Home > United States of America > Iowa > Johnson County > Hills > Sandtown Cemetery > Reason “Rees” Morford

Reason “Rees” Morford

Birth	:	13 Dec 1822 Greene County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death	:	26 May 1885 Hills, Johnson County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Sandtown Cemetery, Hills, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.5544014, -91.5068970
Description	:	Reason came to Iowa with his father and some siblings in the late 1830's or early 1840's. They first settled near Muscatine (then called Bloomington) and Reason owned a small farm there. Reason's brother John moved to Johnson County in 1842. Reason probably came shortly afterward, at the latest 1850. The 1850 census shows Reason living in Johnson County with the John I. and Louisa Burge family. Louisa is John Burge's second wife. His first wife was Martha Morford, Reason's Aunt, his father's sister. Martha died March 13, 1846. Read More	Reason came to Iowa with his father and some siblings in the late 1830's or early 1840's. They first settled near Muscatine (then called Bloomington) and Reason owned a small farm there. Reason's brother John moved to Johnson County in 1842. Reason probably came shortly afterward, at the latest 1850. The 1850 census shows Reason living in Johnson County with the John I. and Louisa Burge family. Louisa is John Burge's second wife. His first wife was Martha Morford, Reason's Aunt, his father's sister. Martha died March 13, 1846. On September 5, 1850, Reason (age 27) married Sarah Mary Magdaline Yarbrough (age 15). They had six children: John William (1852 to 1914), Thomas Henry (1855 to 1940), Mary Hannah (1858 to 1862), Elizabeth Ann (1860 to 1861), Samuel Elwood (1862 to 1920) and Sheridan (1865 to 1885). The 1860 census shows Reason (age 33) and Sarah (age 24) living in Johnson County, Iowa with children John W. (age 8), Thomas H. (age 5), Mary (age 2) and Barbara Amhess (age 20) a domestic. Reason's occupation was Farmer. (Issue: Reason's age should be noted as 38). Isaac Morford and his wife Mary lived near Reason and Sarah. Isaac (1836 to 1893) is son of Jesse Morford (1808 to 1864), brother of Reason's father Daniel making Isaac and Reason cousins. Sarah died in 1866 leaving Reason to raise four sons between the ages of 1 and 15. In 1870 Reason (age 47), widowed, lived in Newport, Johnson County, Iowa with sons John W. (age 18), Henry (Thomas, age 16), Elwood (age 8) and Sheridan (age 4). On November 15, 1870 Reason married his second wife Martha Ellen Starkey in Johnson County, Iowa. Reason was 48 and Martha was 16. Six children were born to this union: Marion Benjamin (1871 to 1940), Daniel Boone (1874 to 1953), Jesse Cecil (1877 to 1958), Mary Euphreta (1879 to 1934), Cleamance (1882 to ?) and Exie Clara (1884 to 1885). As of the 1885 Iowa census, son Cleamance (age 3) and daughter Axie (age 1) were still living. They may have had another son named Wilber (Willie), dates of birth and death unknown but probably born early 1880's. (There seems to be an issue with the child Cleamence/Clemence. The 1885 Iowa census lists child as a son, age 3 putting birth year as circa 1882. This could be the same child possibly known as Willie. FamilySearch has Clemence listed as a female born 1882, died 1882. We know that is incorrect as the child was still living in 1885). The fate of this child is unknown. The Iowa City Daily Republican Published in Iowa City, Iowa Monday, March 3, 1879 Mr. Posey is made happy again - it is a girl this time. Reason Morford is made to rejoice as he has a girl too. (Article refers to the birth of Reason's daughter Mary Euphreta (Morford) Arbaugh. The Posey family were close friends of the Morford family. Reason's brother John and wife Mary raised Sarah and Elizabeth Hupp after their mother Marinda (Burge) Hupp passed away in 1850. Sarah married Henry Posey in 1865. Henry and Sarah lived with and worked for John and Mary by the 1870 census). The 1880 census shows Reason (age 57) and Martha (age 25) living in Morfordsville, Pleasant Valley Township, Johnson County, Iowa with children Ellwood (age 17), Sheridan (age 15), Marion (age 8), Daniel (age 6), Jesse (age 3) and Mary (age 1). Reason's occupation was Farmer. Reason's life must have been beset by misfortune. The 1880 tax record for the township lists his assets as one horse valued at $22. In 1882 one cow valued at $10. Briefly he served as constable in Pleasant Valley Township. The Iowa City Daily Republican Published in Iowa City, Iowa Friday, January 5th, 1883 PLEASANT VALLEY Mr. R. Morford and Mrs. J. J. Burge are on the sick list. Iowa City Republican November 28, 1883 Reason Morford's house burned down a few days ago. Sufficient money has been raised already to purchase and erect a house on the old site. This is the way to do for the unfortunate. Iowa City Republican May 27, 1885 Mr. Reason Morford, an old resident of Pleasant Valley Township, committed suicide yesterday evening by hanging himself from the limb of an apple tree. He was living with his second wife and was 55 or 60 years of age. He was very poor, having been aided by the county for several years and in poor health, and poverty and disease are supposed causes of his rash act, becoming discouraged with the unequal struggle of life. The Iowa City Daily Republican Published in Iowa City, Iowa Tuesday, June 2, 1885 Pleasant Valley News Since our last letter unusual events have taken place in our usual quiet Valley. The saddest was the death of Mr. Reason Morford on the 26th by hanging himself. The cause is supposed to have been mental derangement. Mr. Morford had been in poor health for a long time and had become quite depressed in mind. The funeral took place at the M. E. church on the 27th and was largely attended. Reason Morford was born in Green county, Pennsylvania, Dec. 13th, 1822. He was married in 1850 to Miss Sarah M. Yarbrough, who died about 17 years ago. Mr. Morford was married a second time to Miss M. E. Starkey in 1870. There were six children by each marriage, two of the first wife children having died. The widow and fatherless children have the sympathy of the community in their deep sorrow. Life was hard for Reason. He lost a daughter in 1861 at the age of one and another daughter in 1862 at the age of 3. On September 8, 1885 he lost a daughter at the age of 3 and four days later he lost a son, age 20. After the death of Reason in 1886, Martha received income from the poor fund for the support of three children.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Reason “Rees” Morford's memorial?
Reason “Rees” Morford's memorial is located at: Sandtown Cemetery, Hills, Johnson County, USA.
When did Reason “Rees” Morford death?
Reason “Rees” Morford death on 26 May 1885 in Hills, Johnson County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Reason “Rees” Morford's memorial?
Latitude: 41.5544014
Longitude: -91.5068970

