(NOTE: On March 1, 1932, of the 992 men who had served in the 86th Illinois during the Civil War, only 24 men were still living. After William Miller Young, of Co. D, died on March 11, 1932 and George E. Morrill died on March 26, 1932, only 22 were still living from the entire regiment.
George E. Morrill probably never sat for a portrait before the Civil War began, but during the 10 months that he was stationed in the Nashville, Tennessee area with the 86th, he almost certainly took the time to sit for a portrait to send home to the loved ones that he left behind. These portraits were made in one of two forms. The first was called a "tin type" and the other, which was the more commonly purchased, was called a "CDV", which was a paper pictured glued to a heavier card board stock about the size of a modern day baseball card. Especially, in the case of the CDV, they not only made prints for their friends and loved ones, but, they made extra prints, to trade with their tentmates and messmates within their companies.
Then George E. Morrill survived the war and lived well into the 20th century. Through the years, George must have had his portrait taken dozens. If he had one made, I would dearly love to see copies of his CDV added to this site. However, at this time, I would be thrilled to see ANY picture of George added to his site, even ones of him as an old man. Can anyone help in this matter? Thanks, Baxter)

Corporal GEORGE EDWIN MORRILL, Co. C, 86th Illinois

George Edwin Morrill was born on December 23, 1840 in Dexter, Penobscot County, Maine, the son of Levi Morrill III, who some say was born in Massachusetts, however, he was almost certainly born in New Hampshire, and Dorcas (Mason) Morrill, who was born in Maine. Levi Morrill III was born c. November 10, 1789 in New Hampshire, the son of Capt. Levi Morrill (II or Jr.), who was born c. August 20, 1762 and who died on October 9, 1838 in Dixfield, Maine. Levi II was married to Bashaba Johnson, who was born c. 1765 in Brentwood, Maine and who died in or near Readfield, Maine in 1843.
Levi Morrill III was first married to Abigail Whitmore in Readfield, Maine. Levi III was married 2nd to Dorcas Mason in Penobscot County, Maine. The children born to Levi and Dorcas include;
1. George E. Morrill, born December 23, 1840 in Dexter Township, Penobscot County Maine. See his biography below.

2. Henrietta Morrill, born c. 1841 in Dexter Township.

3. Ann J. Morrill, born c. 1843/44 in Dexter Township.

4. Ella M. Morrill, born c. 1845/46 in Dexter Township.

5. Abbie J. Morrill, born c. 1849/50 in Dexter Township.

At the time of the 1850 census, Levi and his family are found in Dexter, Penobscot County, Maine, where he is a Blacksmith;
Levi Morrill M 60 New Hampshire
Dorcas Morrill F 44 Maine
Geo E Morrill M 10 Maine
Henrietta Morrill F 9 Maine
Ann J Morrill F 6 Maine
Ella M Morrill F 4 Maine
Abby J Morrill F 0 Maine

Shortly after this census was taken, Levi and Dorcas brought the family west to Illinois, where they settled in Marshall County, Illinois, near Camp Grove. It was there in Marshall County that Levi Morrill III died on June 3, 1855 near Camp Grove, Illinois. His tombstone states that he was 65 years, 6 months and 24 days old, which would place his date of birth about November 10, 1789.
Dorcas (Mason) Morrill died just over 2 months later on August 24, 1855 at the age of 49 years, 9 months, 20 days. This would place her date of birth c. November 4, 1805. Their mortal remains were laid in the Camp Grove Prairie Preserve in Camp Grove, Marshall County, Illinois. See Levi's Find A Grave Memorial# 64243106.

Now to continue with the biography of George E. Morrill;
On August 13, 1862, George E. Morrill went into Chillicothe, Illinois and volunteered to serve in a company which was being raised in Chillicothe and in the townships immediately north and west of Chillicothe, including Hallock Township in Peoria County and LaPrairie and Saratoga Townships in Marshall County. This company was being raised by John H. Batchelder, who operated the Ferry at Chillicothe, and Dr. Joseph Thomas, a Chillicothe area Physician. When he volunteered, Cyrus gave his residence as Hallock Township.

ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES
Illinois Civil War Detail Report

Name MORRILL, GEORGE E Rank PVT
Company C Unit 86 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence LAPRAIRIE, MARSHALL CO, IL
Age 22 Height 5' 10 1/4 Hair BROWN
Eyes BLUE Complexion LIGHT
Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity DEXTER, PENOBSCOTT CO, ME

Service Record
Joined When AUG 13, 1862
Joined Where CHILLICOTHE, IL
Joined By Whom J H BATCHELDER
Period 3 YRS Muster In AUG 27, 1862
Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom
Muster Out JUN 6, 1865
Muster Out Where WASHINGTON, DC
Muster Out By Whom LT SCROGGS
Remarks MUSTERED OUT AS CORPORAL

When Batchelder and Thomas had almost 100 volunteers, they led the Chillicothe area company into Peoria where they went into camp at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park. On August 27, 1862, Batchelder, Thomas and 87 of their volunteers, including now Private George E. Morrill, were mustered into service as Co. C of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Dr. Thomas was elected by the men of Co. C to serve as their Captain, while Batchelder was elected to serve as their 1st Lieutenant.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched out the gates of Camp Lyon, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, down to the railroad depot. There they were joined by the men of the 85th Illinois, who had been mustered into service at Camp Peoria. Together, at the depot,the men of the 85th & 86th Illinois boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt, Jeffersonville, Indiana, which was located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. By early October, the men of the 85th & 86th were in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade in General Buell's army who were in pursuit of Confederate troops under the command of General Braxton Bragg. On Oct. 8, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more in the coming years. After the Battle of Perryville, the Confederate troops withdrew from Kentucky and the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Nashville, Tennessee where they would go into winter camp.
Those first few months in the service were very difficult for the green troops, the new diet and lifestyle were not conducive to good health. Even before the men of McCook's Brigade left the Jeffersonville/Louisville area, the Louisville Hospitals were full to overflowing with sick and dying soldiers. On the march to Nashville after the Battle of Perryville, still more soldiers were left behind sick at places like Danville, Kentucky; Bowling Green, Kentucky and Gallitan, Tennessee and once the men arrived in Nashville, things really got bad.
That first winter of 1862/63 in the army was especially hard on the new troops. The hospitals of Nashville were full to overflowing with sick troops and hundreds upon hundreds died there. Today, thousands of Union soldiers lie buried today in what is known as the Nashville National Cemetery, which got it's start as a Union army burying ground that first winter of 1862/63. Almost everyone in the army took their turn in the hospital that first winter and on January 13, 1863, in a letter to his siblings back home, Frederick L. Saxton wrote the following. "I am in the hospital now but am not mutch sick and am getting better. I have a firstrate room to stay in and a good fire place. There is four sick ones in the room besides me. James Ferguson is one of them and one more of our Co. George Morrell is his name. he belongs in our Co. and he is one of the best fellows in the Co. I have been well acquainted with him ever since We left Peoria. he would not have staid so long if it had not of been some of his own comrades. one of them has been pretty sick but is getting along better now."
Private George E. Morrill was soon back with his old Co. C and during the next two and a half years, he would serve faithfully in Co. C as the men of the 86th served in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. During this time, George was a witness to and a participant in numerous battles and skirmishes, some of the bloodiest fighting in the Western Theatre of the war, including the Battles of Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Rome, Georgia, Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, Peach Tree Creek, Georgia, Jonesboro, Georgia, Averasborough, North Carolina and Bentonville, North Carolina and marched with General Sherman to the Sea.
Sometime during the war, Private George E. Morrill was promoted to the rank of Corporal as a sign of his military bearing and his dedication to the service and his company during the war. Shortly after the war came to an official end the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Washington D.C. where in May they marched down Pennsylvania Avenue on the 2nd day of the Grand Review. Corporal George E. Morrill was there with the surviving members of Co. C when they were mustered out of the service on June 6, 1865 in Washington. Soon they were on a train bound for Chicago, where they received their final pay and were discharged. By the end of June of 1865, they were back home with their families in central Illinois.

George E. Morrill was married to Isabelle Atwood, though her name is listed as Thompson in the biography seen below, on ______________ __, 1865. Isabelle was born c. April 29, 1844/45/46 in Illinois, the daughter of Joel Atwood (1804 - 1867) and Isabelle (Shaw) Atwood (1800 - 1891). At the time of the 1850 census, the Atwood family is found in Marshall County, Illinois;
Joel Atwood M 46 Vermont
Isabel Atwood F 48 Scotland
Mary Ann Atwood F 13 Illinois
Isabel Atwood F 5 Illinois

At the time of the 1860 census, the Atwood family is found in La Prairie Township of Marshall County, Illinois. Isabelle is believed to have been teaching school at the time they were married.
The children born to George and Isabelle include;
1. Clara May Morrill, born July 27, 1866 in Illinois. Clara May Morrill was married to William Francis Snelson and at the time of her father's death in 1932, was residing at 704 Hoyt Street in ____________ Washington. Clara died on 13 Feb 1945 and her mortal remains were laid in the Marysville Cemetery in Marysville, Snohomish County, Washington. See her Find A Grave Memorial #1336493.

