Biography - Thomas Morey
THOMAS P. MOREY, who is now living retired in Greenville, was born September 27, 1847, in Mulberry Grove, Mulberry Grove Township, Bond County. The Morey family is of English descent. The grandparents of our subject, David and Harriet (Campbell) Morey, were natives of Vermont and New Hampshire, respectively, and became pioneers of Knox County, Ohio, where the grandfather engaged in farming and also followed his trade of a stone mason. He was a member and liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a highly respected citizen. His son, Hiram Morey, father of our subject, was a native of the Buckeye Stale. He married Eliza J. Brown, a native of Tennessee and a daughter of James and Dorcas Brown, who were also natives of that State, but who emigrated to Fayette County, Ill., in an early day. The father was a farmer by occupation and reared a large family. Hiram Morey, having emigrated from Ohio to Illinois, settled in Bond County, but was married in Fayette County, he located in Mulberry Grove Township, Bond County, purchased land and engaged in the manufacture of carriages, wagons, etc., until 1875, since which time he has lived retired from active business.
The Morey family numbered ten children, seven of whom arc yet living, namely: Sarah, wife of T. M. Sawrey, of Bond County; Thomas P., of this sketch; Dorcas, who became the wife of W. W. Willett, and died in Fayette County in 1889, at the age of forty years, leaving five children; Harriet, wife of H. Lilligh, of Bond County; Henrietta, wife of John W. Jones, of Bond County; Belle, wife of F. Snodgrass, of this county; Dora, wife of W. A. Davis, and Orrin M.
Our subject spent the days of his boyhood and youth quietly upon his father's farm and was educated in the district schools. Then between the ages of nineteen and twenty-three years, he engaged in teaching, after which he was a student in McKendree College, of Lebanon, Ill., for two years. He then became Principal of a High School in Sandoval, Ill., and afterward was Principal of the schools in Mulberry Grove for a year.
Thomas P. Morey has been prominently identified with the public interests of the county for some time and is widely and favorably known throughout its borders. In 1876, he was elected Circuit Clerk of Bond County for a term of four years, and on the expiration of his term of service was re-elected, in 1880, and served in all for eight years. In 1885, he opposed Prof. Slade, President of Almira College, as candidate for an unexpired term as County Superintendent and won the election. In 1886, he was elected and served for a full term of four years as County Superintendent of Public Schools, since which time he has lived a retired life.
September 27, 1873, Mr. Morey was united in marriage with Miss Ollie Borror, who died in 1878. In 1883, he was married to Miss Lucy A., daughter of Judge A. G. Henry, of Greenville. Two children grace their union, Henry H. and Louise. They have a beautiful home just south of Almira, College and are numbered among the prominent and highly-respected people of the community, the Professor and his wife having many friends.
Mr. Morey is one of the most extensive landowners of the county. As his financial resources increased, he made judicious investments and at one time owned some fifteen hundred acres. He now has one thousand acres under good improvements. In politics, he is a stalwart Republican and is now serving as a member of the Board of Education. Mr. Morey is a fine scholarly gentleman, a leading and influential citizen of the county, and with pleasure we present this record of his life to our readers.
Extracted 04 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, pages 257-258.
