John Hamilton and Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan Part 4

Father Groesbeck gave John and Mellie a block of ground located on the north side of First South between West Temple and First West, later known as 144 West First South. John Morgan built a new college there in 1870. A building was constructed large enough for the school and a large apartment on the top floor in the rear. It appears that this is the home Mellie is living in with her two daughters, Helen Melvina and Eliza Ann, when she welcomes John home from his mission in December 1877. There is a picture of the college on the Phelps Family History website.

[From the John Morgan Journal, Marriott Library, University of Utah. Southern States Mission]

November, 1877
21st - Started on the M and C. road for the West with a company of about 80 Saints. All Well. Changed cars at Corinth. Took Ohio and Miss. For Columbus, Ky. Where we crossed the Mississippi on a boat in the cars.
…
26th - Began to make arrangements to get permanent winter quarters. Rode over to South Pueblo with Dr. Shelburne, who showed about town and we secured a location to erect barracks. At night we held a meeting and took some steps to organize into the U. O. Bro. Moyers and Dennington kicked out of the traces and showed a bad spirit.
...
December 1st, 1877
Worked all day at our barracks. In the afternoon moved into them. Got in by dark all O.K.
...
5th - After bidding the camp goodbye, I went up to South Pueblo and at 2 P.M. boarded the train for Denver, where I arrived at 8:30 at night and I stopped over night at that point.

6th - At 8 A.M. took the Kan. Pacific for Cheyenne where I arrived at 1 P.M. and in one hour took the U.P. train for Ogden, traveled all day, slept well at night.

7th - At daylight we made Laramie for breakfast. Cold and unpleasant. Travelled all day and at night arrived at Ogden. Bro. Zeb. Jacobs, Drove home over the U.C. to Salt Lake where I arrived at 8:20. Came up home and met my dear wife and children after an absence of 2 years, one month and ten days. My family all well.

8th - About home all day which I enjoyed very much. My wife had a new suit of clothes for me, which I needed very much. The rooms of the house were nicely fixed up and everything looked cosy and neat. I feel very thankful to God for His mercies and blessings.
…
15th - December. At the invitation of Bro. N. V. Jones, I preached at the 13th Ward Assembly room at 2 P.M. to a full house of Saints, who paid strict attention. Met many old acquaintances and friends. At night went to the 17th Ward where I preached again at Bishop John H. Smith’s request. A good feeling.

16th – Spent part of the day in writing and went with Dr. Williams of Chicago to the President’s office, The Temple, Tabernacle and other places.
...
20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th. December
Have employed the time for the past few days in reading and enjoying home. The weather has been very pleasant and warm. Have met many of the brethren and sisters who appear glad to welcome me home. While out on my mission I felt much anxiety to know how my mission would result and the Lord saw proper to show me that I should do a good work and return home welcomed by all the Saints. My mind was at rest from that time on.

25th - Christmas Day. Snowing and cloudy. The first snow fall I have seen during the season. Three years since I had the opportunity of being at home on Christmas day. Santa Claus visited our house last night and brought a supply of candy, dolls and nuts for the little ones. Had an invitation to John G’s [perhaps John Groesbeck, Mellie’s brother] for dinner, but had rather stay at home and enjoy the society of my wife and little ones.
…
January 1st, 1878
Was at home today the first New Years spent at home for three years. Bro.[Nicholas] Groesbeck and Bruce Taylor came in and spent the evening. Bro. G. [probably Nicholas Groesbeck] went away to attend the meeting of City Council, while Bruce remained and we had a long talk upon matters pertaining to religion.

(To be continued.)

I took the picture of the greenery with red berries at the Chevy Chase Ward, Bethesda, Maryland, 2008. History of Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan by granddaughter Marjorie Morgan Gray submitted to Daughters of the Utah Pioneer Museum 9 Jun 1977. The Life and Ministry of John Morgan, Arthur M. Richardson, Nicholas G. Morgan, Sr., 1965, p.46.

Helen Rex Frazier, "A Trip to the Lake"

Following are some facts and a few guesses about Helen Rex Frazier’s grammar assignment of October 6, 1926. It is the only paper she kept from that time of her life (or perhaps her mother kept it for her). The Lake in this account is Bear Lake, north of Randolph, Utah. Helen was thirteen years old. It was a new school year and my guess is she was assigned to write about something she’d done during the summer.

Bessie Morgan Rex (her mother) and Gail Morgan Clayton (her aunt) are John Hamilton and Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan’s two youngest daughters. As young women the sisters both worked for the Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company in Salt Lake City prior to their marriages, just a little over a year apart.

