1890 Morgan Hotel progress. Linton's birth September 21, 1890.

Continued from here.

Several buildings being built in Salt Lake City about the same time John Morgan built the Morgan Hotel 1890-1891 are pictured here. The Odd Fellows Hall is in this earlier post. And a picture of ZCMI, circa 1889 is here. The Templeton Building, circa 1890 is here.

Like his father-in-law and brothers-in-law, John Morgan is listed in the “Utah directory and gazetteer for 1879-80” as being in the real estate business.

On August 27, 1890, John Morgan was in Salt Lake City, after returning from Manassa, Colorado.

1890

August 28
Met Grow and talked over plans and specifications of building. At 11 a.m. attended Council Meeting …

August 29
At work about the building and other work about town.

August 30
Settled with the men for work done and got settled up with Grow …

September 1
Secured bids for the building and got affairs into shape to push the building.

September 2
At work piling lumber this forenoon. Assisted in setting some 25 or 30 Missionaries apart to go to various parts of the earth. At 5 p.m. left for Idaho.

September 3

Arrived at Preston at 12 M. Have spent the day quietly resting and visiting.

September 4
Wrote some letters this a.m. Had a visit from brother and sister Hale. Cool.

September 5
Left on the 5:30 a.m. train for home. Arrived at 12 m., busy about the building during the afternoon.

September 6
Payed [sic] the men off and got back accounts fixed up. Met Auntie Udall and accompanied her to Preston.

September 7
Remained quiet at home all day. Weather turned quite cold. Brought the stove in and fixed it up …

September 9

[back in Salt Lake] At work about the building and arranged with Saville and Baker to start the brick work. Left on the 5 p.m. train for Preston. Arrived at 11:30 p.m.

[Note: During this month John made six trips to Preston, Idaho to be with Mary Ann Linton Morgan, his 3rd wife. He would return to Salt Lake on a morning train a day or two later to work on his building and attend to Salt Lake affairs. He repeated that trip pattern until September 21, 1890, when Mary Ann, gave birth to their first child.]

September 20
At work about the building. Today our expense account was nearly $1,500, the heaviest weeks expense yet. Left on the 5 p.m. train for Idaho, arriving at 11:30 p.m.

September 21, 1890
Mary was delivered of a fine boy at 4:20 p.m. today. Got along very nicely for the first one.

September 22
Left on the 5:30 a.m. train for home and arrived at 11 a.m. and busy about the building during the p.m. The work went slowly owing to lack of men.

September 23
At work about the building and other matters about home.

September 24
Endeavoring to get money matters fixed up so that I can start to Colorado, but failed …

September 28
Returned to Logan ... returned to Idaho on the 10 p.m. train.

September 29
Remained quiet all day. A number of visitors called. In the afternoon blessed the baby giving it the name of Linton.

John Morgan Journal, Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah. Picture of Morgan Hotel from descendant Karen M. Thank you so very much!

Frazier Family Dinner at the Rock House in Woodruff, Utah prior to 1918.

This Stephen Vestal Frazier family picture was probably taken in the dining room at the rock house at the Frazier Ranch in Woodruff, Utah. That would be Stephen Vestal in the arm chair in front, and his wife Elizabeth Walton Frazier facing him from across the table. The woman behind the right side of Stephen's arm chair looks like his daughter Maude Frazier Eastman. I can't tell who the others are, but you can see an earlier labeled picture of them here. Elizabeth was 78 years old when she died in 1918. Stephen lived until 1923.

Thank you to Susan Walton descendant, Marla, for this lovely picture of Susan Peabody Walton Virgin Walton Houghton . Susan is mother to Elizabeth Walton Frazier, in the top picture. More on Susan's family can be found here.

Morgan Hotel Building begins May 1890

I snapped these pictures of the Odd Fellows Hall (Independent Order of Odd Fellows I.O.O.F.) while taking a walking tour of downtown Salt Lake City earlier this year. According to this newspaper article, the Odd Fellows Hall was built in 1891. John Morgan began construction of the Morgan Hotel in 1890.

When John Morgan descendant, Karen M., sent me a picture of the Morgan Hotel, I realized the two buildings look similar. Regardless of which side of the street the Odd Fellow Hall is now on, it was built at the time, in a similar style, and within three downtown blocks of the Morgan Hotel at 144 West First South. That site is presently in the middle of the Salt Place.

John Morgan constructed his hotel on the same lot his school had been built on. In 1890 John mortgaged their 15-room home at 163 South First West, and the five rental properties, tenement row, behind it to fund the Morgan Hotel project. The tenement row building posts are here. Part 1,Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 concluded.

May 12, 1890 is the first time John Morgan wrote anything about his next building project.

1890
May 12
Arranged with Hyrum Groesbeck to secure the distribution of his mother’s estate and a number of other matters about town.

May 13
Hunted up parties to excavate a cellar and tear down the old college building, preparatory to the erection of another building …

Three earlier posts from 1890 are here:

June 27-July 4 (travels to Idaho and Nephi, Utah)
July 5-August 7 (death of daughter Myrtle 1887-1890 in Manassa, Colorado)
August 7-17 (Colorado fishing trip, and visit from First Presidency)

July 5
Have finished tearing down the old building and the men are getting out the cellar for the new rapidly.

July 6 to 22
Have been busy with my building work and other duties…

John Morgan Journal, Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah. The Man Who Moved City Hall, by Jean R. Paulson, 1979, pg 9.

John Morgan building tenement row. Dec 10-Dec 17, 1889. Part six. Concluded.

Continued from here.

