My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE MORLEY, a prominent citizen of Berrien County and a successful fruit-grower of Lincoln Township, residing on section 16, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on the 14th of March, 1847. His father, William Morley, was a native of England, and there engaged in business as a machinist; he also gave considerable attention to the knitting business. After his marriage to Miss Susan Timpson, he emigrated to America, and for a time sojourned in Massachusetts. Later he removed to Philadelphia, where he followed the machine and knitting business for a number of years. Some time since he retired from active business and now, at the advanced age of seventy-six years, is living in Philadelphia, Pa. His good wife is now (1893) seventy-two. The aged couple are hale and vigorous, notwithstanding their years.

The family of which our subject is a member consisted of eleven children, of whom nine survived to mature years, and eight are now living. They were all reared in the faith of the Episcopal Church, of which their mother is a member. The father, while not identified with any denomination, has always contributed with liberality to church work. He is a Democrat in his political opinions, and has for many years been an earnest advocate of free trade. In the city of his birth the subject of this sketch was reared to manhood. In youth he learned the trade of a machinist and was employed in a knitting factory. As a child, he studied in the common schools of Philadelphia, but his schooling was discontinued at the age of thirteen, when he commenced to learn his trade.

When a youth of nineteen Mr. Morley assumed the management of the Hall & Vezin Knitting Works, of Philadelphia, and remained in that position until 1880. At that time the firm of Cooper, Wells & Co., of St. Joseph, Mich., brought him to this city as Superintendent of their knitting works, and after working for eight years in that capacity he purchased the place where he has since made his home. Here he has thirty-five acres, of which about one-half has been set out in fruit trees, including the best varieties of apples, pears and peaches. He also raises berries, grapes, etc. The trees have been set out quite recently, and will soon be in fine bearing condition.

July 1, 1866, Mr. Morley was united in marriage with Miss Mary Grindrod, who was one of sixteen children born to the union of James and Elizabeth (Smith) Grindrod. At the present time (1893) seven of the number are living. Her father was born in England September 4, 1811, and on the 30th of March, 1834, married Miss Elizabeth Smith. In 1857 he emigrated to the United States and located in Philadelphia, where he followed the trade of a dyer. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Morley was a Mason and mysteriously disappeared in England. Her maternal great-grandmother attained to the great old age of one hundred and four years. In childhood our subject and Mary Grindrod lived in the same city, and when only eleven years old they worked together in a factory, where they continued to be employed until their marriage. They are highly regarded throughout the community, and are prominent members of the Episcopal Church.

In regard to social connections, Mr. Morley is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the encampment, and is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, the American Mechanics Society and various temperance organizations. Politically, he has always cast his ballot for the candidates and platform of the Republican party. He has attained prominence and success as the result of patient perseverance and energetic effort. His first experience of business was in youth, when he loaned some money to a building and loan association, and the result was so satisfactory that he has always spoken very highly of these societies since that time. While residing in German town, Pa., he became the possessor of two cannon balls used in the battle of Germantown, and years afterward taken from the walls of an old house in the village. These balls are made out of stone. At the battle of Germantown they ran out of ammunition and made use of stone for cannon balls.