Gail Morgan and her husband John (known as Jack) Clayton lived in the city, Salt Lake City, Utah. Bessie Morgan and her husband Percy Harold (known as P. H.) Rex lived in the country, Randolph, Utah. According to Winifred Rex Andrus the families were close and looked forward to spending time together. During the summer months the Clayton’s oldest son John Morgan (known as Jack) Clayton worked on the Rex Ranch in the hayfields.

This essay is about the Jack Clayton family coming to Randolph to pick up their son Jack, after he’d spent the summer working with his Uncle P. H. Rex and cousins in Randolph. At the time each family had five children of similar ages.

Bessie Morgan married Percy Harold (P. H.) Rex 12 June 1912. Their children are: 1913 Helen, 1915 Harold Morgan, 1918 Winifred, 1920 John Morgan, 1924 Maeser Morgan, 1930 Flora Elizabeth.

Gail Morgan married John (Jack) Clayton, 08 Feb 1911. Their children are: 1912 Bernice, 1914 John Morgan (Jack), 1919 Gail, 1921 Darwin Spencer, 1925 Richard (Dick) William.

Amy is probably Amy Rex Gerber (1914-1998). Parents, John Oseland and Edna Josephine Brown Rex.

As for Mr. Smith. Neither Aunt Winnie [Winifred Rex Andrus] nor I can guess at who he might be.

I was finally able to identify this lovely portrait of Jack and Gail Morgan Clayton and their first child, Bernice Clayton Purchase. For years it’s been one of the few unknown/unmarked pictures among Helen Rex Frazier’s collection. The head used on the John Hamilton Morgan family portrait sheet for Gail’s husband, Jack, is from this portrait.

The scalloping on the skirt, and the tied sashes on the sides of the dress, toddler Bernice is wearing, are similar in style to the white dress Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan made for granddaughter Helen Rex Frazier in about 1921. I can’t tell if it is embroidered in the flowered, leaf, vine patterns she used.

From the Helen Rex Frazier collection. History, Descendants, and Ancestry of William Rex and Mary Elizabeth Brough of Randolph, Utah, compiled by Ronald Dee Rex, 1999, p. 245.

Helen Rex Frazier 1979 autobiography conclusion

Grandma Morgan [Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan] made a white dress for me and entered it in the State Fair. We had a Christmas Program and I learned “The Night before Christmas” and wore the white dress.

Fourth grade my teacher was Rachel Pickett (Wilson), fifth grade was Mrs. Mary Israelson and sixth grade teacher was her husband Vernon Israelson. The first 5 grades we went to the red brick school house, but in the sixth grade I/we went to the high school up on the hill. Glen Moss taught me in the 7th and 8th grades and then I went into high school where I had two teachers in the 9th grade; Mr. Maughn and Miss Shipley.

Mother wanted her children to have every opportunity for a good education. The High School in Randolph was small, with only the basics being taught. When I was in the 10th grade I lived in Salt Lake with Mother’s brother’s family; Uncle Earl [Gerard Earl Morgan], Aunt Merin [Merin Birgitta Engman Morgan], and Jerry and attended LDS High School. I also took violin lessons from Arilia Cook Schrymer at the McCune School of Music on North Main Street. The Church Office Building and Relief Society Buildings now stand where LDS High and Jr. College stood.

After one year at LDS it was decided that I should finish my high school in Randolph. The High Schools in Randolph and Woodruff had been consolidated. Ruben Law was the principal. He was a young man very interested in teaching and in improving the educational opportunities in Rich County. I participated in High School activities playing in the school orchestra, singing in the glee club, taking parts in school plays and public speaking.

In 1930 when I was 17 a special event happened in our family. Flora Elizabeth was born on April 7, 1930, one week to the day after my birthday. We were all so happy with her. Her arrival helped my mother through some very trying times—the great depression had started—the bank in Kemmerer went broke and Father lost the ranch on Bear River and most of his livestock. The house in Randolph was saved. The only time I saw Mother cry hard was when father came back from the bank. I went up stairs and she was lying on her bed, her glasses off, and her eyes red as she told me what had happened. They had worked so hard so they could be financially able to send their children to college and now all of her plans came tumbling down.

I finished high school and went to Utah State Agriculture College in Logan one semester. However, in the fall of 1932 I went to LDS Business College and worked in a home for my board and room. I took shorthand, typing, and bookkeeping. I worked for the County Assessor for Rich Co. to get some money for my tuition. I did not graduate from LDS Business College because the County Agriculture Agent could give me work in his office part time and there was a young man in Woodruff who made me want to be at home.

