Melissa M. Courtney ^{1 2 3 4}

  General Notes:

Following the death of her first husband, Arthur Brady Halferty, in 1857, she was remarried to John K. Morris in 1857 in Iowa City, Wright County, Iowa. She had 7 more children with John Morris.
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  Noted events in her life were:

• She appeared on the 1860 US Census in West Point Township, Lee County, IA on 9 June 1860. ⁵

1860 US Census
Page 11, Family 69, Roll 330
West Point Township, Lee, Iowa, United States
John Morris..26..PA..Farmer
Malissa Morris..26..IN
Clarinda Morris..9..IA
Iowa Morris..6..IA
Arthur Morris..4..IA
Mary Morris..3..IA
John Morris..8m..IA

(Melissa was living with her 2nd husband, 4 children from her 1st marriage, and 1 son from her 2nd marriage. All of the children from her 1st marriage to Arthur Brady Halferty were enumerated with the surname of Morris.)

NOTE - If her birth date was 21 Jan 1833, then her age should have been 27 instead of 26.
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• She appeared on the 1870 US Census in West Point Township, Lee County, IA on 3 August 1870. ³

1870 US Census
Page 37, Dwelling 285, Family 274
West Point Township, Lee, Iowa, United States
John Morris...38..PA..Farmer
Malissa Morris..37..IN..Keeps House
Iowa Morris..17..IA..At Home
Arther Morris..16..IA..Farm Laborer
John Morris..10..IA
Elizabeth Morris..8..IA
James Morris..7..IA
Elie Morris..5..IA
Susan Morris..5..IA
Lewis Morris..4..IA
Henry Morris..7m..IA..Feb

(Living with 2nd husband, 2 children from 1st marriage and 7 children from current marriage.)
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• She was buried on 12 November 1904 in the McPherson Cemetery in McPherson, KS.

Find A Grave Memorial #54008404
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• Her obituary was published in the McPherson Weekly Republican on 18 November 1904 in McPherson, KS.

⁶ Mrs. J. K. Morris died Saturday morning at her home at 607 North Walnut Street. Mrs. Morris was very old and has been in poor health for some time.

Melissa Courtney Morris was born in Ohio Jan. 21st, 1833. Died at her home in McPherson November 12th, 1904.

Her parents moved to Iowa where she was married to Brady Halferty, and by this union four children were born; all of which are living. one son A. H. Halferty who lives in Jackson township, and Mrs. C. W. Yowell. Mrs. Huette lives at Fort Madison, Iowa and Mrs. Burr of Wichita, Kansas. The last two were not present.

After the death of her first husband she was married in Iowa to J. K. Morris. By this union five sons and two daughters were born of which one son is dead, two sons live at a distance and were not able to be present. Those present were Mrs. C. W. Yowell, Mrs. Susan Beaty, Lewis and Charles Morris.

She removed with her husband to Kansas in 1872 and settled on a homestead in Sharps Creek. In the spring of 1881 she moved to McPherson where she resided continuously till her death. At the age of 14 years she was converted and joined the Baptist church. After coming to Kansas she united with the First Baptist church of McPherson. November 6th 1891 she united with the Christian church of McPherson and has lived a consistent Christian to the end passing peacefully away in the hope of a blessed Resurrection. Funeral services were conducted at the Christian church by Elder S. W. Elain.

(Source: McPherson Weekly Republican, 18 Nov 1904, McPherson, KS)
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Melissa married Arthur Brady Halferty, son of Arthur Halferty and Maria Lightfoot, on 16 March 1849 in Fort Madison, IA.¹ (Arthur Brady Halferty was born on 3 November 1819 in Pennsylvania,⁷ died on 14 November 1857 in , Lee County, IA ⁷ and was buried after 14 November 1857 in Fort Madison, IA ⁷.)

  Marriage Notes:

Name: Arthur B. Halferty
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 16 Mar 1849
Event Place: Lee, Iowa, United States
Gender: Male
Spouse's Name: Melissa Courtney
Spouse's Gender: Female

Citing this Record
"Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJWQ-7VQ : 18 October 2017), Arthur B. Halferty and Melissa Courtney, 16 Mar 1849, Lee, Iowa, United States; citing reference Pg 281 rn 1006, county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 959,189.
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