2. Edwin Silliman "Eddie" Morrill, born July 10, 1868 in Illinois. At the time of the 1900 census, Edwin is a partner in a business in Fairview, Midland, River, Silico, Waterville, and Orondo Precincts Waterville town, Douglas County, Washington. His mother and father are listed as having been born in Maine and Illinois;
Wm Snelson Head M 32 Iowa
Edwin Morrill Male Partner M Jul 1868 32 Illinois
Clara Burnette Housekeeper F 34 Illinois
Roy Burnette Ward M 6 Nebraska

Edwin was married to Mildred Magdalene Jones (1880 - 1964) on July 5, 1904 in Douglas County, Washington. Mildred was born in Iowa on ____________ __, 1880.
The children born to Edwin and Mildred include;
A. George Edwin Morrill, born April 7, 1905 in Washington. George is believed to have been married to Rosalie ____________, who was born c. 1897/98 in Oregon. George is believed to have worked for the U. S. Forestry Service. At the time of the 1940 census, George is believed to be the George E. Morrill, who is found in Ward 7, Asheville, Asheville Township, Buncombe County, North Carolina;
George E Morrill Head M 35 Washington
Rosalie Morrill Wife F 42 Oregon
Geo E Morrill Son M 2 North Carolina

George Edwin Morrill died on July 7, 1985.

B. Helen Morrill, born December 13, 1906 in Washington. Helen was married to ____________ Wolfle. Helen (Morrill) Wolfle died on July 21, 1988.

C. Robert Lafollette Morrill, born ___________ __, 1908 in Washington. Robert died on ____________ __, 2001. Robert was married to Lela Emma Jones (1912 - 2009) in 1936 in Ada County, Oregon. He became a Pastor in a Friends Church. Robert's children include;
a. Barbara Morrill, born after 1936. Barbara was married to __________ McKenzie.
b. Philip R. Morrill, born after 1936.

D. Lois Morrill, born c. March 12, 1915 in Washington. Lois was married to ____________ Harmon. Lois (Morrill) Harmon died on April 8, 2003.

At the time of the 1910 census, Edwin and his family are found in Fairview, Douglas County, Washington;
Edwin S Morrill Head M 41 Illinois
Mildred M Morrill Wife F 30 Iowa
George E Morrill Son M 5 Washington
Helen Morrill Daughter F 3 Washington
Robert L Morrill Son M 1 Washington

At the time of the 1920 census, Edwin and his family are found in Entiat, Chelan County, Washington. Edwin's father and mother are listed as having been born in Maine and Illinois, respectively;
Edwin S Morrill Head M 51 Illinois
Mildred Morrill Wife F 40 Iowa
George E Morrill Son M 14 Washington
Helen Morrill Daughter F 13 Washington
Robert L Morrill Son M 11 Washington
Lois Morrill Daughter F 4 Washington

Edwin Silliman Morrill died in the 1920's. Familysearch has the following record;
Washington Death Certificates
Name Edwin Silliman Morrill
Event Date 08 Jun 1929
Event Place Entiat, Chelan, Washington
Gender Male
Age (Formatted) 60 years 10 months 29 days
Birth Year (Estimated) 1869
Marital Status Married
Spouse's Name Mildred Morrill
Father's Name George Edwin Morrill
Mother's Name Isabell Shaw

Edwin Sillman Morrill died on June 8, 1929 and his mortal remains were laid in the Entiat Cemetery in Entiat, Chelan County, Washington. See his Find A Grave Memorial# 28125770.

At the time of the 1930 census, Mildren and her children are found in Entiat, Chelan County, Washington;
Mildred Morrill Head F 50 Iowa
George E Morrill Son M 25 Washington
Robert L Morrill Son M 21 Washington
Lois Morrill Daughter F 15 Washington

3. Shirley Dorcas Morrill, born August 5, 1870 in Oage County, Iowa. Shirley was married to Clyde Clinton Hammerly (1869 - 1954). Shirley Dorcas (Morrill) Hammerly died on October 23, 1937 in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon and her mortal remains were laid in the Union Cemetery of Cedar Mill in Portland, Washington County, Oregon. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 27279239.

4. Abbie G. Morrill, born and died in 1881.

Sometime between 1867 and 1870, George and Isabelle moved their growing family to Iowa, where they settled in Page County. At the time of the 1870 census, George and his family are found in Washington Township, Page County, Iowa;
George E Morrill M 31 Maine
Isabel Morrill F 24 Illinois
Clara Morrill F 4 Illinois
Edwin Morrill M 2 Illinois
Matilda Darby F 20 Iowa

At the time of the 1880 census, George and his family are found in Morton, Page County, Iowa, where he is farming;
George E Morrill Self M 39 Maine
Isabel M Morrill Wife F 35 Illinois
Clara Morrill Daughter F 14 Illinois
Eddie S Morrill Son M 12 Illinois
Shirley D Morrill Daughter F 10 Iowa
Martha A Johnson Other F 28 Illinois
Almond T Johnson Other M 24 Illinois

Isabelle M. "Bell" (Atwood) Morrill died on September 29, 1882 in Page County, Iowa at the age of 36 years and 5 months. Her mortal remains were laid in the Union Grove Cemetery in Northboro, Page County, Iowa. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 47471283.