I took the picture of the McCune Mansion on North Main Street, Salt Lake City, this Spring.Helen Rex on right standing on steps of LDS High. Liberty Park monument, Salt Lake City, L-R Helen Rex Frazier, Jerry Morgan, unknown. Flora Elizabeth Rex Lamborn in goat cart. Glenn Frazier and Helen Rex drinking root beer, about 1934.

John Morgan Journal

Are you too busy for family history? Maybe not! Maybe you’re doing it right now! James Tanner, a genealogist and John Morgan descendant, at Genealog Star lists Ten Ways to Live Your Family History. Thank you so much for these excellent ideas!

Today at The Ancestor Files Amy began posting John Morgan’s Diary for November 17-22, 1888. She has lined up several additional posts to follow. I appreciate what she’s doing, and enjoy further learning and understanding Great Grandfather John Morgan’s life. I trust you will also.

Today there is a very interesting account on Amateur Mormon Historian called The Train Ride Home detailing a John Morgan experience.

I took this picture through the east pines atop the Conference Center, Salt Lake City, Utah this Spring. The Church Office Building is beyond them.

Helen Rex Frazier, 1979 autobiography

Helen Rex Frazier

b. 31 Mar 1913, Randolph, Utah
p. Percy Harold Rex, Bessie Morgan Rex
m. Glenn Frazier, 21 Nov 1937, Oakland, California
d. 26 Jun 1982, Salt Lake City, Utah
b. 29 Jun 1982, Elysian Gardens, Salt Lake City, Utah

Helen Rex was named for her grandmother Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan.
I will have to search my memory if I leave my children and grandchildren a history of my life. I’m now 66 years of age.

I was born 31 March 1913 in Randolph, Rich Co., Utah, the first child of Percy Harold Rex and Bessie Morgan. Father was born and raised in Randolph but mother was born in Salt Lake City. She fell in love with father, married him and moved to Randolph. As the time was nearing for my entrance into this mortal life, Mother stayed with Grandpa [William Rex] and Grandma [Mary Elizabeth Brough] Rex, where she would be near the doctor, as she and father lived on part of the Rex brothers ranch 12 miles from Randolph.

The first home I remember our living in was a white frame house on the north side of Canyon Street one half block east of Main Street. Uncle Will and Aunt Agnes Rex lived across the street. Here two more children were born into the family—Harold Morgan on 24th of July, 1915 and Winifred on 23rd of April 1918.

The night Winnie was born Harold and I were sleeping on a cot in the front room. I awakened and started to cry. Father came to quiet me. Dr. [Matthew Simpson] Reay, in a white coat, asked if there was anything he could do. I quickly scooted down into bed as the man in the white coat frightened me.

World War I was being fought in Europe at this time. Grandma Morgan [Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan] came from Salt Lake to visit. I remember watching her knit socks and scarves for the Red Cross and watching her and mother save the pits from peaches for use in making gas (I believe). They let Harold and I arrange them in dripper pans as they put them out to dry.

In June of 1920 we moved to the home on Church Street. Our family was growing and this home was much larger as it was two stories. John Morgan was born here on 28 December 1920 and on 9 May 1924 another baby boy arrived—Maeser Morgan.

I started school when we lived in the white frame house on Canyon Street. The two story red brick school on the southwest corner of Main and Canyon Street was used then and my first grade teacher was Miss Hicks. She wore her hair with two round bobs, one on each side of her head, just back of her ears. She claimed she could see out of these bobs, so warned us she could tell who was misbehaving when she had her back turned. This really puzzled me.

My parents were sincerely religious and religious teachings were very much a part of our lives. I was taken to Sunday School as soon as I was three years of age. My Great Aunt Hanna Telford was my kindergarten teacher. I loved her very much and delighted sitting on the little red chairs that she had in a circle. There was a pot-bellied stove on one side of the room as the church had no central heating system.

I especially liked the activity song “Fly Little Bird, fly ‘round the ring. Fly little bird while we all sing. Then fly down to someone’s feet and we’ll sing you a song so soft and sweet.” A child would skip around the circle of chairs using his arms for wings and the one he kneeled in front of was the next bird.

Sister Grace Morris, a good friend of my mother’s, taught me in Sunday School and in Bee Hives; Kenneth Muir was one of my Sunday School teachers in my teen years; we studied the Old Testament.

In Primary I remember Eva Telford as my Seagull Teacher. I especially liked her. She had a party at her home for us and she had paper seagulls hanging from the low branches of an evergreen tree.

