The Pottawattamie County recorders office recorded this land transaction in Book 11, p6. Grantee David Lapray Grantor John Lapray Date of Instrument April 10, 1867 [The year was mistakenly recorded 1867, but John did not own it until January 1868, so the date should be April 10, 1868]. Date of filing April 17, 1868.
Warranty Deed, John Lapray to David Lapray, filed April 17, 1868 at 6 o'clock p.m. Know all men by their presents that John Lapray of Pottawattamie County State of Iowa in consideration of the sum of five hundred dollars in hand paid do hereby sell and convey unto David Lapray of Pottawattamie County and State of Iowa the following described premises situated in Pottawattamie county and state of Iowa to = wit: In the town of Crescent City, the following described property to wit: Lots 7 and 8 in Crescent City in Block one hundred and twenty three (123) and all the appurtenances thereunto belonging and I do hereby covenant to warrant and defend the title to the said premises to the said David Lapray against the lawful claims of all persons whomsoever. [Grantor General Index 1865-1869, Pottwattamie County, Iowa, FHL film #1468500 and Pottawattamie County Deeds, Book 11, p6, FHL film, item 2.
No additional filings on the land could be found on the microfilms in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah after that one, so the question arose, what happened to John and what happened to the land? While we were attending a business conference in Omaha, Nebraska in May 2004, we drove across the Missouri River to visit the small community of Crescent, Iowa. It is located not far from the river's eastern bank and there is a railroad located on the western outskirts of town.
After our visit to Crescent City, we drove 20 miles south to Pottawattamie's county seat in Council Bluffs. The County Recorder's office didn't give us any answers as to what happened to the land after David bought it so they sent us over to a title company a couple of blocks away. The title company had been there since the 1800s. Sure enough, they had a 3 x 5 card with the information we were seeking. David Lapray abandoned his property; the taxes went unpaid, and the property was sold in a Sheriff's sale in August 1869, for $154. Apparently David purchased the land from his father, John, abandoned it and headed west. Did David buy the land so his father would have some money?
Where John Lapray goes after selling his land to his son, David is a mystery. A search for a burial for John Lapray in Crescent City has been unsuccessful. According to David's wife, Elizabeth Lapray, she said John died in Council Bluffs, but no burial spot for John and yet been found in Council Bluffs, either. I sent a letter in March 2009 to the Pottawattamie County Historical Society asking for any information on John Lapray's death or burial and they wrote back stating they had no information on John Lapray.
So the questions remain, did John take the money from the land sale and leave the area or did he remain and since he died alone without family, who would have put a gravestone on a grave. Also since he was a veteran of the war, he could have been entitled to benefits, but where would he have gone? A search for a John Lapray living in a soldier home has not turned up anything. He hasn't been found in a Civil War Veteran's cemetery. No civil war benefits were claimed for a John Lapray.
23 May 2010
John Lapray buys land in Iowa after Civil War
John Lapray mustered out of the military in May 1865 and returned back to Pottawattamie County, Iowa. On April 23, 1866, he purchased some land from Joseph Ross on the western outskirts of Crescent City, Pottawattamie County, Iowa (a small community north of Council Bluffs). He purchased Lots: 2, 5, 9, 10, and 11 in Block 152 for $50. [Grantee Index, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, 1857-1866, FHL film #1468499 & Pottawattamie County Deeds, Item 4, p128, FHL film #1477115.]
John kept the land for nineteen months and then sold it to Denman Percival on November 27, 1867 for $100. The land record stated John Lapray "has no wife", so we know that he is not married in 1867. It is not known what happened to Jane, his wife in the 1860 census. [Grantor General Index 18675-1869, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, FHL film #1468500 #1468500 and Pottawattamie County Deeds, Book 7, p343, FHL film #1477118.]
A few months later, on January 17, 1868, John buys two small pieces of land within Crescent City limits from J.B. Lewis and wife for $300 [Grantee Index 1866-1869, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, FHL film #1468500 and Pottawattamie County Deed, Book 7, p611, FHL film #147118]. These two pieces of land are situated within the town limits and are not agricultural pieces. Again, John doesn't keep the land very long, because on April 10, 1868, just four months after purchasing his land, he sells these two pieces to his son, David Lapray, for $500. [Granter General Index 1865-1869, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, FHL film #1468500 and Pottawattamie County Deeds Book 11, p6, FHL film #1477119, item 2.]