1889
December 10
In the house most of the day owing to heavy rains. The streets were almost impassable. Have been reading Brancroft’s “Utah” and find it a fair and impartial history. Spoke at 6 and 14 political club meetings.

… December 12
At work about the house building and other matters during the day. Commenced building up the south wall of the Tenement row. More or less showery almost every day during the week so far.

December 13
Still pushing the building ahead and getting along nicely.

December 14
Finished the walls and roof today, closing the house in and secure against storm. Plasterers and carpenters at work.

December 15-17 John Morgan traveled to Provo for a Sunday School Conference. He traveled home to Salt Lake with B. H. Roberts

December 18
Buying Christmas things for Annie and the children. … attended the theatre at night.

December 19
Stormed during the day and no chance to get out. Read Brancroft’s History of Utah, which on the whole is the fairest and most reliable historical work ever published on the Territory and will doubtless do much good in alloying prejudice and carrying information into quarters where no Elder could reach.

December 20
Reading Brancroft’s History. Weather stormy and streets nearly impassable on account of mud. Owing to continued snow and rain storms the roads in every direction are nearly past traveling.

December 21
Talked the sale of some Real Estate with some agents of business about town….

December 23
Attended family prayers at 930 a.m. and Fast Meeting at 10 a.m....

December 24
Looked after matters about home. Brother Roberts called and we canvassed matters pertaining to a Mission East talked of. Made arrangements to sell a piece of property in the 17th Ward today.

December 25
At home, the first Christmas in five years and quietly enjoyed ourselves. The day passed very pleasantly indeed. Warm and spring-like. Rained some.

December 26
Set some men to work fencing the back lot of the tenement row and piling up rock. Attended a reunion of the old folks and widows of the 16th Ward. Songs, speeches and recitations occupied the time.

December 27
Leveling up around the tenement row with gravel and finishing the fence. Attended Council Meeting at 12 M … Received a notice from the First Presidency that brother B. H. Roberts and myself had been called to a Mission in the Eastern States to try to convert public opinion on the Mormon question.

[Note: I haven’t found another journal entry where John Morgan mentions this building project, or his tenement row. I assume he is now finished building it.]

(Concluded.)
John Hamilton Morgan journal, Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah.

John Morgan building tenement row. Nov 13-Dec 9, 1889. Part five.

Continued from here.

1889
On November 13 John Morgan returned to Salt Lake City, where he attended council meeting. … President Gates accompanied me home to dinner.

November 14
Busy about the building shining [sic. shinning (1829--Webster’s 9th Collegiate Dictionary)] up the cellar bank of the Chamber of Commerce Building.

November 15
Still busy about the building and other work. An investigation is going on in the Third District Court to prove the disloyalty of the Saints, a number of Apostates have testified with great bitterness against the Church. The Court Attorneys and others are doing all they can to urge them to do so.

Brother Jas. Tillman and family from the Southern States Mission arrived last night. I met them at the Windsor Hotel and assisted them in getting into quarters at the Tithing Emigrants House. The investigation in the Court is still going on and more terrible lies are being sworn to by traitors.

November 16
Sold 80 acres of land in Colorado to C. J. Brain and received the money today. Kept quite busy with the building and other work.

November 17-25 Mellie accompanied John Morgan on his travels to American Fork on Sunday School and Quorum business. He obtained a goat for his son, Nicholas [1884-1971], while in Lehi, and returned to Salt Lake where rain prevented work on his building. Following a council meeting B. H. Roberts remained with him for a night. They were notified of the death of a brother Whittaker and asked to attend his funeral in Centerville. Which they did. They both spoke at the funeral, where the attendance was sparse because of a report that the deceased died of Diphtheria. On the 23rd he wrote, got Nicholas' goat wagon and harness together and hitched up for him.

November 26
Had an interview with President Woodruff and council this morning and presented to them the condition of many quorums filled with men too old to fill missions and suggested that they be ordained High Priests. After some little discussion, a vote was taken and it was carried. Thus opening the way for young men to fill up the quorums. At 4 p.m. left for Nephi where I arrived at 9 p.m.

November 27
Spent the day quietly and pleasantly reading and visiting some company in the evening.

November 28
Took 5:30 a.m. train for home. Arrived at 10 a.m. Busy about the building during the day and had thanksgiving turkey at home. The first time in several years. Hyrum [Groesbeck] and wife [Ann Groesbeck], Mellie [his daughter (1878-1952)] and Andrew [Burt, his son-in-law] were with us.

November 29
Made an effort to get the contractor on the Chamber of Commerce Building build a wall so that we could go ahead with our wall. He made fair promises.

November 30
At work about the building and attending to affairs about home.

December 1-4 Council and other meetings, and work on his building.

December 5
Tried to arrange the sale of some Real Estate and quite busy.

December 6
At work getting in water pipe extension to the new building. The mason at work on Chamber of Commerce wall.

December 7
Storming today and the men could only work part of the day. A heavy rain in the evening.

December 8
Left for Springville in company with brother Goddard and Eliza [presumably his daughter (1875-1952)].

December 9 Back in Salt Lake City. ... The city a sea of mud.

(To be continued.)

John Morgan building tenement row. Oct 21-Nov 12, 1889. Part four.

Continued from here.

John Morgan appears to follow a pattern throughout the remainder of this year, and the construction of these small rental units. Upon their completion at the end of 1889, he calls them his tenement row. He works daily on the building of these units while he is in the city. He weekly attends Seventies Council Meetings, identifying those in attendance, and some specific council business. He travels on council, Sunday school, school, and community government assignments to outlying settlements several times a week. And he meets on Groesbeck family/company business from time to time.