Minnie McKinnon and Ina Jackson were my Gleaner Teachers when I started my Treasure of Truth and my genealogy. I am so grateful that these people encouraged me to take advantage of activities in various classes such as becoming an “Honor Bee” in Bee Hive, participating in “Story Telling” when I was a Junior Girl, and public speaking in Gleaners. Because of these activities I have never forgotten the story of “Ester” in the Old Testament, ”The Mansion” by Henry Van Dyke, and “The Moonlight Sonata,” of course Mother was always helping and encouraging me in these activities.

Back now to my education in school. In third grade Mary Herbert was my teacher. She had to work hard as our grade had not been taught phonics and as a result could not read. She drilled us to catch up the two last years. Mother decided that year to take in the school teachers as borders—Pearl Stratford and Mary Herbert. Morgan was a toddler and the young women were very daring, rolling their stockings below their knees. Morgan would pull their dress up and show their knee and then slap it. Miss Stratford laughed and thought it was so cute—of course then he did it some more.

[Editor's note: Each summer the family moved to thier ranch house to work their fields, and stock, and cook for the haymen. They always moved their solid oak upright piano with them. Winnifred Rex Andrus recently described to me how they would run wood planks from the front porch steps out to their wagon bed. The men and boys would then slide the piano down the planks onto the wagon and haul it to the ranch house. They returned it to their home in Randolph at the end of each haying season. According to Aunt Winnie (Winifred Rex Andrus) "It always seemed to be in tune!" She would know for she practiced the piano year round.]

(To be continued.)

Top picture of Helen Rex Frazier about 1937. Rex family Church Street home. Helen, Harold, Winnie, Morgan at the side of their home in about 1921. Randolph, Utah ward house in the 1930s. P.H. Rex children L-R Maeser, Helen, Morgan, Winnie, Harold at their Ranch House.

John Hamilton Morgan, Missionary

[Editor’s note: I returned to the Marriott Library to read and copy some of John Morgan’s missionary years. I’m interested in what he recorded while teaching in Haywood Valley, Georgia. I’m familiar with the account of his dream (about 1866) , interpreted by Sister Heywood, in Salt Lake City. And I wanted to read what he recorded in his journal while he traveled there. For an account of his dream, search for John Morgan here. I have copied these entries exactly, even though a typo may seem evident. This is his journal in its entirety for this 11 month period.]

Thank you to John and Helen Melvina Morgan’s descendant Geraldine M. for sharing her beautiful Haywood Valley photos. She and her family visited there last year.

Covington, Indiana, July 4, 1876
Have neglected to keep my Journal for the past month. Have been working some, fishing some and reading considerable. Have read the Book of Mormon and am now reading the New Testament. Have held two and three meetings each Sunday but one and done all the good I could by private talking. An overflowing rain has been falling almost all the month. The wheat crop has been seriously damaged and the corn is being damaged very much.

This is the celebration day of the Anniversary of our Republic. Drunkeness, riot and wrong doing will cover the lands today.

Johnsonville, August 20, 1876
Have been preaching at every opportunity afforded for the entire time that my Journal has been neglected. Generally held two or three meetings each Sabbath. Have written a number of letters for the papers at Covington, which were all published. Brother J. D. H. McAllister and Joseph H. Standing came to me on the 10th day of this month and on the 11th I received my release from President B. Young. On the 12th in company with Brother McAllister I went to the South part of the county and held Church on Sunday and during the week. Three women are seeking the Gospel and desire to be guided by the spirit.

Johnsonville, Indiana, August 24, 1876
Preaching through this part of the country every evening, Very hot, Since prospects of some additions to the Church.

Dist. Town Chattooga County, Ga. October 5, 1876
Left Covington, Indiana about the 20th of September and came to this locality to preach. Have been quite sick, but am better at present.

Haywood Valley, October 28, 1876
Have been preaching here in the locality and with a good prospect of doing good. My health has not been good, but is improving. I am not writing my journal as I should. Must improve in this respect.

Haywood Valley, December 3, 1876
Have been very busy preaching and teaching since I wrote my last entry in my journal. Baptized sixteen persons and have a good prospect for the future.

December 30, 1876
Have been preaching and teaching during the month in Chattooga and Floyd Counties with some success.

Berry Springs, Alabama, April 15, 1877
Since my last entry in my journal I have preached throughout Floyd, Chattooga and Gordon Counties, Georgia, baptizing many and enjoying the spirit of my mission. I left the Brethren in Haywood on the 22nd of March and came to Cherokee, Alabama. Preached in several counties, Cherokee, Dekalb and Dade Counties, Georgia. Visited Green Blake’s and the Browns’ at Sulphur Springs, relatives of Margaret Smoot, also Jack Blake, Alpine, Georgia, and the Grove Oak Branch of the Church in DeKalb.County. Met with Brothers Lisonbee Brewerton and Wightman from Utah with a number of the native Saints. Am now at Chas. H. Paynes, P. O. Alpine, Georgia near where I preached today. Pleasant weather. Met, while on my trip Marion O’Rear, a man that Brother Crosby baptized some years ago. He has become fossilized, also Jas. M. Smith, P. O. Cedar Springs, Ala.