Elizabeth Lapray said her husband, David lived in Iowa before traveling onto Idaho, but just how long he was there is unknown. He probably didn't stay in Iowa very long because David bought the land from his father, John, in April 1868 and was in Idaho by the end of 1869. Elizabeth Lapray thought David lived in Shenandoah, Iowa and we have found some Morse family members living in Shenandoah, Iowa, so maybe David was visiting some of them.
John kept the land for nineteen months and then sold it to Denman Percival on November 27, 1867 for $100. The land record stated John Lapray "has no wife", so we know that he is not married in 1867. It is not known what happened to Jane, his wife in the 1860 census. [Grantor General Index 18675-1869, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, FHL film #1468500 #1468500 and Pottawattamie County Deeds, Book 7, p343, FHL film #1477118.]
A few months later, on January 17, 1868, John buys two small pieces of land within Crescent City limits from J.B. Lewis and wife for $300 [Grantee Index 1866-1869, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, FHL film #1468500 and Pottawattamie County Deed, Book 7, p611, FHL film #147118]. These two pieces of land are situated within the town limits and are not agricultural pieces. Again, John doesn't keep the land very long, because on April 10, 1868, just four months after purchasing his land, he sells these two pieces to his son, David Lapray, for $500. [Granter General Index 1865-1869, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, FHL film #1468500 and Pottawattamie County Deeds Book 11, p6, FHL film #1477119, item 2.]
Elizabeth Lapray said her husband, David lived in Iowa before traveling onto Idaho, but just how long he was there is unknown. He probably didn't stay in Iowa very long because David bought the land from his father, John, in April 1868 and was in Idaho by the end of 1869. Elizabeth Lapray thought David lived in Shenandoah, Iowa and we have found some Morse family members living in Shenandoah, Iowa, so maybe David was visiting some of them.
10 May 2010
Civil War - David Lapray
David, age 19, who was living with the Samuel Morse family in Illinois also joined the Union Army. He joined on May 7, 1864 at Greenbush, Illinois and signed up for the "100 Days" group. He enrolled as a Private with Captain Reece's Company C, 138th Regiment, Illinois Voluntary Infantry. His residence at the time of enrollment was Berwick, Warren County, Illinois. He said he was a farmer and born in Scotland. He had a light complexion, blue eyes, sandy hair, and was 5 foot 7 inches tall, the same as his father, John. David mustered out of service in Springfield, Illinois on October 14, 1864 after serving for 116 days.
The 138th Illinois Infantry Volunteers were organized at Camp Wood, Quincy, Illinois by Colonel John W. Goodwin. On July 26 the Regiment moved to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas because they were assigned to garrison duty at Weston, Missouri which is located near Leavenworth. It is interesting that he was assigned to Weston, Missouri and later lived in Weston, Idaho.
The report said the five counties along the western border of Missouri was over run and in possession of bands of guerrillas and bushwhackers. During July, August and part of September, Company C [David's company] and F were ordered to occupy the post there in Weston, Missouri and operate from that point in driving the guerrillas from the territory. The two companies were in active service, scarcely a day passing without a conflict with some of the many desperadoes infesting that community. Then early in September after having cleared the five counties of these undesirables, the two companies returned to Fort Leavenworth to continue their services in garrison duty. [Dyer, Frederick H. "138th Illinois Infantry Dyer's Regimental History", http://www.rootsweb.com searched 10/7/2001.]
David along with his Regiment was mustered out of service of the United States at Springfield, Illinois, October 14, 1864. [Edited by Bateman, Selby, Moffet and Rogers, Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Warren County, Munsell Publishing Company, Chicago, 1903, p186.]
David enlisted once again for service on March 15, 1865 at Springfield, Illinois; this time as a Private in Company H of the 83rd Illinois Infantry Volunteer Army. However, on June 26, 1865, he transferred to Company I of the 61st Illinois Infantry and was discharged on September 8, 1986 in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to his release, Robert E. Lee had already surrendered to Ulysses Grant on April 9, 1865 in Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, but as mentioned earlier, soldier were still needed to help maintain order even after the war officially ended.