The first post of this series begins here, and explains the history of John Morgan's present building.)

1889
October 21
Hired some men to move the barn, they worked at it all day. Rained part of the time.

October 22
Finished moving barn today, brick and rock coming in slowly. Wet weather.

October 23
Met in Council at 1 p.m. … quite an amount of business was transacted.

October 24
Commenced fence across back of lot, dug pits for closets.

October 25
At work at fence and other work about the lot.

October 26
Finished up the fence and received $300 of Heath on lots sold him. Paid for brick, pits, etc.

October 27 John Morgan wrote of meetings, travel, conferences, and rain changing to snow.

October 28
A heavy rain set in early this a.m. turning to snow at noon and continuing during the entire day. Brother J. H. [John Henry] Smith called and reported all well in Colorado. Together we visited the Groesbeck Company office and had a talk with Hyrum [Groesbeck] about affairs.

October 29
Still storming. Roads too heavy to do any hauling. Brought building to a standstill and made the roads impassable.

On the 30th he attended [presumably Seventies] council meeting, where quite a large amount of business was attended to, and traveled to Kaysville to attended a political rally with brother Roberts. They spent the night there.

October 31 Some bricks delivered today. Weather has become somewhat more settled, but the streets and roads are nearly impassable. The storm has been of incalculable benefit to farmers.
...
November 7
At work about the building all day. Met Mr. Heath who paid me $1,000.00.

November 8
Settled a number of building bills and helped the man at work making a closet.

November 9
Bought an old trunk and sent Annie some dried fruit from Teasdales.
...
November 12
Left home on the 8 a.m. train for Huntsville, Weber County ... met with the 75 Quorum of Sevenies ... Stormy night. Administered to four sick children of brother Angus McKay's family.

(To be continued.)
From John Morgan Journal, Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah.

Happy Thanksgiving Day! Remember.

Mary Elizabeth Herbert and Percy Harold Rex. One of many gatherings of Thanksgiving in their Randolph, Utah home.

Glenn and Helen Rex Frazier on the left. Helen's youngest sister Flora to Helen's left.

Glenn Frazier on the left. Dorothy Tipton and Maeser Morgan Rex, and Percy Harold Rex. Flora and sister Helen in front, with their backs to us.

The next generation, Bessie, Rex, and Irene cleaning up in the kitchen afterwards. This picture was taken in the early 1960's.

These pictures are from Harold Morgan Rex's collection. Thank you to cousin Yara.

John Morgan. Building. Sept 20-Oct 20, 1889. Part three.

Continued from here.

1889
September 20
Rained today. At home [Salt Lake] nearly all day. Attended the meeting of 8th Quorum at the Social Hall. Brother Robert Campbell after a five months absence was present and spoke. I followed. A good attendance.

The next day John Morgan arranged for railroad rates for Colorado members, presumably traveling to Salt Lake City for the upcoming general conference. And the following day he traveled to Coalville, Utah to attend a Sunday School Union.

September 23
Left for home [Salt Lake City] at 8 a.m. Arrived at noon. Quite cool. Some snow on the west mountains. Attended a lecture at the Theatre by Mrs. Dr. Longshore Potts, in Physiology and the laws of health.

September 24
John Morgan met with the Sunday School Union Board and was appointed to a committee to arrange with the Salt Lake Stake Superintendency [sic] for a Sunday School Jubilee. The following day he and his wife, Mellie, traveled to Heber City for a Sunday School Conference where he attended numerous meetings. He wrote, “All the meetings were well attended and a good spirit prevailed and much good will I trust resulted from the visit.” Upon their return home on the 30th, he wrote “very tired.”

October 1
Brother Lorenzo Snow called today and notified me that the brethren of the Authorities had selected me to take charge of a Bureau of information to be established by the church and the question was quite extensively canvassed.

Through the 12th his days were filled with general conference meetings, visitors, and acquiring railroad accommodations. On that day, he “Got a horse and harness hitched to the buggy and drove around with Mellie and the children …

October 15
At work getting ready to build.

October 16
Drove to Brains Brick Kiln and bought 6,000 bricks. Met with First Council and had an interesting meeting … I bought 1,500 bricks of J. Green of Sessions.

October 17
Looked for Adobies [sic] and building material. Closed contract with J. G. Green to build five cottages for $2,300, he to furnish all material, except brick and rock and do all work, finishing everything in good workmanlike manner. [Note: Information about these cottages is found here.]

October 18
At work getting building ground laid off and ready to take out foundation.

October 19

Busy getting building material. In the afternoon received an invitation to go to Nephi to Quarterly Conference from brother F. M. Lyman, but failed to go.

October 20
At home for the first Sunday in a long time. Attended service at the Tabernacle, a returned missionary and President George Q. Cannon spoke. Mellie quite unwell with abscess on breast.
(To be continued.)

Building. John Morgan. Aug 6-Sept. 19, 1889.

Continued from here. Manassa, Colorado.

August 6
Assisted in the haying during the day. In the evening held meeting at Richfield and found an opposing spirit among the people. [Note: A hand-drawn map of this part of Colorado is posted here.]

August 7
At work in the hay harvest in the morning. During the day drove with brother Goddard to Hyrum G’s [unknown] ranch, but failed to find it.

August 8
This is the 47th anniversary of my birthday at work in the field and at night had a gathering of friends. Quite a house full and a most agreeable time. Kept up until near midnight.

August 9
Started early with brother Goddard on a trip to the San Juan Stake taking car at Antonito, leaving at 12 o’clock. Passed through a heavy hail storm during the afternoon, arriving at Durango at 9 p.m. and put up at the Blaine House.

