In Remembrance: Royal Johnson Morse (1808-1901)

In Remembrance: Royal Johnson Morse (1808-1901)

In these times of bitterly cold weather and snow everywhere we will often wonder what was wrong with our ancestors picking such a wintry area to settle, which ultimately lead to us living through all this. Today’s In Remembrance is one of the men who directly lead to us living where we do, Royal Johnson Morse.

Royal was born in Worthington, Massachusetts on this day in 1804 (February 2nd) to Major Samuel Morse (1782-1867) and Charlotte (Leffingwell) Morse, and was their 3rd son. Samuel and Charlotte had 9 children total, all in Worthington, but around 1820 they migrated to the “Western Reserve” area of Ohio in Williamsfield, about 30 min SE of Ashtabula.

On 17 Nov 1831 Royal married Eliza Jones (1809-1898) in Ashtabula County, Ohio. Eliza was from one of the earliest American families to settle the Western Reserve, arriving from Connecticut around 1807. The early Connecticut families in this area were well known to be very committed abolitionists, and it’s likely Eliza fit this mold as Royal was stridently against slavery. This caused friction with his father who was a committed believer in the practice. In 1830’s and 1840’s the former enslaver and farmer from Kentucky James Gillespie Birney had freed his slaves and became a nationally known abolitionist publisher and politician in Cincinnati, Ohio. Royal chose to name his first son James Gillespie Birney Morse (1840-1930) specifically as a “joke” on his father!

Royal and Eliza’s 6th child (and our 4th Great Grandfather) Addison Joseph Morse (1846-1925) was the last of 9 children of Royal and Eliza to be born in Ohio. Royal packed his family into a covered wagon in 1847 intending to take the land route to Racine, Wisconsin but made it a far as Cleveland before deciding to load the wagon on a boat and take the lake route. When the arrived in Wisconsin they settled at Mygatt’s Corner (currently the corner of Hwy 20 and Hwy 31) in Mount Pleasant, with Eliza’s parents. (Note: James Bennet Tradewell also lived at Mygatt’s Corner at this time, so they families likely knew each other and James Billespie Birney Morse (known as “Birney”) attended the Mygatt’s school built on land sold by Tradewell, but there’s no sign they knew their grandchildren would eventually marry!)

Within a couple of years Royal and Eliza purchased their own 120 acre farm in Caledonia, where today’s Highway K meets Emmertsen Road (by the entrance of Johnson’s Park, which was formed by the purchase of Royal’s farm after his death by the City of Racine). Birney enlisted in the legendary Wisconsin 22nd Regiment (known, somewhat derisively, as the “Abolitionist Regiment” due to their strict anti-slavery attitudes) the day the unit was organized, and would later stand guard over Lincoln’s body in Chicago. Royal would actively farm his land for nearly 50 years, although he sold plots so a son-in-law, and a piece for one of the first public schools, and was renting his land when he died 13 Jul 1901.

Google Map of Royal Morse’s farm, with a plat book from 1875 overlayed.

In remembrance: William “Will” Thornton (1866-1940)

In remembrance: William “Will” Thornton (1866-1940)

Today is the anniversary of the passing of Michael’s 3x Great Grandfather, William “Will” Thornton. Will was born around 1866 in Ashley County, Arkansas, just a couple years after the end of the Civil War. He died of pneumonia on 13 Jan 1940 in Parkdale, Arkansas at the age of 71, having lived his whole life in Ashley County.

Will was the 6th of 16 children born to Hardy and Victoria (Kazre) Thornton. Hardy and Victoria were likely enslaved by James and Hannah (Homes) Hadley and they all are listed as being born in North Carolina. The Hadley’s left North Carolina in the mid-1850’s and settled in the newly available Arkansas Territory. Will was born on the Hadley farm just west of Parkdale, however by 1875 Hardy owned 40 acres of that land and was a farmer on his own farm. Will worked that land throughout his childhood, and there is no record he attended school. He is listed as being unable to read or write as a teen, but later in life he had learned how to do both.

Will was married to Laura Elizabeth Johnson on 12 Jan 1897 in Ashley, Arkansas and they would remain married until his death. By 1910 Will owned the 40 acres outright, and he and Laura were on their way to raising 9 children: Walter, Mark, Brutus, Hardy Jr, Anderson and Andrew (twins), Francis, Beatris, and Percy.