After David finished his military service, he went back to Illinois and spent some additional time with the Samuel and Martha Morse family. Elizabeth Lapray, David's widow, thought David was with the Morse family for about a year after the Civil War ended. If that is so, David would have been with the Morses from the later part of 1865 into 1866 or 1867.
The 138th Illinois Infantry Volunteers were organized at Camp Wood, Quincy, Illinois by Colonel John W. Goodwin. On July 26 the Regiment moved to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas because they were assigned to garrison duty at Weston, Missouri which is located near Leavenworth. It is interesting that he was assigned to Weston, Missouri and later lived in Weston, Idaho.
The report said the five counties along the western border of Missouri was over run and in possession of bands of guerrillas and bushwhackers. During July, August and part of September, Company C [David's company] and F were ordered to occupy the post there in Weston, Missouri and operate from that point in driving the guerrillas from the territory. The two companies were in active service, scarcely a day passing without a conflict with some of the many desperadoes infesting that community. Then early in September after having cleared the five counties of these undesirables, the two companies returned to Fort Leavenworth to continue their services in garrison duty. [Dyer, Frederick H. "138th Illinois Infantry Dyer's Regimental History", http://www.rootsweb.com searched 10/7/2001.]
David along with his Regiment was mustered out of service of the United States at Springfield, Illinois, October 14, 1864. [Edited by Bateman, Selby, Moffet and Rogers, Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Warren County, Munsell Publishing Company, Chicago, 1903, p186.]
David enlisted once again for service on March 15, 1865 at Springfield, Illinois; this time as a Private in Company H of the 83rd Illinois Infantry Volunteer Army. However, on June 26, 1865, he transferred to Company I of the 61st Illinois Infantry and was discharged on September 8, 1986 in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to his release, Robert E. Lee had already surrendered to Ulysses Grant on April 9, 1865 in Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia, but as mentioned earlier, soldier were still needed to help maintain order even after the war officially ended.
After David finished his military service, he went back to Illinois and spent some additional time with the Samuel and Martha Morse family. Elizabeth Lapray, David's widow, thought David was with the Morse family for about a year after the Civil War ended. If that is so, David would have been with the Morses from the later part of 1865 into 1866 or 1867.
Civil War - John Lapray
From the book, Roster and Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion, we find the following information. John Lapray enlisted in the Civil War for one year of service on November 5, 1864, at Council Bluffs, Iowa into the 5th Congressional District. He enlisted as a substitute for William Orr of LeGrange Township, Harrison County, Iowa. William Orr was drafted, but agreed to pay John Lapray $1,100 on November 12, 1864 to serve in his place. Harrison County is located directly north of Pottawattamie County.
John signed up to serve in the 3rd Independent Battery Iowa Light Artillery. He was 41 years old when he signed up and he declared he was born in Scotland. His occupation was a laborer and farmer. Maybe he changed from a teamster to a farmer. His eyes were blue, hair brown, complexion sandy, and height is 5 foot 7 inches.
John was discharged after six months of service. He was informed he would be released from his duties in the Army on May 27, 1865 at Little Rock, Arkansas. His ill health influenced his early discharge. He suffered from acute rheumatism in February 1865 and had to be hospitalized in Little Rock, Arkansas.
John signed up to serve in the 3rd Independent Battery Iowa Light Artillery. He was 41 years old when he signed up and he declared he was born in Scotland. His occupation was a laborer and farmer. Maybe he changed from a teamster to a farmer. His eyes were blue, hair brown, complexion sandy, and height is 5 foot 7 inches.
John was discharged after six months of service. He was informed he would be released from his duties in the Army on May 27, 1865 at Little Rock, Arkansas. His ill health influenced his early discharge. He suffered from acute rheumatism in February 1865 and had to be hospitalized in Little Rock, Arkansas.
1860 Census Iowa
Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa; Roll M653_338; Page: 52; Image: 351; Family History Library Film: 803338.