August 10
Met brother Baker from Mancos early this morning and at 8 a.m. left for Mancos. Nooned at LaPlata River and after a thirty mile drive arrived at Bishop Geo. Halls where we were kindly cared for by sister Halls.

August 11 For the next month John Morgan was fully immersed in the community and the haying and harvest season. On the 15th, Looking after the hay and met with some of the Directors of the Mexican Colonization and Agricultural Company and adjourned over until tomorrow at 2 p.m. The August 18th quarterly San Luis Stake conference involved travel and meetings throughout the area.

August 22
Plowed the trees out this morning, then drove to Sanford, and attended meeting … On the 23rd, At work at the peas and corn today.

August 24
Pushing the work in the harvest Took Pinckards mower home and rode down the river three miles looking for a pair of horses on the range.

August 25
At home quiet all day. Did not go out to meeting and had a good rest. A number called in during the evening to see if there was anything the matter.

August 26—September 13 John Morgan continued haying, fencing, irrigating, hauling, cutting corn, stacking, meeting, milling, thrashing, shed building, plowing, etc., etc.

September 14
Finished work on the lots and turned the hogs in. Got the team together and started the sulky plow work. Had quite a time with the black mare kicking. Fell very unwell today.

September 15
Confined to the house with rhumatism [sic] and in pain all night …

September 16
Some better today but not able to do anything. Arranged to start to Utah.

… September 19 Had breakfast at Green River, dinner at Provo, and arrived at home [Salt Lake City] at 7 p.m. finding all well. Have been absent since last days of July.

[Note: The Sulky Plow is a horse drawn type of plow used in the late 19th century, prior to the introduction of mounted tractor plows. The name comes from the use of a sulky two wheeled cart with the plow mounted below.]

(To be continued.)

Journal entries and picture from John Morgan collection, Marriott Library, Special Collections, University of Utah.

Building! Is John Morgan talking about doing it, or working on one? (1889-1891) Part One

I’ve tried to understand the building of the “Morgan Hotel,” which took place in 1890-91. A closer look at John Morgan’s journal entries has helped. And I looked at his son, Nicholas Groesbeck Morgan’s, biography, The Man Who Moved City Hall.

It says, “in the first eight years after the death of the Groesbecks, (Elizabeth Thompson Groesbeck died December 28, 1883; Nicholas Groesbeck died June 29, 1884) the extensive estate was being distributed and the heirs were living well. John Morgan, emulating his father-in-law, attempted to make real estate work for him and his family.”

“Part of Mellie’s inheritance, Nick [Nicholas Greosbeck Morgan] had heard his mother say, was a 10-acre plot of ground between Main and State streets and between Thirteenth and Fourteenth south streets. This was sold for $300 an acre, a total of $3,000, money they used to build five modest rental homes in November and December, 1889. John had workmen tear down an old barn in the rear of their home, and by using a lot to the rear of the Chamber of Commerce Building, just being erected, found room for the rentals. All five of the dwellings, each of which had four rooms and a summer kitchen, cost $2,300.

You might want to acquaint yourself with John Morgan’s family members. A list can be found here on the Ancestor Files.

From John Hamilton Morgan's journal at the Marriott Library, Special Collections, University of Utah.

1889
June 26
John went to Manassa, and as part of a committee, drafted ordinances for the newly incorporated town of Manassa, Colorado. “We selected some covering misdemeaners [sic] and prohibited the sale of liquor.” …

June 28
Arrived in Denver at 6:30 a.m. Had my hair cut and cleaned. Breakfast, etc., and then called and had a talk with Mr. Pedrick. Agt. of the Maxwell Land Grant about the sale of some land. Visited Rollins Investment Agency for the purpose of selling some school bonds. Then called on Mr. [blank space], Secretary Land Board and arranged for the sale of a section of land on the 26th of July. Spent the rest of the day looking around the city and at 8:30 p.m. took D. and R. G. train for Salt Lake …

July 9 [back in Salt Lake City]
Went to Juvenile [Instructor] Office and then into town. Met and talked over a trade of real estate with Frank Armstrong. Fixed up a number of screens about the house.

July 10
At work about the place during the morning … Brother Cannon loaned me his horse and buggy and Mellie and I drove out to the Penetentiary [sic] and had a pleasant visit with B. H. [Brigham Henry] Roberts who was looking and feeling well.

July 11
… Met brother Wooley and looked through the Hotel building with the idea of tearing down and rebuilding. …

July 12 [John Morgan's trip to Manti, Utah is posted here.]

On the 27th In company wife and Nicholas, went out to the Penetentiary and had a visit with brother B. H. Roberts. …

July 29
Arranged to start to Colorado. Arranged for the sale of three acres of land south of the city to Fred Heath.

July 30
Had the deed for the land made and received $500.00 on it with note payable in 18 months at 10%. At 4 p.m. took train for Nephi [his 3rd wife, Mary Ann, was living in Nephi].

July 31
Remained at aunties quiet all day and enjoyed the rest very much.

August 1
Left on early train and went to Provo… At 11:40 a.m. met brother George Goddard on the D. and R. G. train and in company with him started for Colorado … on Aug 3 arrived opposite town [presumably Manassa], at 12:00 noon. Annie [his 2nd wife] with the team waiting for us.
On the 4th Sunday Schools of the Stake met at Manassa at 10 a.m. A large attendance …

August 5
At work about the place getting ready for haying. Obtained Pinckards machine and rake. Visited among the saints with brother Goddard. Held meeting at Sanford; well attended and a good spirit prevailing. Returned home after meeting.

(To be continued.)

