More information about this collection...

Colonel A.A. Morey Dies in Local Hospital

Colonel Archibald A. Morey, prominent in the civic, banking, military and fraternal life of the city for many years, died yesterday shortly after noon. He had been ill for many months and death occurred at the Hanly hospital where he had been for many weeks.

Funeral services are to be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock at the chapel of the Wessendorf mortuary and will be under the auspices of the Santa Cruz lodge, B.P.O.E. 824. Entombment will be at the Santa Cruz mausoleum.

Colonel Morey was born in Fulton county, Illinois, November 7, 1848 and was educated at Hedding college, Abington, Knox county , Illinois.

In 1864 at the age of 15 years he ran away from home to join Company G. of the 137th Illinois infantry as a drummer boy. He served in the army 41 months.

Mustered out of the army at Rock Island, Illinois, he remained there and became a deputy county clerk, studying probate law at the same time.

He held his G.A.R. membership in Sheridan Dix Post of San Jose. He always took a great interest in military affairs and organized the fourth division of naval militia in this city in 1895 and served with the rank of lieutenant and commander for 21 years. Many look back to the old armory days when weekly, they drilled under Col Morey. He was for many years on the staff of the naval militia of California and during the earthquake and fire in San Francisco he was second in command of the militia of the Pacific coast when the head division was camped near Nob hill. Col Morey always in those days greeted and welcomed the commanders of the naval vessels which appeared in this bay. He always had a military bearing.

On December 8, 1871, he married Sophie M. Case at Rock Island Ill, a member of one of the very prominent families of that city. An event in their life was the celebration of their golden wedding at the Walnut avenue residence when hundreds called to offer their felicitation.

Sixteen months following his wedding the Moreys came to California and lived at Gilroy, where Col. Morey's father. Rev. John Morey was pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a regular church attendant and at the Congregational church of this city.

Only a short time was spent at Gilroy and then Watsonville was the home city, where he was connected in the firm of A Lews and company. Twice within the next three years he returned to Illinois with his family intending to remain there.

In March of 1876 he was called to Watsonville to become manager of the store of Ford and Sanborn. A short time later it was reorganized into Charles Ford & company with Dr. Charles Ford, J.S. Menasco and Colonel Morey as equal partners.

On the dissolution of partnership in 1890 with his family he moved to Santa Cruz and became one of the leading citizens, prominent in the financial and civic life. In 1892 under the leadership of A.P. Hotaling, he assisted in the organization of the Peoples Bank and Peoples' Saving bank now the Farmers' and Merchants' National bank. In that bank he served as cashier for 21 years and was a director and vice president of the Santa Cruz County National bank and Santa Cruz Bank of Savings and Loans. He retired from active business in July, 1918.

He was a member of Santa Cruz Lodge of Odd Fellows having transferred his membership from the Pajaro lodge. He was a charter member of Santa Cruz lodge of Elks.

His wife preceded him in death and he is survived by two daughters, Ethelbert Lukens of San Jose and Margaret Morey Cope of Los Angeles, and a grandson, Morey Case Cope of Santa Cruz.

Date of Birth: 1848-11-07

Date of Death: 1933-19-08

County: Santa Cruz

Cemetery/City of Burial: Santa Cruz Memorial Park

Plot: EM 76

Mortuary: W&S

Cause of Death: Hrt/Carditis

Date of Marriage: 1871/12/08

Spouse: Case_ Sophie

Occupation: Banking

Religion: Co

Height: 5'7

Complexion: Lt

Eye Color: Bl

Hair Color: Br

Local Address: Walnut Ave

Last City: Santa Cruz

Native of: IL

Father Native of: John (ME)

Mother Native of: Akins_ Fanny (NY)

Enlisted: 1864/05/20

Discharged: 1864/09/24

Military Unit: IL_ 137 Inf_ Co G

Rank: Pvt

Military Notes: R-Glsbrg_ Also Co C

GAR#: SD7

Available records used to obtain information:
Cemetery records
Santa Cruz County death records
Military records
Santa Cruz and Monterey newspapers
Voter Records

CW Reference: RLM 1881 Roster