Barzilla Morris was born on October 22, 1834 in Jo Daviess County, Illinois to Nathaniel Morris and Elizabeth D. (Johnson) Morris. He was married to Mary Ann Lawrence, and she gave birth to their son Douglas Morris around 1856. They also had a daughter, Victoria Eldora. Barzilla died on January 26, 1872 in Jo Daviess County. He was buried in Longhollow Cemetery in Elizabeth, Jo Daviess.