Joseph Smith Morgan (1893-1948)

VETERANS DAY!

Joseph Smith Morgan was born to John Hamilton and Annie Smith Morgan in Manassa, Colorado. All of John Hamilton Morgan's sons are pictured on a picture pedigree chart here.

Joseph was born on December 27, 1893. The 1900 Manassa, Colorado Census shows Joseph living with his mother and siblings as a five year old. In 1920 Joseph was living in Salt Lake City with his mother, widowed sister, Iva, and her two sons. The next year, 1921, Joseph was married to Violet Loretta Dudler. The information about the children born to them in New Family Search is sobering, and so very sad.

Joseph's headstone in the Salt Lake City cemetery is above and shows him serving as a PFC in Med Dept during World War I. The information I requested about his war service has yet to arrive.

Joseph and Violet's headstones are facing the tree trunk below. The tree sent out a root that's grown huge and separated the stones, pushing them apart. I found Joseph's headstone a year or more ago. I nearly missed Violet's.

I took the picture of the newspaper clipping below. It is in my Grandmother Bessie Morgan Rex's scrapbook. She was Joseph's half-sister, born to John Hamilton and Helen Melvina "Mellie" Groesbeck Morgan, two years before Joseph was born to Annie.

John Hamilton Morgan. Death, 1894.

I’m posting this additional material I’ve collected about John Morgan’s death here. And this picture. I couldn't positively identify John Morgan when I first found this picture among an unlabeled group two years ago. Now I can. The very best source for John Morgan's death is found here and here at The Ancestor Files.

Funeral of John Morgan
Eulogistic Speeches and Impressive Services at the Tabernacle

Elder John Morgan of the Presiding Council of seventies of the Mormon Church was buried from the Tabernacle with elaborate and impressive ceremonies. The deceased had been a soldier on the Union side curing the war, and got his early fame as a member of this church from labors in the Southern States mission. The tabernacle was therefore decorated with appropriate martial ensigns, among them a flag which the deceased had carried through the battle of Selma, Ala., and a funeral panegyric was delivered by Elder Roberts, who had been associated with Elder Morgan throughout his church career. Many words of laudation, of love and sorrow were spoken, and the feeling seemed to prevail that the church and all it’s people had sustained a severe loss in the death of the elder.

Besides Elder Roberts, Elders Kimball, Fjeksted, Goddard, and John Henry Smith spoke of the deceased’s life and work. The choir sang “Oh My Father,” and President Joseph F. Smith pronounced the benediction.

The remaining six members of the Council of Seventies acted as pall-bearers. The internment took place at the city cemetery, a large number of carriages following the remains to their last resting place.

Extracts from George Q. Cannon’s Journals:

August 15, 1894 – “I was deeply grieved today to hear of the death of Elder John Morgan, one of the Seven Presidents of Seventies. I felt very badly about his sickness, and I have feared that it might terminate fatally, because he left here very much depressed and worn out in body and mind. His depression was caused by the loss of almost all he had - - a property of considerable value, and he was literally stripped of everything. I do not know a man that we could put our hands on at present that would fill his place. I almost feel as though it was a public calamity.”

August 18, 1894 – “At 12 o’clock we went to the Assembly Hall to attend the funeral services of Elder John Morgan. President Seymour B. Young, of the Seventies, took charge of the meeting, and called upon Brothers B. H. Roberts, J. G. Kimball, C. D. Fjelsted, John Henry Smith and George Goddard, after which he spoke, on behalf of the First Presidency, Presidents Woodruff and Smith desired me to make some remarks. The remarks of the brethren were very pertinent, and it is rarely a man receives higher encomiums than our deceased brother did from all who spoke. The Assembly Hall was well filled. A number of non-Mormons were present, for he was a man that was highly respected by all who knew him, and had been a gallant soldier in the Union army during the civil strife.”

Obituary from Jay Wade and Marriott Library, Special Collection, University of Utah. Picture and George Q. Cannon quotes from Marriott Library, Special Collection, University of Utah and The Life and Ministry of John Morgan, by Arthur Richardson, copyright 1965, by Nicholas g. Morgan Sr., pgs 570-571.

Family Index Pages

In an attempt to utilize the helps blogspot offers, and make it easier to access the information I’ve posted here, I’m adding some Family Index Pages. Perhaps by grouping posts by family names, and subjects, readers will be able to better find materials posted here.

This blog continues to be a “work in progress,” may change at any time, and is dependent upon the pace of my “learning curve.”

The family index pages will be at the top of the right column. After reading through one, and following the links you choose, just click on “home” at the bottom of the index page, and you will be returned to the most current blog post.

To start with, we'll see how the Hamilton Family index page works.

Picture of This is the Place, Pioneer Village, Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah, that I took two weeks ago.

John Hamilton Morgan gravestone, October 2010.

Wilford Woodruff’s grave is in the block directly north of John Morgan’s and I’ve observed it for years. The gravestones are the same shape. I learned from a cemetery walking tour guide that the children of the Church made donations to raise the money for President Woodruff’s gravestone. On the same subject, there is a nice post here about a call for contributions from missionaries and associates of John Morgan to raise the funds for his gravestone.

A few years ago, and over a century later, Wilford Woodruff descendants made additions to his gravestone. You can see them in the thin granite looking slates that have been bolted to the original gravestone.

I like these additions, and can envision similar additions to Great Grandfather John Morgan’s gravestone.

The larger plain side above, is on the east, the smaller sides are on the north and south. I would suggest something like the following, naming John Morgan's wives, and curving Mellie's name at the top, as on the Woodruff gravestone.

