Helen Rex Frazier. March 31, 1913 - June 26, 1982.

Helen did these beautiful needle point red roses in about 1970. When she passed away in 1982, her daughter, Susan, hung them in her home in Bethesda, Maryland. After Susan passed away in 2006, I brought them home, where they hang in my dining room.

Helen Rex Frazier, March 31, 1913 to June 26, 1982.

Helen Melvina (Mellie) Groesbeck Morgan, February 6, 1852 to June 15, 1930.

Helen loved and admired her grandmother, Helen Melvina (Mellie) Groesbeck Morgan. Mellie's handwork is acclaimed and preserved by her descendants. Granddaughter, Helen, was drawn to red roses as was her grandmother.

Gifts from Mellie to her sons were beautiful embroidered red roses, treasured and displayed by her descendants today. They are posted on this blog here and here.

Amelia Catherine Jorgensen Burt

After discovering Amelia Catherine Jorgensen Burt’s funeral book posted here, a descendant asked if I had a picture or history of Amelia. I don’t have a history. But I’m happy to share this lovely family portrait of the James and Amelia Burt family. My sister-in-law, Marlene Sanborn Silotti, gave it to me years ago. Taken in 1925, each family member is identified. Click on the picture to enlarge.

My mother-in-law [Beryl Burt Sanborn], “Aunt Beryl,” on the left, was about sixteen years old when the picture was taken.

The descendant looking for a picture, and a history of Amelia, is a 2nd great-granddaughter through Amelia’s oldest daughter, Margaret Gilmour Burt [center back row], “who married Charles Luther Carlisle and had my grandmother, Lois Carlisle.”

I’d welcome any history or pictures from this family.

Millard Morgan, son of Wm. Franklin & Ann Bruce Morgan.

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.

This sentence is from Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan's 1895 letter to her daughter-in-law, Mellie, posted here.

I agree with cousin Flora Lee in thinking that the Millard in Eliza's letter, could be William Franklin's 9th son. See the family listed in this post.

New Family Search lists Millard Morgan, son of William Franklin and Ann Bruce Morgan, born in Kentucky, or Peoria, Illinois. He married Stella Kirkpatrick, and in 1895 they had three young children. Another was born in 1896.

There is another history about this family below. It gives a little further information, and some conflicting information. It is from the Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2 by Newton Bateman, Paul Selby, Joseph Oscar Cunningham, p. 995. It can be found on line here.

WILLIAM E. MORGAN (deceased) was born in Nicholas County, Ky., In 1813, and grew up In that State. He was a prosperous merchant and planter of Kentucky, until 1862, when he removed to Illinois, and established his home In Champaign County. Prior to the war he was also interested in an oil development near Parkersburg, W. Va. After coming to Illinois he was engaged In farming enterprises for a time, and then removed to the City of Champaign, where he died in the autumn of 1900. Mr. Morgan married Ann Bruce, also a native of Kentucky, who died in the summer of 1900. Mrs. Morgan was of Scotch ancestry, and of the distinguished Bruce lineage. Their living children are: Mrs. Amelia (Morgan) Richards, of Urbana, 111.; Mrs. Lucinda (Morgan) Green, wife of Rev. F. W. Green, a missionary in Mexico; Garrard S. Morgan, of Boston; Henry Bruce Morgan, of Peoria, 111.; Woodson Morgan, of Peoria; Millard W. Morgan, of Chicago; William Morgan, of Boston; James Morgan, manager of the "Boston Globe;" and two daughters (deceased), namely: Elizabeth (Morgan) Knight and Anna Morgan.

Wikipedia picture of Royal, Illinois, a Champaign County village.

Henry Bruce Morgan of Peoria, Illinois.

Peoria, Illinois from Wikipedia.

Names and places mentioned in John Hamilton Morgan’s journal, so foreign to me a year ago, are becoming more familiar. Some even friends.

Upon the first two or three readings, I wondered, will I ever learn who these people are? One sentence from his March 15, 1882 entry seemed impossible.

Cousin H. B. Morgan, Peoria, called on me.

