Garrard Morgan died when? And he is buried where?

Recently a Find A Grave volunteer took this picture of Great Great Grandmother Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan's grave site at my request. She was buried here in South Park Cemetery, Greensburg, Decatur, Indiana following her April 18, 1901 passing. She was living in Greensburg with her oldest son at that time.

Sadly there wasn't anyone living to see to it that a gravestone was placed at her grave site.  Or perhaps there wasn't any money to pay for one. Her obituary appeared in the Greensburg newspaper and is posted here. 

It was a pleasant surprise to discover her brother David W. Hamilton's gravestone prominently placed next to the unmarked area, which is her grave site. His death was five years before hers. 

The part of the story we don't know, is, "where is her husband Garrard Morgan" buried? According to a letter Eliza Ann wrote her daughter-in-law in 1895 Garrard was still living with her then, in Champaigne, Illinois. In the 1900 census (June 14, 1900) Eliza Ann is a widow living with her son William H. Morgan in Fall Creek Township, Middletown, town, Indiana.

It's presumed Garrard died in Illinois and is buried there somewhere.   

"Champaigne, Illinois April 29, 1895
"My dear Daughter [Helen Melvina “Mellie” Groesbeck Morgan]
“It is Monday morning and wash day …. Yes, this is your Pa’s birth month and all the children have written him such nice affectionate letters and he puts all the letter writing upon me. Says he cannot wright—I am sorry to say it is true—he cannot collect his thoughts. I am very fond of writing letters, but oh how I dread to write your Pa’s.”

David W. Hamilton -- a man of strict integrity!

Capt. David W. Hamilton is one of my great great grandmother Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan's younger brothers. Here I posted some of great grandfather John Hamilton Morgan's journal entries about his Uncle David's 1892 visit to Washington D. C.  for a G. A. R. gathering

Sketch of His Life and Services held in Memory of Him.

[February 28, 1896]

The funeral services of Capt. David W. Hamilton were held in the First M.E. [Methodist Episcopal] church Friday afternoon conducted by his old friend, Rev. James B. Lathrop, assisted by the pastor, Rev., J. W. Duncan. The deceased was raised here, and his life’s record is such that it will be a continual inspiration to those who knew him to lead a higher and better life.

In 1863 he had charge of Camp Morton where several thousand Rebel prisoners were confined, and upon leaving that position he turned over to his successor $14,000 belonging to prisoners and intrusted to his care by their relatives and friends.

If he had not been a man of strict integrity he might have kept this fund. This is an instance that shows his fine sense of honor and reveals his true character. He was a member of the First M.E. church, “Pap” Thomas Post, No. 5. G. A. R., and Greensburg Lodge, No. 36, F & A. M--The G. A. R. and Masonic fraternities held ritualistic services in the church and at the grave. Both orders were well represented, showing their high esteem of a comrade and brother. The following sketch appeared in the Indianapolis Journal which we reproduce for the benefit of our readers:

Capt. David W. Hamilton died at noon yesterday at St. Vincent’s Hospital, after an illness of several years. Captain Hamilton was born in Kentucky, February 1, 1828 but early in life the family emigrated to this State, settling in Decatur county, where the boy grew to manhood. At Greensburg, with his elder brother, John T. Hamilton, he learned the trade of a saddler and harness maker. From early youth he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was very popular there in the days of 1850 to 1861. In politics he was a Whig of unwavering fidelity, and become a Republican of unyielding conviction, supporting John C. Fremont with all the zeal of his ardent nature.

When Sumter fell in 1861 Captain Hamilton was one of the first men to place his name [illegible] Morgan’s roll. His company [illegible] organization, April 22, 1861, Company B of the Seventh Regiment of Indiana Volunteers. As first sergeant he served in that company in the three months’ service. In the movement from Webster on Phillippi, Va., on June 2, 1861, with Lient Rickets, of his company, he was detalled to lead the advance guard of the direct column, and, probably the only time during the long war, two men carried a lantern at the front, as the night was so dark and rainy and the mud so deep that the commanding officer deemed it necessary to find the road. These two officers carried the light within two or three miles of the objective point when it became so fine a target the outpost pickets of the enemy that it brought the column to a halt. Upon the reorganization of the Seventh Regiment for the three years’ service, he was elected as first lieutenant of Company E, and on the promotion of Capt. Ira Grover, became its captain.

