John Hamilton and Helen Melvina "Mellie" Morgan lose their first son. December, 1881.

Mellie probably had this picture taken to send to her husband John while he served as president of the Southern States Mission [January 1878 – January 1888] 

Gravestone for baby John Morgan was placed in the family plot by descendant Flora Elizabeth Rex Lamborn and others in 2010.

From the Southern States Mission Field

In late 1881 John Morgan wrote from St. Louis on December 2, “met brother Cowley who accompanied me to the St. James”.

December 3, 1881. – Attended meeting at the Saints Hall p.m. and evening. A small attendance. Received a letter from Mellie stating that the baby was sick. Wrote and telegraphed home.

December 4 – Attending morning service and had dinner at Mr. Martins. At the p.m. meeting I preached on the Apostacy of the Church. After meeting brother Cowley handed me a dispatch announcing the death of my little boy.

At 8:20 started for home via Wabash R.R.

December 5 – Arrived at Omaha at 10:40 and met Mr. C. C. Stebbins who gave me a pass over the U.P. to Ogden. Left for the west at 12:20.

December 6 and 7  -- On the road these two days. Storming some and quite unpleasant. Arrived at Ogden at 6 p.m. and met brother [Nicholas] Groesbeck. Arrived at home at 7:40 and met my family in deepest sorrow. It was one of the severest trials of my life to have to look in the face of my dead boy.

December 8 – At home all day. A few called to see us and made preparation for the funeral which was appointed at 12 o-clock tomorrow.

December 9 – At 12 the front room was filled by friends to attend the funeral. Pres. Jos. F. Smith spoke to the people. We then followed our dead to the cemetery and layed him to rest.

December 10 and 11 – At home these two days. Brother Jas. Mart called and had a talk about emigration.

December 12 – Went up to brother Groesbecks today.

December 13 – Called on Pres. Taylor today and had a talk about mission matters.

December 14 and 15 – At home resting up and enjoying the society of my dear ones. Applied for a situation in the Legislature.

December 25 and 26 – At home these two days and enjoyed Christmas with my family. Most beautiful weather all through month.

January 9, 1882 -- Have been at home most of the time since the 26^th. This a.m. met with the Legislature and was elected Engrossing Clerk and took the oath of office.

January 28 -- Attended the Legislature since last record, and wrote a number of letters. At a party last night.

February 3, 1882 -- Attended the sittings of the Legislature since the 28 ult. Wrote a few letters and mailed quite an amount of papers, tracts, etc. Weather quite cold and clear.

February 8 -- Attended the Priesthood meeting Saturday at the assembly Hall and meeting on Sunday, also at the Ward. Brother Andrus and myself addressed the meeting p.m. Sunday. Dispatches of the 7^th given the passage of a bill disqualifying a polygamist from a seat in Congress. Weather quite cold and pleasant.

February 10 – Attended a party at the Social Hall. Had a pleasant time. Writing in the Legislature. Weather warm and pleasant.

Note: These scant journal entries are John Morgan's only entries during this time. John Hamilton Morgan Journal, Special Curriculum, Marriott Library, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.

John Hamilton Morgan Cemetery Plot. September 9, 2010.

Because They Lived!

Some time ago John Hamilton and Helen Melina “Mellie” Groesbeck Morgan descendants became concerned about the children buried in the Morgan plot who did not have gravestones. That dilemma is not new to the John Hamilton Morgan plot at the Salt Lake City, Utah Cemetery.

A little history of the plot follows:

The first need for a gravestone for John Hamilton Morgan is discussed here.

Last year’s call for assistance is posted here.

The location and pictures of John Morgan family gravestones can be found here and here.

Thursday, September 9, 2010 new gravestones were being set in John Morgan’s Plot at the Salt Lake City Cemetery

John and Mellie’s three children, Elizabeth, John, and Flora Groesbeck.


John and Mellie’s daughter Ruth.

The new stones were set according to the Sexton’s directions. The stone for the three children is in the upper left, near the NE corner of the Morgan plot. The stone for daughter Ruth, with her husband, Sol Burke Kunkel, is near the center of the west plot line in front. The two stones to the right of the large John Morgan marker are for John and Mellie, and went in following Mellie’s death in 1930. The two stones in front of the large John Morgan marker are (left) for daughter Eliza Ann, with her husband, James Frank Smith. The stone to the right of the Smiths is for Marie Polly Bovee Groesbeck (Mellie’s grandmother). The stone east of the Kunkels, near the north plot line, is for Jennie Whipple, who was presumably buried here under Mellie’s direction.

John Hamilton and Mellie Morgan’s descendants, through children Nicholas Groesbeck Morgan and Bessie Morgan Rex, contributed to these stones. A special thank you to Bessie’s youngest daughter, Flora.

“The place where a man is buried is sacred to me” Joseph Smith – From the bronze monument of a grieving family in the Old Nauvoo Burial Grounds

John Hamilton and Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan, Part 7

The baby Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan (Mellie) is holding in this picture is John, born February 12, 1881 (John dies December 4, 1881). Mellie is twenty-nine years old and her daughters are Helen Melvina (also called Mellie), born January 19, 1870, Eliza Ann, born 8 February 1875, and Ruth, born October 4, 1878.

This is the only picture I’ve seen of Mellie with any of her children. It is beautiful! Again, we have John Morgan descendent, Karen, to thank for making it available. Thank you so very much, Karen!

In October of 1883 Mellie accompanies her husband, John Morgan, on a trip East. She is thirty-one years old and takes their youngest baby, Flora (born 19 September 1882) with them. They are gone from their Salt Lake home from October 23 to November 20, 1883. It is the only extended trip of this nature I’ve found Mellie participating in. John mentions Mellie in only a couple of entries during this time, however, it is evident, they do a lot of remarkable things together.

Mellie travels with John to the Eastern United States where he was born, raised, served in the Civil War, and currently serves in the Southern States Mission. She meets his parents for the first time, and stays with them and other family members. They enjoy the sights and attractions of the times together. She travels to mission headquarters in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and regions there-about, meeting the people and seeing the places she’s previously only heard about.

Their return trip is unique in its own right, Mellie and John Morgan accompany Southern State emigrant converts to new settlements in the West.

From John Morgan’s journal, University of Utah, Marriott Library, Special Collections.

1883
October 17
At work at my reports, and making preparation to start to the states taking my wife with me…

October 18
Took Mellie up town to make some purchases…

October 23
Took train at 10:20 a.m. over the D. and R. G. Had a pleasant run, bright and nice weather. On time at the supper house.

October 24
Rested well last night and had a lunch-breakfast at Cimmon Station. Passed Marshall Pass and through Royal Gorge arriving at Pueblo at 4:30 and laid over until 2:10 a.m., having quite a time to get to sleeping car.

October 25
During the day ran through the states of Colo. And Kansas and had a very pleasant run. The weather remained remarkably good.

October 26
Arrived at Kansas City at 5:30 and at 6:45 took Wabash train for St. Louis arriving at 6:25 and stopped at the St. James. Met brother A. H. Snow. Raining and storming heavy.

(To be continued.)