Yesterday, as I again read there, I realized I now know who H. B. Morgan is. He must surely be Henry Bruce Morgan of Peoria, Illinois. Listed as the fourth child of William F. and Anna Thielkeld Bruce Morgan posted in an earlier post here and seen below.
H. B. Morgan married into the family of Nelson L. and Mary A. Monroe Woodruff, of Peoria, Illinois. In 1855 Mr. Woodruff went into the ice business and continued until his death on October 24, 1879.

The Woodruffs had "six children, two sons and four daughters. Harriet, now Mrs. Emmerson, of Peoria, Lois, now Mrs. Luthy, Jennie, now Mrs. H. B. Morgan, Chauncy, Ida, and Edward, living with their mother at 1025 N. Jefferson street." The ice business is still carried on under the firm name of N. L. Woodruff & Co., under the management of Mr. H. B. Morgan.

John Hamilton Morgan Journal, Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah., Biographical Record of Champaign County., S.V. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1900. Champaign Historical Archives, Champaign County Library, Urbana, Ill. copied August 4, 1978, FHL #1,026,785. From The History of Peoria County, Illinois, 1880, pg 704. http://www.peoriacountyillinois.info/bios/bios_w.html#woodruffedward

Uncle Robert Marshall Hamilton, Greensburg, Indiana, 1811-1901.

from John Morgan's journal, 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 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.
John Morgan’s Uncle Marshal Hamilton is mentioned in several John Morgan journal entries, and in particular, he is mentioned in the genealogy above.

In 1883 John Morgan took his wife, Mellie, on a trip to visit family members in Greensburg, Indiana. The account is posted here.

On November 2 he wrote, Got a buggy and drove out past where I was born. Went to uncle Marshall Hamiltons and stayed all night.

The following account from the History of Decatur County, Indiana, about Robert Marshall Hamilton is very interesting.

“Robert Marshall Hamilton was born on November 17, 1811, and died on August 6, 1901. His wife, who, before her marriage, was Mary Morgan, was born in January, 1811, and died, February 3, 1884. They were married, September 26, 1834. He was the son of Robert Hamilton, who, in turn was the son of William Hamilton. Robert Marshall Hamilton, who was born in Kentucky, came to Decatur county, Indiana, when twelve years old and lived in Washington township all his life. During his life he erected a large brick house on the Clarksburg turnpike in Washington township, and it is this house which has since been remodeled, until it is now one of the most beautiful and attractive farm homes in Decatur county. Of the five children born to Robert Marshall and Mary (Morgan) Hamilton only three are now living, Charles C. and Gerard are deceased; Thomas Woodson, the eldest child, lives in Greensburg; Mrs. Sarah Rankin lives in Washington township; Mrs. Samuel L. Jackson is the other living child. A very energetic man, Robert Marshall Hamilton provided well for his family, educated his children and amassed a fortune, owning at the time of his death, thirteen hundred acres of land. First an Abolitionist, then a Republican and still later a Prohibitionist, he was a man of pronounced views. It is an interesting fact that his home was an important station of the underground railway, and that he sheltered many runaway slaves during his life, narrowly escaping trouble and damages on several occasions. A member of the Presbyterian church, in the latter part of his life he gave freely of his wealth to various educational institutions, and during his day and generation had, perhaps, more to do with the educational progress of this county than any other man."

... "September 9, 1886, Mr. [Samuel] Jackson married to Mary Hamilton, the daughter of Robert Marshall and Mary (Morgan) Hamilton, who was born on October 8, 1848, and who at the time of their marriage was two years her husband's junior. After this marriage, Mr. Jackson moved to the farm owned by Robert Marshall Hamilton, the old home place."

In an attempt to find some answers to the question posted here, Why did the Morgan’s move to Indiana?, I’ve been looking.

1. “The year 1840 was a gloomy period in the history of Carlisle [Nicholas County, Kentucky], the suspension of the banks in 1837 followed by the issue of Commonwealth paper in the State, the loss of confidence and the fearful stagnation in business culminated in hard times but things were looking up by 1843 and 1844.”