Family Members:

Parent

Daniel Morford

(1791 - 1857)

Spouse

Sarah Mary Magdaline Yarbrough Morford

(1835 - 1866)

Siblings

John J. Morford

(1816 - 1884)

Martha J. Morford Fowler

(1834 - 1888)

Children

John William Morford

(1852 - 1914)

Mary Hannah Morford

(1858 - 1862)

Elizabeth Ann Morford

(1860 - 1861)

Samuel Elwood Morford

(1863 - 1920)

Sheridan Morford

(1865 - 1885)

(unknow - unknow)

Exie Clara Morford

(1884 - 1885)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Sandtown Cemetery
Hills, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5544014, -91.5068970

2. Earhart Cemetery
Hills, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5547300, -91.5424800

3. Trowbridge-Lenz Cemetery
Lone Tree, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5523490, -91.4587780

4. Walker Cemetery
Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5186005, -91.4903030

5. Cline Cemetery
Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5182100, -91.5336350

6. Fountain Cemetery
Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5200005, -91.4728012

7. Mentzer Cemetery
Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5574989, -91.5888977

8. River Junction Cemetery
Lone Tree, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4914856, -91.4958267

9. Thompson Cemetery
Iowa City, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6038000, -91.4440500

10. Saint Stanislaus Cemetery
Iowa City, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5377000, -91.5960000

11. Riverside Cemetery
Riverside, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4869003, -91.5785980

12. Lone Tree Cemetery
Lone Tree, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4922900, -91.4254330

13. Mount Olivet Cemetery
Riverside, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4864006, -91.5802994

14. Evans Cemetery
Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4688988, -91.4741974

15. Memory Gardens Cemetery
Iowa City, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6507988, -91.4982986

16. Welsh Cemetery
Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6166954, -91.6065369

17. Molback Farm Cemetery
Iowa City, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6253910, -91.4181800

18. Sharon Cemetery
Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5402000, -91.6370000

19. First Mennonite Columbarium
Iowa City, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6532990, -91.5445450

20. Yoder Family Cemetery
Sharon Center, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5666832, -91.6460017

21. Trinity Episcopal Church Columbarium
Iowa City, Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.6591420, -91.5308170

22. Saint Vincent Cemetery
Riverside, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4874992, -91.6188965

23. Kupka Cemetery
Riverside, Washington County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4515000, -91.5549000

24. Sharon Center Cemetery
Johnson County, USA
Coordinate: 41.5543000, -91.6555000