The following example is a little rough, but the best I could do in tables. And I solicit descendants' ideas. You may add them in the comments below, or write me at, I see the creamery, typed all together, @comcast.net.

Morgan Family Genealogy notes from Mary Ann Linton Morgan’s notebook.

Remember that wonderful 1895 letter from Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan to her daughter-in-law, Mellie Morgan? It’s posted here in three parts. Many of the people named in the letter are on this family group sheet from Mary Ann Linton Morgan’s genealogy notebook. And you can see a picture of some of the family members named in the letter, and on the family group sheet, in this 1925 Morgan family reunion photo.

The following page is the right hand side

of the above "spread sheet."

1932 Hamilton Family History notes from Mary Ann Linton Morgan's notebook.

From Ancestral Lines of the Daniphan – Frazee – Hamilton Families. By Francis Frazee Hamilton P. 545.

In the early part of the 18 Century there lived in Northern Ireland a family of Hamiltons of Scotch Irish blood; descendants of Sir Claud Hamilton of Scotland. There were 2 sons in this family John & William? Perhaps other chil[d]. One of these boys, having plucked a rose from the Kings garden which caused his banishment from Eng. As a result of this banishment the brothers took ship for America. On board ship they met young miss named Elizabeth on landing at Baltimore John & Elizabeth were married. They are the same John & Elizabeth who are the Ancestors of the H [Hamilton] family whose lineage is partly traced in this book. And this same John became a Sergeant in the Rev. war under Captain Seeley.
In Spring of 1795 4 sons of Sergt. John

Hamilton, John Jr. Edward Samuel and David left their homes in Lancaster Penn, came down the Ohio river on a flat boat and landed on the northern bank (later a town called Lasayville.) of the river at Ft. Washington on ground where Cincinnati is now located (P545) In Dec. the wife of Edward brot [sic] a little 2 year old son named John Cornelius b. in Penn. 5 Jan 1794. Dec 17, 3 days after their arrival, another son, Samuel was b. known as Samuel who was b in the Stockades a fact which brot [sic] him local notoriety. John Cornelius was the father of Oliver Theudare I and the gr. Father of Lucius Oliver Hamilton I. Edward Hamilton, father of John Carneiuls, see next page, first, built a cabin at Cincinnati & lived there 11 years.
He went back about 25 miles & laid out the town of Hamilton now the city of Hamilton and was named for these brothers and not for Alexander, as some Historians have it. John Cornelius carried mail when he was 13 y of age on horseback thru

the forest from Cincinnati to Daytona, when scarcely 17 he and Elizabeth Black in Ky. It was about 1806 when Edward Hamilton came to Bracken co to live at one time there were between 7 & 8 hundred Hamiltons living in Bracken co. They located about 30 miles from the Blue Lick Springs. They made their own Salt by boiling down this water.

Recofired
Edward Hamilton, Latter of John Cornelius, owned 160 acres of land where the City of Cincinnati now stands. On this land he built a cabin back next to the hills at what is now Central Ave. He lived in this cabin 11 years. He then sold his farm for a team, wagon & 200 lb and moved up on the Little Miami River near where Loveland is now located He remained at this place only two years. When he sold the land & moved to Bracken co. Ky. He had heard many wonderful stories of Bracken co. from his father & Phillip Buckner.

Look for Lintons in History of Davidson Tenn. P 683

Our Hamiltons in Makers of Our. Vol 1

Note: There is an on-line website here with information about this same John Hamilton, who first came into Kentucky, that Mary Ann wrote we are descended from. The source on the website is the book Mary Ann quoted from.

I have yet to find the link/links from our James P. and Margaret Turner Hamilton, to his parents, John and Elizabeth Hamilton.

The Hamiltons and Mary Ann Linton Morgan (1865-1951).

I posted this picture of the Hamilton Crest, and the Hamilton Coat of Arms, seen here, because Mary Ann Linton Morgan led me to them.

I’ve been studying 310 pages from the collection of her writings on CD at the FHL (Family History Library), referenced here. Fascinating!

Mary Ann Linton Morgan (1865-1951) married John Hamilton Morgan in 1888. And, as his third wife, she was “assigned” to do the family genealogy; that according to Nicholas G. Morgan descendant, Karen M.

Mary Ann worked and researched throughout her widowed, mature years, from her Sharon Apartment address in Salt Lake City, Utah. Thankfully Mary Ann’s great grandson preserved her writings and research records.

You may learn more about Mary Ann by reading her autobiography, and a biography here and here on The Ancestor Files. A series of five faith promoting instances (which are favorites of mine) begin here.

The book Mary Ann references below, is now on microfilm. I scanned those pages, and others onto my zip drive to take home and study with her notes. And was humbled by the pages and pages of information she painstakingly copied, and checked, and double checked, that have since become so much easier to access and copy.

Presently we can find county boundaries, and the dates they were established and changed, in the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries here.

From Mary Ann's notes on the page above, “At one time about 800 people of Bracken County, Kentucky were named Hamilton, usually in large families.”

The task of connecting our James and Margaret Turner Hamilton to the correct John and Mary Hamilton is becoming clearer. From their grandson, John Hamilton Morgan's, journal (now in Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah),

1876
Normal, Illinois, January 4, 1876
… I enter here my genealogy:
My grandfather and father were named Garrard Morgan. My grandmother Morgan’s maiden name was Sarah Sanderson. On my mother’s side my great grandfather was named John Hamilton; his wife, Elizabeth. Great [sic] Grandfather was James Hamilton, his wife, Margaret Hamilton. My mother’s name is Eliza Ann Hamilton. Gerrard Morgan, Jr. had a sister, Mary Morgan who married Marshall Hamilton, himself father of Woodson Hamilton.

