr. Morley was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Ella M. Phillips Riley, a native of New York, by whom he had one son. Homer P. Mr. Morley lost his second wife on the 4th of October, 1905, as the result of burns which she sustained on the 4th of July previous.

In his religious faith Mr. Morley is a Spiritualist. Politically he is a Democrat and was elected the first superintendent of schools of Wesaw township when the law was changed and the township system inaugurated. He has held various official positions in connection with the schools and has done much to advance the cause of education. He collected the interest on the first railroad bond of Lake township and has al- ' ways taken an active part in furthering the work of public progress and improvement. He has been a devoted member of the Odd Fellows society since 1873, belonging to the lodge at Glendora, and he also belongs to Wesaw lodge, K. O. T. M. He was master and secretary of the Grange for a number of years and his interest covers many public works and plans that are of direct benefit to the entire community. He and the other members of the Morley family are successful agriculturists and have thoroughly modern farms equipped with all of the improvements known to the twentieth century.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.