From "A Twentieth Centry Histroy of Berrien County Michigan," Coolidge, 1906. pp.561-563

Francis Henry Morley, who for the past twenty-five years has been engaged in the operation of a flouring mill at New Troy, is a well known representative of the industrial life of this community and has made a creditable business record. He was born in New Troy, Wesaw township, June 28, 1853, a son of Ambrose A. Morley, whose birth occurred in New York, November 7, 1825. He was a son of William Morley, also a native of New York, who came to Michigan as a pioneer resident and died in Berrien County at an advanced age. In his family were four sons: John C., deceased; William S., of Wesaw township; Ambrose A.; and Dr. Lewis W. Morley who is located in Iowa.

Coming here with his parents, Ambrose A. Morley located on the prairie near Buchanan, and about 1852 or 1853 located at New Troy, where he established the milling business which is still carried on under the family name. He built the mill now owned and operated by his son, Francis H., to whom he sold the property about thirty years ago. He previously went to the west, where he remained for three years, after which he returned and retired from active business life, spending his remaining days in the enjoyment of a well-earned rest. He was closely associated with the lumber interests of the state for many years and won success in that undertaking, having extensive interests along that line. He was also connected with agricultural pursuits in the county, and through his well-directed efforts accumulated a competence that enabled him in his later years to rest from further toil. In politics he was a stanch Democrat but he never sought nor cared for office. He passed away in 1900, having spent the last yars of his life in the home of his son. In early manhood Ambrose A. Morley was married to Miss Cordelia Carroll, who was born in New York, near Nunda, and died in this county in 1875, at the age of thirty-nine years. There were five children of that marriage, namely; Francis H., of this review; Thomas, who is living in Wesaw Township; Aliston A., of Oregon; Frank d., living in Galien township; and Lodell Jane Dunham, deceased.

Francis Henry Morley was reared under the parental roof and has always resided in New Troy. Throughout his entire life he has been connected with milling interests in the operationof a saw and flouring mill. He has been identified with the manufacturing of flour for the past quarter of a century and the mill has a daily capacity of fifty barrels. The plant is equipped with good machinery and the product is of excellent quality, so that the output finds a ready sale on the market. Mr. Morley's broad experience in the business and his thorough understanding of the trade well qualify him to carry on a profitable enterprise and he is accounted one of the foremost business men of New Troy.

In 1876 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Morley and Miss Emily Smith, who was born in Indiana in 1854, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Smith. Her father, Peter Smith was born in Salem county, New Jersey, June 9, 1830, a son of Samuel and Sarah (Smith) Smith, who were also natives of New Jersey. The latter died when her son was only about three years old, while Samuel Smith died in 1869, at the advanced age of seventy-three years. In 1851 Peter Smith wedded Elizabeth Ann Huffer, who was born in Fountain county, Indiana, December 14, 1834, a daughter of John and Katharine (Shafer) Huffer, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Smith was only four years of age at the time of her father's death, and was left an orphan at the age of sixteen.

When only five years of age Peter Smith accompanied his parents on their removal from New Jersey to Warren county, Ohio, where the family lived for twelve years, when the family went to Fountain county, Indiana, and there he was married. He came to Berrien County on the 23rd of January, 1865, and locating in Wesaw township has resided continuously upon his farm here with the excepton of a period of sixteen months. He has one hundred and sixty acres of land on sections 2 and 11. When he came there were about fifteen acres cleared on section 2 and eighty acres of the home farm on section 11. Now the entire place is under cultivation except about then acres and he has added good buildings and developed a well improved property. His life has been one of hard work and the success he has achieved is due entirely to his own efforts. In politics he has always been a Democrat, and for two terms served as supervisor of his township an was treasurer for two years. Unto him and his wife have been born six children: Sarah, the wife of John Hatfield, of Three Oaks township; Emily, the wife of F.H. Morley, of New Troy; Tamsen, the wife of Horace Morley, of Wesaw township; and Charles, who is engaged in merchandising in Glendora. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Morley has been blessed with four children: Linwood, Floyd H., Hazel D. and Dean.

In his political views Mr. Morley is a stalwart Democrat, wihch party he has supported throughout his entire life. He is at present township clerk and has filled the office at intervals of twenty-five years. He has also been a member of the school board for a quarter of a century and the cause of education has found in him a warm and stalwart friend. There is a fine school in New Troy, and Mr. Morley does everything in his power to advance its interests. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to the lodge at Three Oaks, and he also affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Glendora. His entire life has been passed in this locality and his friends are almost as numerous as his acquaintances, showing that he has so lived as to merit the esteem and good will of all with whom he has come in contact.