Emily (Emma) Jane Morris (maiden name: Eggert) was born on February 28, 1838, to parents Adrian V. Eggert and Emily M. Tanner in South Trenton, New York. Not much is known of her early life, but she likely lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she later became acquainted with Henry V. Morris. The two married in Cincinnati on December 9, 1857, and moved to Wisconsin in 1861, initially for Henry's occupation as a railroad engineer. Months after their arrival, Henry began work as a military training instructor before being commissioned an officer in the 20th Wisconsin Infantry. He served in various capacities until August of 1865 and returned to Emily, who remained in Wisconsin. Soon thereafter, the couple and their children relocated for the last time to St. Louis, Missouri.

Emily had six children with Henry: two sons who died in infancy (one of whom was named Milford and was born around 1859) and four other children: Harvey (or Henry) H., born on February 2, 1860; Nellie (Ella) Maria, born on June 10, 1862; Emily Duffield, born on July 17, 1864; and Charles Alden, born on October 14, 1871.

Henry Morris died in 1898 and Emily applied for and received a widow's pension. In the years that followed, she would live first with her youngest son, Charles, in St. Louis, and then with her only surviving daughter, Ella, and her extended family. On June 10, 1923, Emily died of chronic myocarditis and was interred in her family's plot in Cincinnati with her husband.