2. I sorted and counted the 1850 US census for Decatur County, Indiana found here. There are 100 Hamiltons listed. Fifteen of the approximately twenty families have parents who were born in Kentucky. There are 40 Morgans. Five of the approximately nine families have parents who were born in Kentucky

172b-16, Hamilton, R. M. [Robert Marshall], 40, Ky
172b-17, Hamilton, Mary [Morgan], 40, Ky
172b-18, Hamilton, Thomas [Woodson], 15, Ind
172b-19, Hamilton, Charles, 6, Ind
172b-20, Hamilton, Sarah [Rankin], 4, Ind
172b-21, Hamilton, Mary [Mrs. Samuel L. Jackson], 2, Ind

166a-41, Morgan, Gerrard, 44, Ky
166a-42, Morgan, Eliza [Ann Hamilton], 34, Ky
166b-1, Morgan, William H, 10, Ind
166b-2, Morgan, John W, 7, Ind
166b, 3, Morgan, Sarah T, 5, Ind
166b, 4, Morgan, Leonidas, 3, Ind

As I learn more, I'll share here.

John Morgan Journal, Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah. Wikipedia pictures, Central Indiana farmland and Underground railroad. History of Nicholas County, compiled and edited by Joan Weissinger Conley, Nicholas County Historical Society, Inc., Carlisle, Kentucky, 1976, p. 159. "Samuel L. Jackson History," History of Decatur County, Indiana, Lewis A. harding, B. F. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, published in 1915., online here, http://debmurray.tripod.com/decatur/decbioref-8.htm.

1883 Visit to David Whitmer, Richmond, Missouri.

John Morgan had an incredible ability of traveling throughout the country, wisely using every day and hour, and accomplishing countless assignments along his way.

From John Morgan’s journal of February 27-28, 1883, he bid the saints good-bye after an interesting meeting in Richfield, Colorado, and rode the train east, noting pleasant weather.

1883
March 1Arrived at K. C. [Kansas City] early this a.m. and took Wabash train for Lexington Junction, then by buggy to Richmond where I called Mr. Marshall, David Whitmer, Gen. Doniphan and others. Obtained a picture of D. W. [presumably David Whitmer] and mailed to Junius Wells. At 3:30 took train for Lexington Junction and at 9 p.m. took train for St. Louis.

On March 2nd he arrived in St. Louis at 7 a.m., met a party of twenty-three elders, most bound for the southern states, and spent the day in the city with them. They visited several “points of interest” and boarded an evening train for Cincinnati.


View 1883 trip to David Whitmer & others in a larger map

Here is a very interesting BYU Studies Artilcle about gathering information and a picture of David Whitmer, of which it appears John Morgan may have played a part.

David Whitmer

General Alexander William Doniphan

Junius Wells

From John Hamilton Morgan journal, Marriott Library, Special Collections, University of Utah. Picture of david Whitmer from Wikipedia.

Garrard Morgan III and Eliza Ann Hamilton married in Kentucky.

I found their marriage listed in a Nicholas County, Kentucky, Vital Statistics Register by John L. Sharp, Copyright 1976, in the Salt Lake City Family History Library. I wasn't looking for it, but was happily surprised. Its part of my attempt to learn more about Nicholas County, Kentucky, the Morgans, the Hamiltons, and why and when they left for Indiana. Family records have them married on January 1, 1833 in Greensburg, Decatur, Indiana. Here is the record I copied.

The page headings are from the first page.
They are the first entry on each of the following pages.

from FHL film 252, 392, Nicholas County, Kentucky County Court, Clerk's Office, Marriage Register, 1800-1855.

#7 Amelia Catherine Jorgensen Burt, on the Sanborn line.

This beautiful little book fell into my home. Literally! I wasn’t home when the giver came by with it a month ago, so he propped it up against my front door. When the door was opened, plop, it toppled in. What an exciting windfall!

It is from Grandmother Burt’s funeral services in 1939. And someone (probably daughter Beryl Burt Sanborn) actually filled in many of the pages.

The following is my favorite page.

Other pages list more information.

