Hans Heinrich Morf was born in Nanikon, Uster, Zurich to Elizabeth (Pfister) and Konrad Morf. Hans had at least four siblings; older brothers Herman and Rudolf, younger siblings Anna and Heinrich (Henry). He attended school locally and supposedly had some schooling in Zurich.
On December 24, 1853 Hans had a passport issued; on March 7, 1854 he immigrated to America via Havre, France on board "President Fillmore". Hans went by Johann for a time and later anglicized his name to J.H. for John Henry.
Upon arrival in the United States J.H. settled in Wisconsin and then moved around, finally settling in Iowa on June 17, 1860. He served in the US Army from 1861 to 1864 in the Sioux City Cavalry. His unit fought under Gen. Alfred Sully at the Battle of White Stone Hills, Dakota Territory. He was promoted to Fifth Sergeant in 1863 and transferred to Company I, Seventh Cavalry in July of the same year. Later in life he was a member of the G.A.R. and thirty years after his service ended he was declared disabled by the Washington Solider's Home in Orting.
J.H. married Bridget Gaughran on October 3, 1865 in Woodbury, Iowa and together they had 10 or 12 children. Mary, John Henry Jr, William, Charles, Milton and Leo were the six who survived into adulthood; Rudolf was one of those that died young.
J.H. lived in Plymouth County, Iowa where he owned a farm southwest of Merrill. He was a member of the Royal Arch Masons (Chapter 26) in the State of Iowa. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows at Melbourne and was a charter member at the mason's Giblem Lodge at Le Mars where he was also the first noble grand.
J.H. held a variety of jobs and county level positions, he was a postmaster, a store owner (1866), county treasurer (1867, 1869, 1871), notary public, county recorder (1868, 1870), farmer, census enumerator (1880) and he worked in the grain (built the first grain elevator in the county) and coal business.
In May 1888 the family moved to Washington where they settled in Tumwater, Thurston County. J.H. lived in Tumwater for the remainder of his life, save the 9 months he lived at the Solider's Home in Orting a few months before his death.
On December 24, 1853 Hans had a passport issued; on March 7, 1854 he immigrated to America via Havre, France on board "President Fillmore". Hans went by Johann for a time and later anglicized his name to J.H. for John Henry.
Upon arrival in the United States J.H. settled in Wisconsin and then moved around, finally settling in Iowa on June 17, 1860. He served in the US Army from 1861 to 1864 in the Sioux City Cavalry. His unit fought under Gen. Alfred Sully at the Battle of White Stone Hills, Dakota Territory. He was promoted to Fifth Sergeant in 1863 and transferred to Company I, Seventh Cavalry in July of the same year. Later in life he was a member of the G.A.R. and thirty years after his service ended he was declared disabled by the Washington Solider's Home in Orting.
J.H. married Bridget Gaughran on October 3, 1865 in Woodbury, Iowa and together they had 10 or 12 children. Mary, John Henry Jr, William, Charles, Milton and Leo were the six who survived into adulthood; Rudolf was one of those that died young.
J.H. lived in Plymouth County, Iowa where he owned a farm southwest of Merrill. He was a member of the Royal Arch Masons (Chapter 26) in the State of Iowa. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows at Melbourne and was a charter member at the mason's Giblem Lodge at Le Mars where he was also the first noble grand.
J.H. held a variety of jobs and county level positions, he was a postmaster, a store owner (1866), county treasurer (1867, 1869, 1871), notary public, county recorder (1868, 1870), farmer, census enumerator (1880) and he worked in the grain (built the first grain elevator in the county) and coal business.
In May 1888 the family moved to Washington where they settled in Tumwater, Thurston County. J.H. lived in Tumwater for the remainder of his life, save the 9 months he lived at the Solider's Home in Orting a few months before his death.
Hans Heinrich Morf was born in Nanikon, Uster, Zurich to Elizabeth (Pfister) and Konrad Morf. Hans had at least four siblings; older brothers Herman and Rudolf, younger siblings Anna and Heinrich (Henry). He attended school locally and supposedly had some schooling in Zurich.
On December 24, 1853 Hans had a passport issued; on March 7, 1854 he immigrated to America via Havre, France on board "President Fillmore". Hans went by Johann for a time and later anglicized his name to J.H. for John Henry.
Upon arrival in the United States J.H. settled in Wisconsin and then moved around, finally settling in Iowa on June 17, 1860. He served in the US Army from 1861 to 1864 in the Sioux City Cavalry. His unit fought under Gen. Alfred Sully at the Battle of White Stone Hills, Dakota Territory. He was promoted to Fifth Sergeant in 1863 and transferred to Company I, Seventh Cavalry in July of the same year. Later in life he was a member of the G.A.R. and thirty years after his service ended he was declared disabled by the Washington Solider's Home in Orting.
J.H. married Bridget Gaughran on October 3, 1865 in Woodbury, Iowa and together they had 10 or 12 children. Mary, John Henry Jr, William, Charles, Milton and Leo were the six who survived into adulthood; Rudolf was one of those that died young.
J.H. lived in Plymouth County, Iowa where he owned a farm southwest of Merrill. He was a member of the Royal Arch Masons (Chapter 26) in the State of Iowa. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows at Melbourne and was a charter member at the mason's Giblem Lodge at Le Mars where he was also the first noble grand.
J.H. held a variety of jobs and county level positions, he was a postmaster, a store owner (1866), county treasurer (1867, 1869, 1871), notary public, county recorder (1868, 1870), farmer, census enumerator (1880) and he worked in the grain (built the first grain elevator in the county) and coal business.
In May 1888 the family moved to Washington where they settled in Tumwater, Thurston County. J.H. lived in Tumwater for the remainder of his life, save the 9 months he lived at the Solider's Home in Orting a few months before his death.
On December 24, 1853 Hans had a passport issued; on March 7, 1854 he immigrated to America via Havre, France on board "President Fillmore". Hans went by Johann for a time and later anglicized his name to J.H. for John Henry.
Upon arrival in the United States J.H. settled in Wisconsin and then moved around, finally settling in Iowa on June 17, 1860. He served in the US Army from 1861 to 1864 in the Sioux City Cavalry. His unit fought under Gen. Alfred Sully at the Battle of White Stone Hills, Dakota Territory. He was promoted to Fifth Sergeant in 1863 and transferred to Company I, Seventh Cavalry in July of the same year. Later in life he was a member of the G.A.R. and thirty years after his service ended he was declared disabled by the Washington Solider's Home in Orting.
J.H. married Bridget Gaughran on October 3, 1865 in Woodbury, Iowa and together they had 10 or 12 children. Mary, John Henry Jr, William, Charles, Milton and Leo were the six who survived into adulthood; Rudolf was one of those that died young.
J.H. lived in Plymouth County, Iowa where he owned a farm southwest of Merrill. He was a member of the Royal Arch Masons (Chapter 26) in the State of Iowa. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows at Melbourne and was a charter member at the mason's Giblem Lodge at Le Mars where he was also the first noble grand.
J.H. held a variety of jobs and county level positions, he was a postmaster, a store owner (1866), county treasurer (1867, 1869, 1871), notary public, county recorder (1868, 1870), farmer, census enumerator (1880) and he worked in the grain (built the first grain elevator in the county) and coal business.
In May 1888 the family moved to Washington where they settled in Tumwater, Thurston County. J.H. lived in Tumwater for the remainder of his life, save the 9 months he lived at the Solider's Home in Orting a few months before his death.
Inscription
J H Morf
Co I
7th Iowa Cav
Gravesite Details
Internment date: November 30, 1896
Family Members
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