Brothers, Michael Bartlett Morse & Ira Franklin Morse
A Photo can tell a thousand words, or more.
I located Michael B. Morss on the 1850 census of Chemung, NY. He was born in Vermont, was 34 years old and a farmer.
Listed with him was his wife, Tenall aged 34. And children: Reuben 16, Adaline 14, Lemuel 12, Bartlett 8, Alva 6, Benjamin 4, Alvira 3.
I believe they lived out Wynkoop Creek Rd near Hicks Cemetery, perhaps in North Chemung or up Putt Hill Rd.
I found the family in the 1840 census in New Milford, Susquehanna, PA. Only listing Michael B. Morse with a wife and 8 children.
This was a very familiar migration pattern for families, traveling the Susquehanna Valley and into Chemung where they could find work, primarily lumbering at that time.
In 1860 I found the family had made another hard move, another typical migration. You’ve heard the phrase, “go west young man”? As the states opened up in the west, off went the weary family looking for a home and money and food. It was a difficult life for sure. I found them in Amboy, County Lee, Illinois.
Listed was Michael B. Morse aged 52, Tenal 52, Emma 28, Bartlet 20, Alva 19, Benjamin 17, Viola 9 and a young lad, Clark Bosworth aged 8.
I located an 1880 Agricultural Census for Amboy, Illinois and the family was still there. A long search but they finally found their home. Still listed as a farmer but a list of family is not provided.
Sadly, before the family left Chemung, they buried 4 of their children.
David W. Morse, died Aug. 20, 1853, aged 21 years, 10 mo, 25 days.
Reuben H. Morse, died Nov. 10, 1854, aged 20 yrs. 17 days.
Lydia Adeline Morse, died Sept. 21, 1855, aged 20 yrs. 6 mo, 3 days.
Olive A. Morse, died, Jan. 21, 1856, aged 9 yrs. 5 mo.
The children are all buried at the Hick's Cemetery, Wynkoop Creek Rd, Town of Baldwin, Chemung Co. NY.
Tryael Hale Morse died in Lee Co. Illinois on June 3, 1860, aged 53 years. Find A Grave 107284791
Michael Bartlett Morse died in Amboy, Lee, Illinois on Dec. 10, 1893, aged 87 years. Find a Grave 107284687
They are buried together at the Prairie Repose Cemetery. May they rest in peace.
This is a snapshot into the life of a family in the mid 1800's.
I located Michael B. Morss on the 1850 census of Chemung, NY. He was born in Vermont, was 34 years old and a farmer.
Listed with him was his wife, Tenall aged 34. And children: Reuben 16, Adaline 14, Lemuel 12, Bartlett 8, Alva 6, Benjamin 4, Alvira 3.
I believe they lived out Wynkoop Creek Rd near Hicks Cemetery, perhaps in North Chemung or up Putt Hill Rd.
I found the family in the 1840 census in New Milford, Susquehanna, PA. Only listing Michael B. Morse with a wife and 8 children.
This was a very familiar migration pattern for families, traveling the Susquehanna Valley and into Chemung where they could find work, primarily lumbering at that time.
In 1860 I found the family had made another hard move, another typical migration. You’ve heard the phrase, “go west young man”? As the states opened up in the west, off went the weary family looking for a home and money and food. It was a difficult life for sure. I found them in Amboy, County Lee, Illinois.
Listed was Michael B. Morse aged 52, Tenal 52, Emma 28, Bartlet 20, Alva 19, Benjamin 17, Viola 9 and a young lad, Clark Bosworth aged 8.
I located an 1880 Agricultural Census for Amboy, Illinois and the family was still there. A long search but they finally found their home. Still listed as a farmer but a list of family is not provided.
Sadly, before the family left Chemung, they buried 4 of their children.
David W. Morse, died Aug. 20, 1853, aged 21 years, 10 mo, 25 days.
Reuben H. Morse, died Nov. 10, 1854, aged 20 yrs. 17 days.
Lydia Adeline Morse, died Sept. 21, 1855, aged 20 yrs. 6 mo, 3 days.
Olive A. Morse, died, Jan. 21, 1856, aged 9 yrs. 5 mo.
The children are all buried at the Hick's Cemetery, Wynkoop Creek Rd, Town of Baldwin, Chemung Co. NY.
Tryael Hale Morse died in Lee Co. Illinois on June 3, 1860, aged 53 years. Find A Grave 107284791
Michael Bartlett Morse died in Amboy, Lee, Illinois on Dec. 10, 1893, aged 87 years. Find a Grave 107284687
They are buried together at the Prairie Repose Cemetery. May they rest in peace.