Services: Milcreek Ward House, 1:0’clock, 16 Mar., 1939
Officiating: Mill Creek Ward Bishopric; A.M. Cornwall, Bishop, L[l]oyd Park, [ blank] Burbidge
Sermon Notes: Richard R. Towler, E. M. Rynearson, A. M. Cornwall
Music: Abide With Me, In the Garden, My Heavenly Home, and Face to Face.
Bearers: David Hilton, Cottonwood; Therman A. Smith, Salt Lake City, Utah; Vinton Smith, Centerville, Utah; Roy Turner, 7th East & 39 South; Jack Hartshorn, Salt Lake City, Utah; McKeith Burt, North Salt Lake.
Final Resting Place: Elysian Gardens, Murray, Salt Lake, Utah.
Laid to Rest: Amelia Catherine Jorgensen Burt, 3:30 p.m., 16 March, 1939

There are pages filled for each of the following: Relatives Attending, Friends who called, Tributes from Friends, Automobile Donors, and Societies Member of: Relief Society was the one society listed.

"A Thousand Years of Family History"

Did you know that RBFO stands for Richard Brough Family Organization? They have recently made, and released, “A Thousand Years of Family History,” as described in today’s MormonTimes here. Since the history they have compiled and filmed is on YouTube—anyone can watch it, free of charge.

It’s in four parts. Each part is just under ten minutes. So you can watch one when you have a few moments. I thoroughly enjoyed viewing them today. And recommend them to all Richard Brough descendants, and to anyone interested in seeing what a family organization can do to share their history and story. You will find the YouTube links in the MormonTimes article.

William and Mary Elizabeth Brough Rex and Elizabeth Bott Brough by their home in Randolph, Utah (before 1921).

Elizabeth was known throughout Randolph for her delicious hot cross buns. She delivered them to family and friends on Good Friday. Some of her daughters and grand daughters have done the same.

A two part history of Samuel and Elizabeth Bott Brough is posted on this blog.

Part 1

Part 2

Picture from Helen Rex Frazier collection.

John Hamilton Morgan 1884 September Trip to San Juan, Utah, concluded.

View John Morgan's 1884 trip to the San Juan settlements in a larger map

Continued from here.

by Flora Lee.

From John Hamilton Morgan Journal, Marriott Library, University of Utah.

1884, Sept. 15
Started early this morning and drove 8 miles to the Mancos where we met Alma Stevens with team to take us to Burnham. After a hasty breakfast we bid brother Lemuel Redd and Henry Hollyoake goodbye and with brother Alma Stevens and Cumer (?) [Kumen] Jones, with double team, started to Burnham. In crossing the Mancos brother Jos. F. lost his hat which we failed to recover. After a 15 mile drive we arrived at the San Juan River and nooned. Driving across a large (?) we saw an extensive encampment of Navajo Indians whose herds of horses, mules, and sheep, and goats were on every hand. At the foot of the Hog back the river was so high that we could not ford it so that we were necessitated to take our wagon to pieces and carry it over piece at a time. A Navajo assisted us in the labor. There was an Indian trail which was very rough and rocky that served for a path across the point of the mountain. Having got our wagon together, I took the lines and we drove into Burnham in an hour and forty minutes over a very rough road and after dark, had supper at Jno. Allen’s. Brother Smith and myself slept at Peter Allen’s.

Sept. 16
Met with the Saints at 10 a.m. in meeting which continued until about 2 p.m. when we had a meeting with a party of Ute Indians, their chief, Red Jacket was present, also a few Navajos. After meeting we had dinner at Joshua Stevens, immediately after which we started in company of Jno. Allen for Durango, driving as far as brother Geo. Burnham’s where we camped for the night.

Editor’s note: I can’t help but wonder how Sister Snow got along with the camping, not to mention all the rain and mud.

On Sept. 17th the group started out early heading back to Durango, Colorado. They traveled 10 miles before they stopped for breakfast. They did not get much sleep in Durango as some cowboys were firing pistols and yelling, there was a fire, and they had to catch a 4:20 a.m. train to Antonito, Colorado. Brother and Sister Snow stayed in Antonito while John Morgan and President Smith were taken by road to Manassa to retrieve their wives and speak at an evening meeting. They were back in Antonito by Sept. 19th where the whole group took the train south into New Mexico. They came down into the Rio Grand River by heavy grades. The railroad ended and they were taken across the river on a Joe boat and continued their journey to Santa Fe by stage on Sept. 19th. They did some sight seeing in Santa Fe, including the cathedral built in 1583, the oldest building in the U.S.

