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.