William Clemeth Morey

William Clemeth MOREY - b. Jan. 12, 1840, Elton, Cattaraugus Co., NY; d. Dec. 2, 1912, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., TX; bur. Oakwood Cemetery [photo], Tarrant Co., TX (block 100 lot 26 space 1, with monument marker). Son of Elijah Mason MOREY and Elizabeth MERRILL. Some family sources and census records indicate William was born in MI (Calhoun Co.), but a signed, witnessed and notarized statement in his Civil War pension file indicates he was born at Elton, NY. Served in the Civil War as a private in Company F, 5th New York Cavalry, Union Army. The National Archives has both a pension file (WC 760-022) and Civil War service file for Pvt. Morey, who is described as 5' 10" in height, with light complexion, light hair, and blue eyes. William is found in the 1855 census of Freedom, Cattaraugus Co., NY, and and the 1860 census of Freedom, Cattaraugus Co., NY. He entered the service on Sep. 17, 1861, a non-resident of the Town of Freedom, NY, as a paid replacement for another, and was discharged at New York City on Oct. 17, 1864. William's first cousin, Emmett MERRILL, wrote on Apr. 24, 1864 from Brandy Station that he "went over to the 5th Cav. to day... I see Wm Morey he is O.K. Homer was out on Picket So I did not see him... Wm says he thinks that Homer will get detailed to drive ambulance with him." William's basis for a pension, dated Jun. 6, 1889, at Wichita, KS, was that in "Dec. 1861, he contracted a severe cold on march from Baltimore, Maryland to Annapolis, Maryland, and said cold resulted in pleursy and heart trouble." One document gives his residences after the war as Freedom, NY 1864; Johnsonburg, NY to 1866; Alpine, MI to 1872; Big Rapids, MI to 1882; Kiowa, KS in 1883; Wichita, KS to 1891; Fort Worth, TX to 1909; and San Antonio, TX beginning Jun. 1909. He returned to Fort Worth about 1911. The family is found in the 1870 census of Alpine, Kent Co., MI and the 1880 census of Big Rapids, Mecosta Co., MI. William C. is found in the Wichita City Directory for 1888 as a farmer, and in 1889 as a hardware dealer, his address both years being 1903 So. Mosley. Also living at the same address in 1888 were his children Willie A., Rose B., Jennie, and Charley. A diary entry dated Aug. 2, 1891, made by Melinda (HOWE) MERRILL at Elton, NY, reads, "Who should come, but Wm. Morey, Wife & daughter - staid til next night. Went to J. B. JONES - staid all night. Went to Perry's next morn - staid there til the next day AM. Then went to Franklinville - staid til Monday night. Left on train for Johnsonburg." In the 1900 census of Glenwood, Tarrant Co., TX, the William C. MOREY family is found residing at 108 Cromwell, with children William A., Minnie E. and Kittie in the household. The occupation of William C. MOREY is given as peddler, and that of William A. as day laborer. William and Melvina are found in the 1910 census of Bexar Co., TX and Melvina, as widow, appears in the 1920 census of Tarrant Co., TX. William C. MOREY's daughter Minnie related that her father was an itinerant Methodist minister. Married Mar. 12, 1865, at Johnsonburg, Wyoming Co., NY, with George W. and Maria T. (MOREY) GOULD as witnesses.