Editor’s note: It would be interesting to find out what a “Joe boat” is. I tried but could not find an answer. I visited that same cathedral in Santa Fe in the early 1970’s. In the next paragraph it would also be interesting to find out more about the lakes mentioned and the Wabash Cattle Company.

The party continues south to Albuquerque, New Mexico and then west to Gallup, New Mexico and Navajo Springs, Arizona where they were met by Bishop D.K. Udall and brother Nichol with a team to take them to St. Johns, Arizona. Along the way they stopped by some lakes that were salt in the center with fresh water around them. Some brethren were building a house here for the Wabash Cattle Company. The party went to Bishop Udall’s when they arrived in St. John’s on Sept. 22. They had a meeting that evening and then administered to the son of Sister Robinson’s who was “sorely afflicted”.

Note from the Editor's cousin. Thank you so much, Flora Lee, for your work on this very interesting history.

At The Ancestor Files, all of John Morgan's posts are listed here. Under Annotated Diary you will find fourteen posts about John Morgan’s 1888 travel to many of the sites mentioned above. Amy's research, historical facts, pictures, and maps will enhance your understanding of these settlements, and John Morgan's work there.

1884 John Hamilton Morgan September Trip to San Juan, Utah. Part 2 of 3.

San Juan River, Utah, 1927, from Wikipedia

Continued from here.
By Flora Lee.

From the John Morgan Journal, Marriott Library, University of Utah.

1884
Sept. 12
At 8:30 started for Bluff. The roads very sandy, steep, rocky and uneven. Arrived at Bluff at 1 p.m. Pres. Jos. F. Smith, Brother H. Hollyoake, and myself walked along the ruined water ditch for a distance of about one mile. Had dinner at Bishop Jon [sic. Jens] Neilsons. A heavy rain fell during the afternoon and a number of waterfalls could be seen from town. At 5 p.m. the people gathered at the Meeting House and were addressed by Pres. Smith and brother Snow. All of us met and had supper with brother Cu (?) [this is probably Kumen] Jones. Pres. Smith and myself slept at Irene Haskell’s room.

Sept. 13
Had breakfast at brother Thales Haskell’s and attended meeting at 9 a.m. Pres. Smith desired me to speak first, which I did encouraging the saints to remain at Bluff and try it again. Was followed by Pres. Smith who read a letter from the First Presidency and commented on it quite extensively urging the people to stay and establish themselves. Brother Snow followed in the same spirit. Had dinner at brother Perkin’s [perhaps Ben Perkins] and met with the saints at 1 p.m. When an opportunity was afforded all who desired to express their sentiments about staying or leaving to do so. The majority were willing to remain if the Priesthood so desired, but a few asked to be released. Bishop Jens Neilson (who coined the phrase “stickity tootie”) with his counselors, Elders Jones [perhaps Kumen] and Lumuel Redd were set apart to preside over the San Juan County and Mancos Branch. Immediately after meeting we left Bluff with two teams for Montezuma where we arrived soon after dark, making the distance in three hours and ten minutes. A heavy rain fell as we came through.

Editor’s note: This delightful map of Historic Bluff, Utah, will take you on a virtual tour of the town where you can visit the following places: the Decker house, the Hyrum Perkins house, the Lemuel Redd house, the Platte Lyman house, the Willard Butt house, the Jens Nielson house and mill, the Jens Nielson house, the Adams house, an Unknown house, the Scorup house, the Nick Lovace house, the Jane Allen house, the Barton Cabin, the Kumen Jones house, and the Bluff School, jail, and library.

Sept. 14
Had breakfast at 8 a.m. and started for Burnham. Drove to Hyde’s for dinner where we stopped two hours. Then went by a new road about six miles. Raining hard most of the day and very hard during the afternoon, making the roads heavy and tedious. Went into camp on a wash running into the Mancos [River]. Everything muddy and wet, but were as comfortable as could be expected.
(To be continued.)

Bishop Nielson's courage and his "stickity tootie," from The Undaunted, a Historical Novel, by Gerald N. Lund, copyright 2009, Anchor Point LLC, Epilogue, page 800.