That land was a key factor in their quality of life. It was passed eventually to Will’s son Andrew Thornton, and his daughter Cassie Lee (Thornton) Crayton would talk about how owning their own land at the height of Jim Crow America afforded the Thornton’s a bit of stability, respect, and freedom. She would say that they thought they were rich compared to their neighbors because they always had what they needed, even though looking back on it everyone was poor. They could plant whatever they wanted, whatever made most sense to them, and they reaped the rewards of a better crop. If the white farmers in the area needed help at harvest, their neighbors were forced to work for him and/or work longer hours than normal, but that farmer would come to ask if the Thornton’s would help and offer a fair wage for the efforts. They could turn that work down if they chose to, but in at least some years we see that Will earned as much as $400, so he likely was doing extra work on top of working his own farm.

Many of the Thornton’s would move to Milwaukee as a part of the Great Northern Migration in the 1940’s and 1950’s, including Laura who passed in Wauwatosa in 1962, however the land is still in family hands. It’s now at the edge of the Overflow National Wildlife Refuge, which plays a key role in protecting waterfowl and songbirds in Arkansas.

Map showing the Thornton Farm in relation to the town of Parkdale, Arkansas
Thornton Farm in relation to Parkdale, AR
Map of the Overflow National Wildlife Refuge with a spot marked as Thornton Farm to show the property
Location of the Thornton Farm in relation to today’s Overflow National Wildlife Refuge, just West of Parkdale, AR

In remembrance: James Bennet Tradewell (1797-1885)

In remembrance: James Bennet Tradewell (1797-1885)

On this day in 1885 James Bennet Tradewell at his home in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin at the age of either 88 or 93. He was Michael’s 4th Great Grandfather, and was the first of the Tradewell line to move to Wisconsin, arriving in 1844. He was born in Greene County, New York most probably in 1797, however his obituary claims it was about 5 years earlier.

There are no records of James’ early life, and one of our biggest genealogical brick walls is trying to identify his parents and siblings.

James served in the New York State National Guard, and we have records from 1819-1821 that show he was the equivalent of a modern 1st Lieutenant, although his obituary refers to him as a Captain so it’s likely he continued on and was promoted further. There’s also some unconfirmed indications he may have served in the War of 1812, but we haven’t been able to validate that yet.

He married Catherine (Edwards) Ellarson 3 Jan 1820 in Gilboa, New York and it appears they lived in/near this village until they moved to Wisconsin Territory. Catherine was born in 1793, and had been married for 12 years to William Ellarson before he passed in 1818. Mr. Ellarson had significant land holdings in and around Gilboa, which were inherited by Catherine upon his death. One of the parcels was sold to James’ brother Ephriam which became known as “Treadwell’s Taven Stand” in Gilboa, which was located on the plank toll road that ran through the town. Land records show that James and Ephraim and their families lived across Schoharie Creek from each other.

James and Ephraim migrated to Wisconsin in the summer of 1844, with them both settling in Kenosha before James quickly moved to Racine. In Racine James and Caty first settled at Mygatt’s Corner (currently the corner of Hwy 20 and Hwy 31) and in 1852 he sold a 1/4 acre of land the first School District in Mount Pleasant which erected the Mygatts School. James eventually settled near what was then know as “Western Union Junction” (now Sturtevant).

James and Caty (as she was known) had 5 children together: Margaret Mariah, Mary Ann, Aurelia Louisa, Harriet Augusta, and William Ephriam Wesley. Margaret (10) and Aurelia (1) both died young. Mary Ann married James Bogardus in 1844 (Sullivan County, New York) just as her parents were to set out of Wisconsin, so only Harriet and Wesley (as he was known) made the trip. Harriet married twice and ended up in Black River Falls until she passed in 1872. Wesley married Jane Place and eventually inherited Jane’s family farm that would be known to us as the Tradewell farm, about 240 acres near Spring Street and Highway H in Mount Pleasant.

In remembrance – Peter Charles Leonard (1944-1976)

In remembrance – Peter Charles Leonard (1944-1976)

In our renewed effort to document, discover, and share this special family tree we’re celebrating the birth anniversary of Michael’s paternal Grandfather Peter Charles Leonard (1944-1976). Pete was born January 1, 1944 and was the first baby born in Antigo, Wisconsin that year…lamentably the year before prizes were awarded. He was the middle of 5 boys born to Gerald and Catherine (Morse) Leonard and was a kind, mischievous, happy child who loved the outdoors. He was not a particularly good student, and his mother was shocked when he announced he wanted to go to college then relieved when he was admitted to the University of Wisconsin – Superior. He pledged TKE at UWS, and during his time there he met JoAnn Jewell. He graduated with his Bachelors in Education from UWS, and moved to Racine, Wisconsin (living at first with his brother Jerry) and accepted his first teaching position. He soon after married JoAnn, and they had two boys Richard and Michael. Pete continued his education at UW-Whitewater and Madison, earning his Masters degree and shifting his career to School Administration. He had a love of racing (both motorcycles and snowmobiles) and the tinkering with engines that goes with it, as well as family road trips. Pete had risen to be the Director of Elementary Education for the Howard-Suamico School District (just outside Green Bay) when he was diagnosed with the cancer that would take his life too young. Pete died at home in Green Bay, surrounded by his family, on 28 Sep 1976 at the age of 32.