Armuchis Branch, May 7, 1877
Since the 15th of April visited the Grove Oak, Dekalb County branch of the Church. Met Brothers Lisonbee, Brewerton and Wightman and held meeting with them. Returned to Chattooga County, corssing some terrible rivers on the way, swift and rapid. Held a general conference of the North Georgia and Alabama Saints at Haywood Valley Church. Well attended and good spirit prevailing. Brothers Brewerton and Wightman returned to Grove Oak, while Brother Lisonbee and I started on a trip to this branch and the Beechcreek. Found the brethren generally enjoying the spirit of God and feeling well the spirit of emigration is taking hold upon the Brethren generally and I am much in hopes that all will try and emigrate this Fall.

Haywood Valley, May 15, 1877
Came over from the Armuchie Branch last week. Held meeting Sunday forenoon and went to hear a Methodist Circuit-rider preach a mess of stuff about the doing away of prophecy and the Mormon’s delusion, fraud and false Prophet was the burden of his song. His name is Boyd, an Irishman. Went to hear him again on Tuesday night when he had very much softened down.

Held meeting at Uncle Peter Lawrence’s Thursday night. Thursday we came to Major Freeman’s and stopped all night. Gave out a meeting for Sunday. Came on over Saturday and stayed all night at Brother Mannings’. Preached at Major Freeman’s Sunday morning. Close attention paid. Major Freeman badly stirred upon the question of baptism.

Rock Springs, Georgia, June 5, 1877
Brother L. and myself left the brethren in Haywood Valley on the 31st of May. Came to District Town and stopped over night with Wesley Shropshire. Treated kindly, Came to Jas. Mattox for dinner, from there, by way of Lafayette to this place. Stayed all night with Jas. Smith. Obtained a school house to preach in. Preached Sunday to a good audience. Had dinner at Wm. Key’s. Stopped over night at Jas. Wilburn’s. Last night at Mr. Jones. Had dinner at Mrs. Park’s. We are treated kindly in this neighborhood and will probably preach again.

John Hamilton and Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan Salt Lake City Cemetary Family Plot.

At last year’s P. H. Rex family reunion, John and Helen Melvina Morgan’s descendant Flora Rex Lamborn asked if I’d found their three young children’s grave sites. Three of their eleven children died as children. I didn’t know then, but I’ve since discovered they are all buried in the plot John and Helen Melvina are buried in. Lots 15 and 16 North Rod Block 10.

This picture from the John Morgan photograph collection at the Marriott Library shows some stones beyond the gravestone that could have named the children. They’re all gone now.

It appears that a woman is sitting in the carriage just beyond the monument. Could it be Helen Melvina? Could it be one of his other wives? Is it someone who is with the photographer taking this picture?

The Ancestor Files posted a letter inviting contributions to purchase a suitable gravestone for the John Hamilton Morgan grave site. The letter was published in the Deseret News (February 18, 1899 and November 25, 1899) and the Southern Star (March 4, 1899). You can read it by searching for “manifesting” after clicking here. I don’t know when the Morgan gravestone was actually placed at the grave site.

I copied the following burial dates for the family members buried there from the cemetery sexton’s log.

Marie Polly Bovee Groesbeck 29 Apr 1873
Elizabeth Morgan 1 Aug 1874
John Morgan 4 Dec 1881
Flora Groesbeck Morgan 1 Apr 1885
John H. Morgan 19 Aug 1894
James F. Smith 27 Jun 1915
Helen M. Morgan 20 June1930
Burk Kunkel 2 Jun 1935
Ruth Morgan Kunkel 27 May 1949
Eliza aka Lila Ann Morgan Smith 31 Jan 1952

Click on the picture to enlarge. You can see the names on the front markers. The markers mid-right are for John and Helen M. Morgan. They appear to be of the same granite and age. Perhaps they were placed together after Helen Melvina’s passing in 1930.

Are their John and Helen Melvina descendants interested in a project to place a stone at this site naming their children buried here? Would any John Morgan descendants be interested in a project to list his wives together? On the existing monument or a separate stone? A walk through this pioneer section of the cemetery illustrates that information is missing here.