Mary Ann had access to this and other journal entries, because in a 1931 letter she wrote to family in the East, she referenced her husband’s diary, and said it was in her possession.

The children of James P. and Margaret "Peggy" Turner Hamilton.

James P. Hamilton
1790 - Born
1810 - Married Margaret Turner in Nicholas County, Kentucky
1837 - Moved to Decatur, Indiana
1844 - Died in Decatur, Indiana

At his death in 1844, James P. Hamilton, left as his heirs; the widow Margaret, Jesse T. Hamilton, Garrard and Eliza Morgan-late Eliza Hamilton, George W. and wife Sarah Jane Hopkins, and John T., Sarah M., James A., *David W., *Francis P. and *Garrard M. Hamilton. * minors.


Jesse T Hamilton: An interesting biography of Jesse T. Hamilton is found on-line here. It explains when and why Jesse ultimately left Kentucky and moved to Decatur County, Indiana.

Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan: see earlier posts in the index to the right.

Sarah Hamilton Hopkins: 1860 Census, Adams Township, Decatur, Indiana
Sarah Hopkins, 41, (no other information) born KY
Living with Blahs & Arie Stogdell (born KY)

John T. Hamilton: 1860, Census, Greensburg, Decatur, Indiana
John T. Hamilton, 40, farmer, born KY
Martha, 34, housewife, born KY

The Agricultural Society of Decatur County sponsored county fairs. "The greatest county fair was held in 1858, when R. R. Cobb [mentioned in this post] served as president, J. O. Adams as secretary of the society and John T. Hamilton as marshal of the grounds. Current accounts of the fair say that whisky was secretly sold on the grounds in spite of the marshal's efforts. Exceptionally good horse races were held."

"John T. Hamilton had a shop where he carded wool, flax, linen and linsey. He also has a saddlery and harness shop."

David W. Hamilton: is mentioned here and here in John Morgan’s journal. An 1892 account of D. W. Hamilton, and his picture, is found here.

During the Civil War he served in the Indiana Seventh Regiment, Company E; Captain David W. Hamilton.

Garrard Morgan Hamilton: 1860 Census, Washington Township, Decatur, Indiana
Morgan Hamilton (no age or other information)
Living with David & Hannah Lovett family

From New Family Search: by Mary Linton Morgan of Salt Lake City, Utah; birth date also shown as 1835; From Mr. L. D. Branden, Editor of the Greensburg Daily News, Morgan Hamilton was a lieutenant in the Seventh Indiana Regiment in the US Civil War.

Sarah M., James A., Francis P., nothing further yet.

References: Mary Ann Linton Morgan documents CD-ROM no. 2328 pt. 1, 2 publication: Mesa, Arizona: J.L. Tanner, 2004.

Ancestral lines of the Donihan, Franzee, and Hamilton families, by Frances Frazee Hamilton (b. 1866, main author) FHL US/CAN Film [1321182 Item 7]

Your clan heritage: Clan Hamilton, by Donna Jean (Hamilton) Cochrane, published by D.M. Cochrane, 1999. FHL 929.273 H18. Title also known as, Hamilton: early Kentucky settlers, Bracken County (1797), John Hamilton Sr., about 1745-1810, John Hamilton, Jr., 1765-1849, John O. Hamilton, 1794-1883, Bracken Co. (1803-1818) Gallatin County (1818-1884): early Kansas settlers, Alexander Hamilton, Coffee County and Woodson County, 1832-1912, Alexander Oscar Hamilton, Woodson County (1870-1914), Gray County (1914-1937).
Online 1915 History of Decatur County by Harding found here.
I was referred to the picture of the Hamilton Coat of Arms by Mary Ann Linton Morgan's Hamilton research notes.

Morgans in the Eastern United States.

View Eastern Morgans in a larger map

A Morgan descendant in Indiana discovered this post and believes William F. Morgan may be her ggg grandfather. She found a grandmother in the family reunion picture posted here and is starting her own genealogy blog.

Ruth Stemm Morgan, wife of Wm. Bruce Morgan

reunion picture, #10, front row

How wonderful! Her blog is heichelbech-weillgenealogy.blogspot.com. She’s already posted here. Check out her lovely pictures and information about her grandmother. I hope to see more, and learn much from her posts.

More about Uncle G. M. [Garrard Morgan] Hamilton's family.

The letter introducing us to Uncle G. M. [Garrard Morgan] Hamilton is posted here. In his letter he proudly acclaims his daughter and grandchildren to Mellie. I now recognize the word I marked [illegible] that G. H. wrote to describe his daughter, Gail. It should be slow. Daughter, Gail Miers, is not slow in producing two beloved grandchildren.

“Morgan L. Miers was born in the year 1855 on the farm on which he now lives, one and one-half miles south of the pleasant village of Burney, in Clay township, Decatur county, Indiana, the son of Thomas S. and Mahala (Braden) Miers, both members of pioneer families in that section of the
county. … “

Reared on the home farm in Clay township, Morgan L. Miers received his elementary education in the local schools, which he supplemented by four years at Indiana University, where he graduated in law. He then devoted his time to the development of the growing farm interests of his father. Morgan gradually bought land as he prospered, until he owned fourteen, hundred and sixty acres of choice land in Clay township. He was a man of an optimistic nature, as was his father before him. Beyond giving his chief attention to his great estate, Mr. Miers found time to extend his activities in other directions in numerous enterprises in Decatur and adjoining counties. Since the opening of the Third National Bank of Greensburg, thirty-four years earlier, Mr. Miers had been a director. Morgan was president of the same for the two preceeding years; a position of prominence in the financial circles of southern Indiana exceeded by few therein.

