1895 letter from Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan to her daughter-in-law Helen Melvina (Mellie) Groesbeck Morgan. Part 2.

Following is the continuation of (Letter from Eliza Hamilton Morgan, mother of John Hamilton Morgan, to Helen M. Morgan, wife of John Morgan) from the John Hamilton Morgan Collection at the Marriott Library, Special Collections, University of Utah.

Part 2

Visits and birthday wishes to “Pa” are recapped by Eliza.

Continued from here.


You have been hearing from some of the family who perhaps have told you all that is worth telling. I believe all are well now for the first time. I venture out into the street. I went to see Woodson’s babe who had been very bad with a cough and cold, but it is well now and Hattie brought it to see us last week as she was having it out to have a picture of it.

Millard sent us some very fine pictures of Stella and the children and some he had taken for Garrard. He sent me a large one to frame. He sent a picture of the minister that preaches at the M. E. Church that Stella attends. He is a very nice looking young man. Those was for Pa’s birthday and Henry wrote and sent 10 dollars. Gertrude brought him a dozen oranges—very large. Amelia brought him a basket of fruit. Florence brought him 2 segars [sic, sugars?].

You ask about Harry’s salary. I thin[k] he gets $35 per month. He gave me 5 dollars a few days since and $3 to give to Maude. She was not to know who gave it but must think it came from me and I must not speak of my gift. I made no promises except to not tell Maude, so--. You are so far away and want to know ever[y] thing—so I tell you.

We do not see much of Amelia and Gertrude but hear of them being over in town often. Mr. Richard was here a few minutes yesterday—found your Pa asleep. He does not come often. He went from here to call at Woodson’s. Don’t you speak of it but a young Mr. Stanley Boggs is very attentive to Gertrude; Harry Marble to Velma; Max Beck to Maude—the last two are kids.

Your Pa is sitting out on the porch. I wish he had a new one, but it is better than none at all. We are having fine spring weather—everything is green and the trees are in full bloom—fine prospects for fruit.

Billy’s business is picking up but his feet still hurt him. Woodson’s business is still good. Garrard is still running over with his new found hope. He sent Florence some money last week. Told he[r] he wanted them to get up a real good dinner for her birthday [Print page 3.] and have strawberries and when they seated themselves at their little table they must all bow their heads and ask God’s blessings and have Velma read the 8th or 10th chapter of Romans and have Irine sing “Amazing Grace,’” He taught her to sing it so nice when they lived out on the farm and told her that her Grandpa used to sing it to him early in the morning sitting by the fire side when he was a little boy. Velma told me they carried out his request all but having the strawberries. We are all so glad that he is so happy.

(To be continued.)

[Editor's notes.]
As I’ve studied this letter I made a list of forty different people and places; named or generalized that Eliza writes about. My hearts warmed by the love her letter exudes from several generations ago. And it is sobering to consider the kind of research needed to “chart” this family.

1) It appears John Morgan’s siblings may have communicated with Mellie after John’s death. And Eliza knows about it.

2) Did Mary Ann Linton compile family group sheets for any of Garrard Morgan III siblings? My mother (Helen Rex Frazier) didn’t have any.

My head’s finally wrapped around the reality that three of Garrard III brothers: John Sanderson, Woodson, and William Franklin married three Bruce sisters; Eleanor, Elizabeth, and Ann Threlkeld, respectively. It appears that the nieces and nephews named in this letter could come from these families, as they are listed in Life and Ministry of John Morgan, Appendix II, pgs. 588-590. That helps me understand a “Bruce Family” booklet my mother had. I’ve never seen a book about the three Morgan brothers’ legend. I will ask other family members, and at the Church History Library.

Perhaps Garrard, in the last paragraph (above), is Eliza's youngest son, and Velma, Florence, and Irine are his daughters/and/or wife. And could his reflections to Florence, of her Grandpa, be of "Pa?"

3) I wonder if John Morgan’s brother, “Lon” Leonidas Morgan, worked at John Morgan’s school.

4) Mellie showed interest in her husband's family.