This is a snapshot into the life of a family in the mid 1800's.
The story of the old photo continues,
The Photo is that of the Michael Bartlett Morse home in Chemung, 1850, which by the way I just happened to find on eBay.
I became good friends with a woman from Indiana several years back, who is a descendent of the Morse family. Her 3rd great grandfather was Ira Franklin Morse (1795-1850), a brother to Michael Bartlett Morse. Ira lived in Chemung near his brother and is buried in the Hicks Cemetery, however his marker has not been found. She filled me in on more information that I believe you will find fascinating.
I took a snapshot of the 1853 map and you can see from this, the Morse family lived all around the Hicks Family. This is the vicinity of the Hicks Cemetery and Church at what I call the Hicks intersection but interestingly enough it was also called, the Van Etten Junction, because this is where Wynkoop Creek Rd leaves Chemung and travels into Van Etten and close by is what we call North Chemung or today it is known as Baldwin. The borders all run in that area.
It is possible that Ira was here first and the reason for Michael and his family to move here. Ira and Michael's parents were Jonas and Lucy Bowman Morse, the boys were born in Cavendish, Windsor Co. Vermont. Ira married Rebecca Craigue who was related to President's John and John Quincy Adams. They moved to Chenango Co, NY near South Bainbridge (now Afton) in 1834. Ira bought land in Chemung in 1845.
Ira died on his farm of typhoid fever after a 10 day illness. His wife sold the property in Sept. 1856. It is believed Ira is buried near his four nephews and nieces at Hicks Cemetery.
The story doesn't end here. Do you remember when Michael and his family moved to Amboy, Illinois, where his wife Tryael Hale Morse passed not long after in 1860? Well here is the rest of the story.
Tryael (1806-1860) and daughter Emma Morse Bosworth (1831-1860) both passed in 1860. They died in the famous Camanche Tornado of 1860. https://iowawx.com/2009/06/04/camanche-tornado-of-1860
Such a sad story for this family, but we forget the privations of the day. Living in the wilderness with very little help except maybe for neighbors. Medical help was usually not available and herbal remedies were not as effective as the antibiotics of today. Transportation was slow and food supplies were not always available. These are the people who settled the land of this town and towns across this country.
The Photo is that of the Michael Bartlett Morse home in Chemung, 1850, which by the way I just happened to find on eBay.
I became good friends with a woman from Indiana several years back, who is a descendent of the Morse family. Her 3rd great grandfather was Ira Franklin Morse (1795-1850), a brother to Michael Bartlett Morse. Ira lived in Chemung near his brother and is buried in the Hicks Cemetery, however his marker has not been found. She filled me in on more information that I believe you will find fascinating.
I took a snapshot of the 1853 map and you can see from this, the Morse family lived all around the Hicks Family. This is the vicinity of the Hicks Cemetery and Church at what I call the Hicks intersection but interestingly enough it was also called, the Van Etten Junction, because this is where Wynkoop Creek Rd leaves Chemung and travels into Van Etten and close by is what we call North Chemung or today it is known as Baldwin. The borders all run in that area.
It is possible that Ira was here first and the reason for Michael and his family to move here. Ira and Michael's parents were Jonas and Lucy Bowman Morse, the boys were born in Cavendish, Windsor Co. Vermont. Ira married Rebecca Craigue who was related to President's John and John Quincy Adams. They moved to Chenango Co, NY near South Bainbridge (now Afton) in 1834. Ira bought land in Chemung in 1845.
Ira died on his farm of typhoid fever after a 10 day illness. His wife sold the property in Sept. 1856. It is believed Ira is buried near his four nephews and nieces at Hicks Cemetery.
The story doesn't end here. Do you remember when Michael and his family moved to Amboy, Illinois, where his wife Tryael Hale Morse passed not long after in 1860? Well here is the rest of the story.
Tryael (1806-1860) and daughter Emma Morse Bosworth (1831-1860) both passed in 1860. They died in the famous Camanche Tornado of 1860. https://iowawx.com/2009/06/04/camanche-tornado-of-1860
Such a sad story for this family, but we forget the privations of the day. Living in the wilderness with very little help except maybe for neighbors. Medical help was usually not available and herbal remedies were not as effective as the antibiotics of today. Transportation was slow and food supplies were not always available. These are the people who settled the land of this town and towns across this country.