Garrard III and Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan of Champaign, Illinois.

Eliza's letter of 1895 to her daughter-in-law, Helen Melvina (Mellie) Groesbeck Morgan, is in three parts here.

Part 1.

Part 2.

Part 3.

In the letter Eliza mentions many different family members. In my attempt to learn who they are, I searched the microfilm of Champaign County Historical Archives at the Family History Library. The three following Morgan family history sheets are from that collection. Its my beginning.

The sources on the family history sheets are marked with the following Roman Numerals.

II = Cunningham’s History of Illinois and Champaign County, 1905, Urbana Library.
XII = Biographical Record of Champaign County., S.V. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1900.

It appears Garrard and Eliza Ann Morgan lived near two of Garrard's brothers, Woodson and William F. Morgan, a nephew, William H. Morgan, and some of their family members.

William F. Morgan

Woodson Morgan

Woodsen Morgan [perhaps Garrard's brother], from Kentucky
(F)1st supervisor of Crittenden Twsp., 1862
(II) lived in Linn grove area in 1850’s.

William H. Morgan

(XII) Notes: Received a liberal education in common schools of his native county. Became proficient in Agriculture on the parental farm. After reaching his mijority [sic], he settled upon an eighty acre farm in Crittenden Township which he owned and improved. Also engaged in live stock and grain. He controlled the major portion of the local grain trade and was manager of grain elevators.

Information on the places where family members lived can be found here. Tolono, Crittenden, Champaign, Urbana, Mattoon, Elmwood, and Peoria, Illinois.

Since discovering and studying Eliza’s letter, I’ve wanted to know who Rettie was. The woman who made, and sent Eliza, the magnificent blue silk darning bag, she so beautifully described to Mellie. The gift seemed to bring her such pleasure.

Each of these women apparently appreciated and enjoyed beautiful fine needlework. Presently I think Rettie might be Reverend Green’s wife, although “Rettie” seems a stretch for “Lucinda” to me. Perhaps she’s her daughter.

The picture of the handwork is Mellie’s. She embroidered the rose and framed it in hard-anger embroidery when her youngest son, John Hamilton Morgan received his law degree. Thank you, Eliza and Mellie Morgan descendant Karen M., for sharing that picture.

Champaign Historical Archives, Champaign County Library, Urbana, Ill. copied August 4, 1978, FHL #1,026,785. I found some very intersting information on Linn Grove, which I will post another time.