MORLEY, Isaac Warren
Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, 
WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 681-682

Isaac Warren MORLEY, a representative and prominent citizen of Excelsior 
Township [Sauk County, WI], residing on section 29, is one of the pioneers of 
Sauk County, and his name is inseparably connected with its agriculture and 
educational interests. He was born in Mentor, Lake County, OH, 02 Sep 1820, 
a son of Thomas and Lillis (RUSSELL) MORLEY, natives of CT and MA, 
respectively. His paternal ancestors were of English extraction, and the 
first to come to the new world was a passenger on the Mayflower. The 
grandfather, Thomas MORLEY, was a man of unusual physical development and was 
a soldier of the Continental army during the Revolutionary war. He spent his 
last years upon a farm at Kirtland [Lake County], OH, where he died in his 
85th year. His wife, Lucy, has preceded him to the world beyond a few months 
earlier. Our subject's maternal grandfather, Abel RUSSELL, was one of the 
pioneers of Mentor [Lake County], OH, and was the first town clerk of that 
place. He died on his farm there at the age of 80 years. About 1812 the 
father of our subject removed with his family to the Western Reserve of OH, 
and became one of the first settlers of Lake County, where he followed 
farming for many years. He died in the spring of 1885 at the advanced age of 
93 years. He was always healthy and vigorous up to the time of his death. 
His wife died a number of years previous, at the age of 54.

The early education of our subject was obtained in the public schools of his 
native state, and for one term he attended the academy there. At the age of 
18 he commenced teaching school, and later spent four years at the Western 
Reserve Seminary in Kirtland [Lake County], OH, where James A. Garfield 
sometimes participated in the public exercises. After completing the 
prescribed course at that institution he successfully engaged in teaching for 
a number of years.

In 1849 Mr. MORLEY made a trip to Sauk County, WI, and entered 480 acres of 
fine farming land in section 20, Excelsior Township, and the following year 
took up his residence upon his property. He improved about 160 acres of this 
land and lived there for a number of years, but since 1883 has resided upon 
his present farm on section 29, the same township, where he has 180 acres of 
fine farming land near the Baraboo River, which affords excellent advantages 
for stock raising. He has erected good buildings upon his place and made 
many other improvements which add [p 682] greatly to its value and attractive 
appearance. In company with his brother, Lyman R. MORLEY, he drove about 
1,000 head of Merino sheep from OH to Sauk County, in 1850, it being one of 
the largest flocks ever introduced into the county. They also drove several 
head of horses and other stock. For some years our subject bred Merino 
sheep, but for some time past has given his attention to Shropshire sheep, 
and in his present flock has about 100 thoroughbreds and high grade stock. 
He is also interested in breeding good cattle. As a farmer and stock raiser 
he has met with well-deserved success.

In 1844 Mr. MORLEY wedded Miss Mariette SMITH, a daughter of Elijah SMITH, of 
Kirtland [Lake County], OH. She was born in that place, and died in Sauk 
County, WI, 26 Dec 1898, at the age of 74 years. The children born of this 
union were (1) Mary, wife of Rufus C. COLE, of Redwood Falls [Redwood 
County], MN; (2) Alvah H., who died in Ulrich [what County?], SD, in the 
spring of 1898, age 47; (3) Lucius W., a resident of Hot Springs [Fall River 
County], SD; (4) Thomas E., a farmer of Excelsior Township, Sauk County 
[WI]; (5) Harvey W., on the home farm; (6) Leaphe, now at home; and (7) 
Minnie, at home. Mr. MORLEY also has nine grandchildren.

In 1861 Mr. MORLEY was elected the first county superintendent of schools, 
and acceptably filled that office for four years. He had previously acted as 
town superintendent for several years, and for a number of years after coming 
to the county continued to engage in school teaching. He assisted in 
organizing the Sauk County Agricultural Society in 1856, and has been an 
exhibitor at nearly all the annual fairs, where he has received many premiums 
on his livestock. He cast his first presidential vote for Henry Clay in 
1844, and since the organization of the Republican party has been one of its 
stanch supporters. He was one of the founders of the Congregational church 
of Reedsburg [Sauk County, WI], now disbanded, was trustee of the same many 
years, and was a member of the official board during its entire existence. 
For some time he was also an active member of the Reedsburg Grange, Patrons 
of Husbandry, and helped to organize the Good Templars lodge in Narrow 
Prairie Township, now disbanded. His life is exemplary in many respects and 
he has ever supported those interests which are calculated to uplift and 
benefit humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of the highest 
commendation. He is a strictly temperate man, never using tobacco or liquor 
in any form, and has the esteem of all who know him.

Contributed by Cathy Kubly