100 Days Men: A memorial of Eugene Place

100 Days Men: A memorial of Eugene Place

The Leonard line, as it runs through Michael, has ancestors who fought in every conflict since Europeans arrived on this continent. From King Philip’s war through World War 2, his ancestors have served, but thankfully none in his direct line have lost their lives in combat. Today, for Memorial Day, we remember one of his extended family members who gave the ultimate sacrifice: Eugene H Place.

Eugene was Michael’s 4x Great Uncle and he lost his life in the Civil War. He was the grandson of one of the first Americans to settle in the Wisconsin territory, and coming from a family that was staunchly committed to Abolition. In-fact, the farmers of Eastern Racine County were notoriously anti-slavery. Eugene’s parents, Thomas and Susan Place, owned a large farm in Mount Pleasant, WI in the neighborhood of the unknown safe house that Joshua Glover was smuggled to after he was freed from the Milwaukee jail. His older brother Luther enlisted as a regular in the Union army when he was 19 years old. Eugene, at 16, was the oldest son left to help on the farm. Many of the boys Luther’s age enlisted the day the war broke out, and Eugene’s younger sister would marry one of those men when he returned from service.

“100 Days Men”

Thomas and Susan had 4 sons. Luther was born in 1844, Eugene in 1846, Thomas Jr. in 1847, and Theron in 1853. Thomas was lost as an infant. By the Spring of 1864, when Eugene turned 18 years old, the Union campaign in Georgia was gaining momentum. The Governor of Ohio proposed a surge of lightly trained soldiers to replace seasoned troops who were doing rear-guard duty. The concept of a short-term enlistment for these rear guard troops was immediately adopted by President Lincoln. The 80,000 soldiers who joined were known as “100 Days Men” and Eugene enlisted 3 months after this 18th birthday (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundred_Days_Men). The Place family’s two oldest sons were now serving in the Union Army.

The Wisconsin 39th Regimen mustered into service on 3 Jul 1864, and he was assigned to Company D. The 3 Wisconsin 100 Days regimens were sent to Memphis after a week of training. They performed guard and picket duty while the veteran troops they replaced shifted to the battle for Atlanta.

On 21 Aug 1864 the Wisconsin 39th was the only of the 100 Days forces from Wisconsin to see combat. Confederate Calvary under Nathan Bedford Forrest attempted a raid in Memphis to capture Union commanders, but they were ultimately rebuffed. During the time of the raid, Eugene was likely already in hospital in Memphis suffering through his last days of the disease that would take his life. He died on 23 Aug 1864 at the age of 18. His body was returned to Racine where it was buried in a family plot in Mound Cemetery.

Mound Cemetery

Thomas Place arrived in Wisconsin Territory at age 16, before the Native Americans had been pushed off this land. The first winter Thomas worked for the French fur trader in the area. He became acquainted enough with the local Potowatomi band that he was invited in the winter of 1835 to a mound-building performed for the death of a tribal leader. Those ceremonies were held in an area of Racine that was dotted with burial mounds. Now almost 30 years later, that land had become the cemetery Thomas buried his middle son.

Photo of a granite headstone reading "Eugene H Place", Company D 39 Regimen, Wisconsin Volunteers. Feb 28, 1846, Aug 23, 1864. Son of Thomas and Susan Place.

The impact of the 100 Days Men like Eugene was just what the Union had hoped for. By the time they mustered out in September of 1864 Atlanta had fallen. Sherman was resting and preparing for his glorious March to the Sea while the regulars re-positioned to their original posts. 3 men of the 39th died in combat, while nearly 10 times that many would fall to disease. In November President Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address memorializing the men like Eugene who died for this country. By April 1865 the war ended.

Eternal Sacrifice, and Gratitude

Michael’s maternal line was just starting to taste their first freedom in this country. That was in no small part due to the sacrifices of men like Eugene H. Place. The Place family’s commitment to the ideals that people like Michael should be treated like human beings gave his later ancestors some of the rights the Place’s themselves held dear. The could now own property, vote, and to serve this country.

Without the sacrifices of men like Eugene, generations of people like Michael with African ancestry would likely still be enslaved in the brutal system the Southern States fought so traitorously to preserve. On this Memorial Day, it’s with profound thanks for the wonderful life we all enjoy today that we thank Private Place, and the countless others like him, for their service, their commitment, and their sacrifice.