A resident farmer and money loaner of Fairfield Township, living on section 31, is numbered among the leading citizens of the county. Known to all as an upright man and worthy citizen he deserves special mention in this volume where is given the record of the lives of the representative people of Fayette County. He is now an old man but is still hale and hearty and we join his many friends in wishing that his life may be preserved for a long time to come. He was born February 20, 1809, near the town of West Springfield, Mass., on the same farm where his father, grandfather and great-grandfather had lived before him. The founders of the family came from England among the earliest emigrants and settled near Hartford, Conn. Our subject is the youngest but one of that family. In the common schools of his native State he acquired his education and upon his father's farm was reared to manhood. He served one summer before the mast as a sailor and in 1834 accompanied the family to Ohio, locating near Painesville where he secured land upon which he resided, cultivating it until 1836. In that year he removed to Illinois, settling near Rockford. He became one of the pioneers of that region for the country round about was in its primitive condition and the Indians were still numerous. Soon after this the Black Hawk War occurred. Mr. Morley secured four hundred acres of wild Government land which he broke and cultivated until 1855, when he again became identified with the pioneer settlement. He had visited this county on a prospecting tour in 1854 and the year following took up his residence near Taylorville, where he bought land, entering other land farther south. In 1869, he removed to his present location on section 31, Fairfield Township. He gave the greatest part of his attention to general farming and met with most excellent success. While residing in Illinois Mr. Morley married Miss Lorain Ainsworth, who was born near Seneca Lake, N. Y., and at the age of twenty years accompanied her parents to the West. They have no children but have given homes to five orphan boys and girls, providing them with all necessities and many comforts. Mrs. Morley is a member of the United Brethren Church to which both she and her husband contribute very liberally. He is strongly opposed to secret societies, believing their existence threatens the welfare of our country. Both in principle and practice he is a strong prohibitionist and worked untiringly for the amendment. He has often served in its conventions and has filled all of the local offices. In 1873 he was elected to represent his district in the Legislature and served acceptably in that office. Mr. Morley possessed many excellent traits of character, was charitable and benevolent, ever ready to extend a helping hand and many a one has reason to bless him for his kindly assistance in their hour of need. His own life has been crowned with prosperity which he certainly deserves as it is the result of his own efforts.