Christian Howell Morsch, youngest child of Ernestine (née Brander) and Conrad Morsch, was born on the Morsch family farm in Freedom Township, LaSalle County, Illinois. His father had entered the public land there in 1847, soon after the family had emigrated from Germany to the United States. In 1870, Christian Morsch was enumerated on the family farm with his widowed mother Ernestine, next-older brother Henry Joseph, and Henry's wife.

Christian Morsch and Martha Reichter married on 24 February 1875 in Platteville, Grant County, Wisconsin. The couple returned to LaSalle County, Illinois, before moving to Greeley County, Nebraska, where the couple and their two oldest children were enumerated in 1880.

"Christian H. Morsch" was a homesteader. On 12 February 1892, he obtained title from the United States to 160 acres in Greeley County (southeast quarter of Section 24, Township 19N, Range 11W).* Christian and Martha Morsch (with four of their children) were enumerated in 1900 in Greeley County, but later divorced. (Martha, who retained her married name, died in 1938 in Idaho. See: Find a Grave Memorial 18624687.)

Christian Morsch and Mrs. Theresa C. Wright married on 23 June 1909 in Albion, Boone County, Nebraska. (Theresa Caroline Wright, née May, was the widow of Civil War veteran Thomas Guy Wright, and mother of five children.) Christian and "Thrisa C." Morsch were enumerated in 1910 in Boone County with his daughter Ruth and her daughter Aimee. He was then a self-employed nurseryman.

Christian and Theresa Morsch were enumerated in 1920 in Washakie County, Wyoming, and in 1930 in Billings, Yellowstone County, Montana. He died there in 1939; she died there in 1952.

BILLINGS MAN DIES SUNDAY
"Christian Morsch, 87, Came Here From Worland, Wyo.
"After an illness of 15 months, Christian Morsch, 87, died at his home, 322 South Thirty-fifth street, at 9:30 p. m. Sunday. Death was caused by complications resulting from his advanced age.
"He was born on Feb. 13, 1851, in Illinois. He later resided for many years at Albion, Neb., where he married Mrs. Theresa C. Wright on June 23, 1909. The family later moved to Worland, Wyo., residing there for 17 years, and came to Billings 10 years ago. Mr. Morsch was a member of the Evangelical church here.
"He is survived by his widow and four children. Mrs. Cora Jackson of St. Anthony, Idaho; Mrs. Lola Webb of Omaha, Neb.; Jean Paul Morsch of Enderlin, N. D.; and Mrs. Carl Addy of Twin Falls, Idaho, and by 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two stepsons and two stepdaughters, M. H. Wright and Glenn Wright of Lake Bluffs, Ill., Mrs. G. M. Gardner of Billings and Mrs. Delia Skeen of Billings.
"Funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. Tuesday at the Smith funeral home. Burial will be in Montview cemetery." (The Billings Gazette, Montana, 5 Apr 1938, p. 5, cols. 5-6.)

Notes

Full name appears on birth record of Lida Lorena Morsch, born 21 Sep 1879 in Ottawa, LaSalle Co., Illinois: daughter of Christian Howell Morsch and Martha Hattie Richter.

1860 U.S. Census, Freedom Twp., LaSalle Co., Illinois; dwelling 355, family 355, lines 34-40 and 1-2, pp. 49-50 (written), 5 Jun 1860.
34. Conrad Marsch, 54, Farmer ($4,200; $2,000), Baden.
35. Ann -----, 52, Baden.
36. "Christina" -----, 27, Baden. [Justina Dauwalter (née Morsch)]
37. Jacob -----, 26, F. Laborer, Baden.
38. Mary -----, 24, Baden. [Anna Maria Hahn (née Morsch)]
39. Conrad -----, 22, F. Laborer, Baden.
40. Catherine -----, 20, Baden. [Katherine Schmid (née Morsch)]
1. Elisabeth Marsch, 20, Baden.
2. Ann -----, 15, Baden. [Ernestina]
3. Minna -----, 13, Baden.
4. Joseph -----, 11, Ill.
5. Christian -----, 9, Ill.
6. Sophia -----, 5, Ill. [Sophia Hahn]

1870 U.S. Census, Freedom, LaSalle Co., Illinois; dwelling 215, family 213, lines 13-16, p. 206B (printed), p. 28 (written), 12 Aug 1870.
13. Marsch, Ernestine, 63, keeping house ($6,000; $600), Baden.
14. ----- Christian, 19, farm laborer, Ill.
15. ----- Joseph, 21, farmer (-0-; $1,400), Ill.
16. ----- Louisa, 18, keeping house, Ill.