George E. Morrill was then married 2nd to Rachel ___________ c. 1883/84. Rachel was born on February __, 1850 in Missouri. No children were born to George and Rachel.

In 1887, some of the surviving members of the 86th Illinois organized and held a reunion of the old 86th during the week of August 27th, the 25th anniversary of the mustering in of the old 86th back in 1862. George E. Morrill was one of 20 members of old Co. C to attend that first reunion, with more than 130 surviving members of the 86th attending in total. The 1887 reunion was such a success that they decided to continue to hold these reunions every August as long as they could and they continued to hold these reunions through 1923, when the few that were able to attend that 1923 reunion tearfully decided that they were too few and too old to continue to hold them any longer. Through the years, 34 different members of old Co. C were able to attend at least one reunion. However, the 1887 reunion proved to be the only reunion that George E. Morrill would attend.

From the 1890 Biographial History of Page County, Iowa comes the following;
"GEORGE E. MORRILL is the pioneer livestock and grain-dealer of Northboro, Iowa. The elevator, which has a capacity of 15,000 bushels, was built by G. J. Cole. The present firm of Howard & Morrill do an annual business of 100,000 bushels, and the past year they shipped seventy-five car-loads of stock. Mr. Morrill shipped the first car-load of lumber into Northboro, and shipped the first car-load of wheat from that point. He is an excellent judge of both grain and stock and has won [page 862] an enviable place in the business circles of Page County. He is descended from good, old, New England stock, the earliest ancestors having settled in Massachusetts about 1620. He was born in Dexter, Penobscot County, Maine, December 23, 1840, and is a son of Levi and Dorcas (Mason) Morrill. He passed his youth in his native State and at the age of sixteen years removed with his parents to Marshall County, Illinois, where he grew to manhood. During the Rebellion he reponded to the call for help in the defense of this Nation, and enlisted August 27, 1862, in Company C, Eighty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The most noted battles in which he participated were Perryville and Chickamauga; he was with General Sherman on his immortal march to the sea, and returned through the Carolinas and on to Richmond, and thence to Washington, being present at the grand review. He was honorably discharged June 6, 1865, as Corporal. He returned to Marshall County, Illinois, where he remained five years. At the end of this time he removed to Page County, Iowa, and settled in Washington Township on wild land. By diligence and industry he succeeded in placing it under good cultivation, and has converted it into one of the best farms in the township; it consists of 160 acres and is situated on section 32.
Mr. Morrill was united in marriage in Marshall County, Illinois, in the fall of 1865, to Isabelle Thompson, and of this union three children have been born: Clara, Edwin S. and Shirley D. Mrs. Morrill was a popular teacher in the public schools before her marriage. In politics Mr. Morrill adheres to the principles of the Republican party. He has been township trustee, Justice of the Peace, and a member of the school board, discharging his duties with much good judgment. He is a member of Gettysburg Post, No. 241, G. A. R., at Northboro; he is a charter member of this post and is its present commander. He has always taken an active interest in religion and education, and has assisted in every public enterprise having for its object the advancement of the community. He is a member of the Baptist Church and is also a deacon of the same. He is a man of upright conduct and enjoys the esteem of a wide circle of acquaintances."

At the time of the 1900 census, George and Rachel are found in South Omaha city Ward 1, Douglas County, Nebraska;
George E Morrill Head M Dec 1839 61 Maine
Rachel K Morrill Wife F Feb 1850 50 Missouri

At the time of the 1910 census, George and Rachel are found in Ward 1 of the city of South Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska;
George E Morrill Head M 70 Maine
Rachael K Morrill Wife F 60 Missouri

At the time of the 1920 census, George and Rachel are found residing on E. Street North in Ward 3 of the city of Wenatchee, Chelan County, Washington;
Guy E Morrill Head M 80 Maine
Rachel K Morrill Wife F 69 Missouri

Rachel K. (__________) Morrill died on ____________ __, 1928 and her mortal remains were laid in the Rose City Cemetery in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon. See her Find A Grave Memorial# 69433461.

Corporal George Edwin Morrill died on March 26, 1932 in Portland, Orego and his mortal remains were laid in the Rose City Cemetery in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon.

by Baxter B. Fite III

(Baxter would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially descendants of George E. Morrill, who might be able to add to the biographical information that we have on George E. Morrill and the Morrill family. Baxter would also like to see copies of any photographs of George E. Morrill which have survived the years be added to his Find A Grave Memorial for all to see and enjoy.)