Morris C. CLAY

   Cause of his death was consumption.

   Another name for Morris was Maurice.

  General Notes:

2nd Great Grandfather. Since I am the last of the namesake of Morris C. Clay I am attempting to create his biography.
BIOGRAPHY: Morris C. Clay was the son of Ira & Lucy Clay, and was born in Cazenovia, Madison County, New York. At a young age he moved with his parents to 1st to Bennington twp.,in 1833 ans 2nd to lot 32 of South Woodbury, (then) Delaware County, Ohio (in 1836). Both The Humiston family and the Clays moved together from Chittenango Falls, Fenner, Madison Co., NY the same time. Lucy Clays parents Jarvis and Nicey Humiston lived just north of the village of Westfield near a Baptist church of which they are buried in the remaining cemetery. Here Morris grew up with his father, Ira, the town shoemaker,and a member of the Methodist church, mother Lucy(Humiston), brother Henry D. and sister Nicy. I think if you traveled through South Woodbury today you could get a feel for what it was like to be in the area, in those days, at least the feeling came over me. Morris grew up with children who later became important people in the area (and some later became relatives). Some of those people are... Hon. James R. Hubbell, the Doty brothers,John ,George W., J.F ,and Harrison, as well as the Benidicts, Woods, Gardners, and Westbrooks.
Morris probably attened school when Israel E. Buck was teaching there during 1839-1842. He took up the carpenters trade and worked in the area. He probably learned this trade through Richard Wood or one of the other families that owned Wagon Shops in South Woodbury during this time.
Morris was only 17 when he lost his father, Ira and older brother Henry. Morris lived with his mother Lucy and sister, Nicy at the time of the 1850 Census. Morris became the man of the house. During this period of time, 1848, the part of Delaware County which they lived (Peru Township) was divided up and became part of Morrow County. I have discovered that any records are lost due to this transition. The property on Vine & Main Streets street lot 32 was never transfered (Morrow Co.)

"MARRIED- One the 1st. Inst. by B.F.Loofbourrow Esq. Mr. Morris C. Clay to Miss Lydia Longwell, all of this county" is the way it read in the January 9,1852 issue of the Delaware Daily News.

On September 9, 1853, they bought lots 45 & 46 in the town of Eden from Seymour Scott. (Seymour Scott had previously married Samantha Lott Harris- Humiston the widow of Lucy Clay's brother Ansyl H. Humiston who had died in 1846) Much building was going on in Eden, in preparation for the railroad which was believed to be coming throught the town. During this period, the records show,on March 6,1855, Morris was elected supervisor of highways for Brown Township,. Morris was also paid for road planks he supplied. The railroad changed its mind and by-passed Eden and was directed towards Ashley.
On June 12, 1854 Morris & Lydia sold their lot's in Eden, to Lydia's sister Esther and her husband, Willis Myers. Morris and Lydia they purchased 93 acres in Leesburg township, Union County near Phairsburg on VMS 3694, from John Elmore.
See description of land event.
Morris was a farmer at that location in the 1860 census. They had three children at that time of the 1860 census, Henry Franklin, Lucy E, and Mary A.. On September 26, 1862 Morris & Lydia had a forth child, Norton Albert Clay.
Things went well, until December 22 ,1864 tragedy struck with the death of Morris C. Clay . It is most likely Morris died from consumption(consumption: a progressive wasting away of body esp. from pulmonary tuberculosis) at this early age since this ran in his family, and two of his children died at age 29 from it. The family was struck with this disaster three days before Christmas 1864. Morris is buried at Old Eden Cemetery in the front row toward the road. The undertaker, Daniel Sheets was paid $10.00 for his services. It is most likely the funeral was attended by his many relatives in the area , including his mother Lucy and sister, Nicy. Norton T. Longwell ,Lydia's younger brother was the executor of Morris C. Clay's estate (case 1427 Delaware probate court)
Due to debts, the 93 acres in Union County had to be sold , to Norton Scott. This was done on June 27,1865 for $2815.00.
Also in Morris's Estate it list his tools ,and the property which Lydia brought into the marriage, 1 Cow and 1 Cowbell. Lydia was also able to keep 1 Cooking Stove, 1 small bible, small lot of school books, Spelling books, some kitchen furniture (Not being $100.00 worth), and 12 sheep. This event left Lydia, only thirty years old, with four children and no husband to provide for them.

!CENSUS: 1830 NY. Madison County, Cazenovia, Page 213 : Ira Clay males : 1 under 5
1 of 5 but not 10
1 of 20 but not 30 females: 1 of 20 but not 30


Source Citation: Year: 1840; Census Place: Woodberry, Delaware, Ohio; Roll: 197; Page: 391; Image: 938; Family History Library Film: 0020163.

1840 United States Federal Census
about Ira Clay
Name: Ira Clay
Township: Woodberry
County: Delaware
State: Ohio
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 1 (Morris)
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1 (Henry)
Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39: 1 (Ira)
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9: 1 (Nicy)
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39: 1 (Lucy)
Total - All Persons (Free White, Free Colored, Slaves): 5
Free White Persons - Under 20: 3
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 5
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 5


Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Peru, Morrow, Ohio; Roll: M432_716; Page: 58B; Image: 488.

1850 United States Federal Census
about Lucy Clary
Name: Lucy Clary
[Lucy Clay]
Age: 45
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1805
Birth Place: Connecticut
Gender: Female
Home in 1850 (City,County,State): Peru, Morrow, Ohio
Family Number: 826
Household Members: Name Age
Lucy Clary 45
Morris Clary 20
Nicy Clary 16

1860 OH. Union County, Leesburgh twp, P.O.Phairsburg , Page 34 : Morris Clay Morris Clay 30 M farmer (value of real estate)2232 born in N.Y. Leida Clay 26 F born in O. Henry Clay 7 M born in O. Lucy E.Clay 4 F born in O. Margaret Clay 1 F born in O.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Carpenter & Farmer also Trustee of Roads Brown twp,Del. Co.,Ohio, 1851-1864, Union Co., Ohio.

• Personal Photo: Morris C. Clay, 1860, Delaware Co., Ohio, United States.

• Military Registration: Union County Military Draft Registration Morris C. Clay, 20 Jun 1863, Union Co., Ohio.

• Milita List: Brown Township, Delaware Co., Milita List, 1864, Delaware Co., Ohio, United States.

• Burial: Morris C. Clay's Grave, 1864, Old Eden Cem., Kilbourne, Brown, Delaware, Ohio.

• Land: sale of Land Leesburgh,Union,Ohio, 24 May 1865, Leesburg Twp., Union Co., Ohio.

Morris married Lydia Ann LONGWELL, daughter of Ralph Slack LONGWELL and Elizabeth "Betsy" THURSTON, on 1 Jan 1852 in Delaware Co., Ohio, United States.⁶ (Lydia Ann LONGWELL was born on 1 Jun 1834 in Kilbourne, Brown, Delaware, Ohio, died on 15 Aug 1904 in Kilbourne, Brown, Delaware, Ohio and was buried in Old Eden Cem., Kilbourne, Brown, Delaware, Ohio.)

  Marriage Notes:

Groom's Name: Morris C. Clay
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Bride's Name: Lydia Longwell
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Marriage Date: 01 Jan 1852
Marriage Place: Delaware,Ohio
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Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M51416-2
System Origin: Ohio-ODM
Source Film Number: 391395
Reference Number:
Collection: Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958