"Thirty-three years ago Mr. Morgan Miers was united in marriage to Gail Hamilton, of Clay township, this county, daughter of G. M. and Mary Susan (Logan) Hamilton, members of pioneer families in Decatur county, the latter of whom was a daughter of John Logan, and to this union two children were born, a son and a daughter, Roy, now twenty-three years of age, and Mary, now aged sixteen, the latter of whom is attending school in Boston, Massachusetts. Mrs. Miers met her death in an automobile accident on October 20, 1914, a tragedy which plunged the entire community into mourning, for she was a woman of exceptional strength of character and for years a leader in good works in the vicinity in which her gentle influence so long had been exerted in all good ways. "

The Weekly Democrat
Greensburg, Decatur County, Indiana

Friday, October 23, 1914

Plans now being made by the Miers family contemplate the removal to this city of Morgan L. Miers from the Deaconess hospital, Indianapolis, tomorrow.

An X-ray examination was made of Mr. Miers’ ankle Wednesday morning to determine the status of the injury. It is said that the bones were crushed.

The body of Mrs. Miers will be brought here on the same train with Mr. Miers and funeral arrangements will then be made. Advices received Wednesday by Geo. W. Adams of the Third National Ban k, indicated that the body would be kept in Indianapolis until Mr. Miers was able to be brought home and that Thursday probably would be the day.

Few details concerning the accident beyond that given Tuesday in meager reports from Indianapolis were obtainable today. Clint Blades of Rugby, who was aboard the train which struck the Miers automobile, state late Tuesday afternoon that the engine of the auto “died” on the track. He said he saw Mrs. Miers under the wreckage and that Mr. Miers was in the automobile, apparently sitting at the wheel. The flagman at the Fletcher avenue crossing is said to have made the statement that Miers ignored his warning and ran upon the track in front of the train. The machine apparently stopped there and was “dead’ during the intervening moments between its arrival on the crossing and the crash.

People here and at Burney were greatly exercised over the accident and sought details from every quarter. One report received at Burney Tuesday afternoon was that Myers had been fatally hurt and that death was only a matter of a few hours.

Newspaper article from Copy made by Indiana State Library, Genealogy Division. I took the picture in front of my house last week. History of Decatur County here.

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

Garrard Morgan Hamilton. [1835 - 1915]

What is the story of Garrard Morgan [G. M.] Hamilton?

He was the youngest son of James P. and Margaret "Peggy" Turner Hamilton, so named in the Decatur, Indiana 1844-1848 probate proceedings for his father, James. Garrard's older sister, Eliza Ann Hamilton, had married Garrard Morgan III in 1833 in Nicholas County, Kentucky. Could Garrard Morgan Hamilton have been named after his older brother-in-law, Garrard Morgan, when he was born in Indiana in 1835?

At the time of James' death in 1844, Garrard was named executor of his father-in-law's estate.

This 1900 letter from G.M. Hamilton to his niece, Mellie Morgan, widow of John Hamilton Morgan, reveals much. A "big thank" you to cousin Karen M. for making it available to us.


July 9, 1900
Mrs. Helen M. Morgan:

Dear Niece
Your very kind and welcome letter came in Saturday, July 7th and contents carefully noted and hasten to answer but first let me apologize just a little. Yesterday, Sunday, my wife looked up a letter of yours written March 1, 1896 and she says it was the last letter from you and that I never answered it. Well, well that’s just like me, for if I don’t answer social letters while they are fresh, I never do and in this case I must fess up I am ashamed but will try and do better in future. In some of your requests in letters March 1st /96 you ask me to give you the genealogy of our family. Well I am a bad hand at this business. First our old Bible was lost in some way but Bro. Dave had a list of


my Fathers - Mothers and the children and I enclose this to you or a copy but if you want the genealogy of the Morgan family you will have to write to Eliza for that or I am going to see her some time in this month or August and will get it for you if you wish. Eliza Morgan, John’s mother is now in Middletown Neura County Indiana living with her son, Dr. Wm. Morgan. She came near dying last winter in Chicago but she pulled through all right and the last from her was doing very well. Don’t know anything about Jim Morgan only he is N G and if he is dead or his wife is dead I don’t know it. The last I heard from her she was living in Denver with the children. She is a good woman. The last I heard from him was about 1 year ago he was

he was at Bills Worthingtons. My never with a woman he called his wife but not the women we know as his wife. I have been in the merchandising business since I quit the road work from 2 to 4 men, 2 all the time and 4 besides myself part of the time and I work almost night and day to keep things going. Have a good trade am the only genl store in the city and you bet I hoop em up. My wife is well and Gail Miers my dtr is not [illegible]. [s]he has a boy named Roy Hamilton Miers and a little girl borned 7 Feb 1899 17 months old and you can wager your last $ she’s grandpas honey will send you the children’s photos if I can ever have them taken but that like everything else at our house it is put of[f] [illegible] to an other but will know you I will do the best I can. Now you did not

tell me a word about yourself or the children. How is Mellie Jr how many children has she and is her husband sheriff yet. How are the balance of the children and little Nick. He must be quite a boy now – would like to hear all particulars from you. How did you come out with the Morgan Hotel & c. the whole family [illegible] with me with love and with the kindest of regards to yourself, Mel and her husband and children and the bal of your children. Hoping to hear from you again soon, I am very truly yours, G. M. Hamilton

1900 Census

Washington Township,

Greensburg City, Decatur, Indiana
Gail Hamilton (Morgan L.) Miers' family