"Wisconsin, County Marriages, 1836-1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8P-BXJS : 15 March 2018), Christian H Morsch and Martha Reichter, 24 Feb 1875; citing Grant, Wisconsin, United States, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1,266,986. Bride d/o Amelia and Hermen Reichter; groom s/o Ernestine and Conrad Morsch.

"MORSCH—Mr. C. H. Morsch, late of D. Heenan & Co's, has gone farm-hunting in Nebraska. ("Home Matters," The Ottawa Free Trader, Ottawa, Illinois, 6 Mar 1880, p. 4.)

1880 U.S. Census, E.D. 144, O'Connor Precinct, Greeley Co., Nebraska; dwelling 6, family 6, lines 18-21, p. 186B (printed), p. 4 (written), 3 Jun 1880.
18. Morrch, C. H., 29, husband, farmer; born in Illinois, parents in Baden.
19. ----- M. H., 23, wife, keeping house; born in Illinois, parents in Prussia.
20. ----- Cora, 3, daughter, Illinois.
21. ----- Larens, 8/12, born in Sep., daughter, Illinois. [Lida Lorena]

1885 Nebraska state census, E.D. 350, Iowa Precinct, Greeley Co.; dwelling 223, family 223, lines 20-25, p. 15 (written), 9 Jun 1885.
20. Morsh, Christian, 34, farmer; born in Illinois, parents in Bad.
21. ----- Martha, 28, keeps house; born in Illinois, parents in Pru.
22. ----- Cora, 9, daughter, Illinois.
23. ----- Lorena, 6, daughter, Illinois.
24. ----- Blanch, 6, daughter, Nebraska.
25. ----- B. Wilbur, 10/12, born in Jul, son, Nebraska.
• Families of brother Conrad Morsch and sister "Anna Mary" Hahn on p. 17, families 241 and 242.

*These public lands were obtained under the 1878 Amendments to the 1873 and 1874 Timber Culture Acts. A settler who planted 10 acres of timber and fostered their growth for 10 years, or who occupied land for 3 years, with 1 acre of trees under cultivation for 2 of those 3 years, was entitled to a quarter section (160 acres) of public land. Christian Morsch's brother Conrad Morsch's heirs, and brother-in-law Christopher Hahn also obtained quarter sections in Greeley Co.

1900 U.S. Census, E.D. 105, Freeman Valley Precinct, Greeley Co., Nebraska; dwelling 160, family 160, lines 11-15, p. 112 (printed), p. 10 (written), 15 Jun 1900.
10. "Morsh," Christian, head, Feb 1851, 49, married 25 years; born in Illinois, parents in Germany, farmer.
11. ----- Martha, wife, Jan 1856, 44, married 25 years, 7 children (6 living); born in Illinois, parents in Illinois.
12. ----- Blanch, daughter, Jun 1883, 17, Nebraska, at school.
13. ----- Howard, son, Jan 1888, 12, Nebraska. at school/farm hand.
14. ----- Jean, son, Feb 1890, 10, Nebraska, at school.
15. ----- Ruth, daughter, Jul 1892, 7, Nebraska, at school.

1920 U.S. Census, E.D. 123, Precinct 5, Worland, Washakie Co., Wyoming; dwelling 285, family 285, lines 69-70, p. 12B (written), 14-15 Jul 1920.
69. Morsch, Christian, head, 68, born in Illinois; parents in Germany; ---- farm.
70. ----- Theresa C., wife, 61; self and parents born in Ohio.

Reviewed 12 December 2021.