09 May 2010
John Lapray in Iowa
Some thought David Lapray went to live with the Morse family because his father, John, died leaving David an orphan, but we now know this was not the case. John Lapray spelled "John Lepray" in the 1860 Census has been located living in Council Bluff, Pottawattamie County, Iowa in the 1860 Federal Census. [Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa; Roll M653_338; Page: 52; Image: 351; Family History Library Film: 803338]. He is living with "Jane Laprey' and there is a one-year-old child living in the household with the given name of William, but does not carry the Lapray surname, but rather the surname of Filmore. Since the child does not carry the Lapray surname, one could guess that John and Jane Lapray have not been married for any extended length of time. Possibly the child's father who is not part of this picture is gone due to death or divorce. No relationships are given in this census so we don't know the relationships between the people in the household.
John Lapray, age 38 in 1860 is a teamster, which in today's world would be like a truck driver. He doesn't own any real estate. He was born in Scotland. Jane, 25 years old, is thirteen years younger than John. She was born in England. The one year old boy was born in Illinois.
No marriage record has yet been found for John and Jane Lapray in Iowa or Illinois. No birth record has yet been found for William Filmore in Illinois.
John Lapray, age 38 in 1860 is a teamster, which in today's world would be like a truck driver. He doesn't own any real estate. He was born in Scotland. Jane, 25 years old, is thirteen years younger than John. She was born in England. The one year old boy was born in Illinois.
No marriage record has yet been found for John and Jane Lapray in Iowa or Illinois. No birth record has yet been found for William Filmore in Illinois.
02 May 2010
Morse Family
Samuel and Martha had six children, five boys and one girl. Their oldest child was 1) William Leroy Morse, b. 1855; 2) Emma Morse, b. 1856; 3) Horace F. Morse, b. Oct 1857; 4) George Morse, b. April 1860; 5: Elmer Ellsworth Morse, b. July 1867; and 6) Albert Morse, b. 1869.
There is a seven year gap between the the Morse's fourth and fifth children, George and Elmer, but Martha stated in the 1900 Federal Census she had given birth to six children and five were living in 1900, so we can assume that she gave birth to no more than the six children listed above.
It is interesting to note that David Lapray, Sr. used many Morse names in naming his own children. David's oldest child is named, David, after himself, the second son is named William Lapray, possibly after his wife's father, William Dees and the Morse's oldest son is also named William; David's next son is named John Lapray, after David's father, John, and then the next son is named Samuel Lapray, probably after Samuel Morse. Next comes, Albert Lapray and the Morse's have a son named Albert. Then there's is David's only daughter, Sarah Adelia Lapray; and whether Sarah is named after David's first wife or possibly another family member is unknown, but there is an Adelia Bowman, age 26 enumerated in the Samuel and Martha Morse household in the 1870 United States Federal Census in Berwick, Warren County, Illinois. She would have been very close in age to David and he may have known her as he grew up. The Morse's and the Lapray both have a son named Elmer Ellsworth. Elmer Ellsworth, happens to be the first martyr of the Civil War and he hails from Illinois.
This naming pattern continues into the next generation. Samuel Lapray who interacted with Horace F. Morse in their adult years both had daughters named Pearl.
There is a seven year gap between the the Morse's fourth and fifth children, George and Elmer, but Martha stated in the 1900 Federal Census she had given birth to six children and five were living in 1900, so we can assume that she gave birth to no more than the six children listed above.
It is interesting to note that David Lapray, Sr. used many Morse names in naming his own children. David's oldest child is named, David, after himself, the second son is named William Lapray, possibly after his wife's father, William Dees and the Morse's oldest son is also named William; David's next son is named John Lapray, after David's father, John, and then the next son is named Samuel Lapray, probably after Samuel Morse. Next comes, Albert Lapray and the Morse's have a son named Albert. Then there's is David's only daughter, Sarah Adelia Lapray; and whether Sarah is named after David's first wife or possibly another family member is unknown, but there is an Adelia Bowman, age 26 enumerated in the Samuel and Martha Morse household in the 1870 United States Federal Census in Berwick, Warren County, Illinois. She would have been very close in age to David and he may have known her as he grew up. The Morse's and the Lapray both have a son named Elmer Ellsworth. Elmer Ellsworth, happens to be the first martyr of the Civil War and he hails from Illinois.
This naming pattern continues into the next generation. Samuel Lapray who interacted with Horace F. Morse in their adult years both had daughters named Pearl.
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