Contracting diseases that made it impossible for him to march, he was transferred to the invalid corps, and was soon after appointed to the command of Camp Morton in 1863, where he had charge of the rebel prisoners therein. He gave complete satisfaction to the government as a pains-taking commander. When the term of his enlistment expired he was mustered out of the service, and in a few months, believing his disabilities would permit it, he again entered the service and was commissioned a captain in the Fifty-first Indiana. Before leaving the service he was commissioned a major of that regiment, but was not mustered with that rank before he retired finally from the service. He was a member of Encampment No. 80, of the Union Veteran Legion of Indianapolis; a command of “Pap” Thomas Post, G. A. R. [Grand Army of the Republic] of Greensburg, and a Mason of the lodge at the same place. His remains were taken to his old home at Greensburg last night. Captain Hamilton lived a bachelor’s life until a few years ago, when he married an estimable woman, who lived but a few months.

References: Greensburg, Decatur, Indiana Library new papers obituary collection.                                          

Miss Eliza Hamilton. "their history, so far as application to her sex, was her’s."

Thus a newspaper obituary writer determined Miss Eliza Hamilton's seventy-year life be summed up by reading her brothers' obituaries that had appeared there earlier. Her "died" notice was published February 16, 1900 in the Greensburg Standard, Indiana newspaper.

Miss Hamilton was sister to Cyrus and Thomas Hamilton, early prominent pioneers to Decatur County Indiana. I posted information about them in 2010. My ongoing investigation of the Hamilton/Morgan connection has been greatly helped by the obituary collection nicely indexed and available from the Greensburg, Decatur, Indiana County Library.  Thank you so very much to the folks at Gene Alogy! 

Obituary, Cyrus Hamilton, 

[August 27, 1879, Decatur News]

Cyrus Hamilton was born July 14, 1800, on McBride’s creek, in Burbon (now Nicholas) county, Kentucky; was married to Polly McCoy on the 22^nd of February, 1822, and with his wife and his brother James E. and family, left the home of his boyhood to find, and found a new one in the then unbroken wilds of this county. On the 11^th of March succeeding they arrived at the locality  since so well known as their hospitable homes, where both made a permanent settlement, and which has been their home ever since. In March of last year he was seized with disease of the kidneys and bladder, from which he was a terrible sufferer, with only fitful relief, until Tuesday last. (August 19^th) about 1 o’clock when death came to his relief. 

Of the many early settlers of this county few have been better known to their citizens—for more actively and [illegible]  connected with her moral and social development. A Christian man—one of the “Sandcreek” (Kingston) Presbyterian church; an ardent temperance man, and a radical abolitionist, from the very inception of those movements, he assisted in the organization of these societies throughout his section of the country, —addressing the people thereon wherever he could get listeners.Though not an orator—not so much as a ‘speaker’ —he was a fine talker, and never failed to interest those who would hear him—though often his remarks feel upon prejudicial ears and he had to wait long for the fruits of his sowing. Those ears, however, and he lived to rejoice in the end. 

Mr. Hamilton came of a long lived race. In the years 1822 and 23 his mother, widow with four sons and eleven daughters emigrated to this country; four were then married, the others single; all but one lived till just past middle age and four of the daughters—Mrs. Sally Donnel, Mrs.Minera Donnell, Mrs. Jane Lowe and Miss Eliza Hamilton—and three of the sons James E., Thomas and R. M., are still living. Mother Hamilton lived to up in the seventies and the two sisters and a brother who settled here lived to a still greater age. Cyrus was the father of six children and about twenty five grandchildren, and he was the first death in his own or his children’s families. 

 For forty-seven years and seven months lacking three days, “Uncle Cyrus and Aunt Polly” had traveled the path way of life together, whether sharring its joys, together buffeting its misfortunes. He has been called home, she, bowed by age and disease, can tarry but a short while ere the winged messenger shall call for her. Funeral services were held at Kingston on Wednesday afternoon, and attended by a large concourse of relatives and personal friends of the deceased; sermon by the pastor, A. T. Rankin. —Standard.

These Hamiltons are family to Garrard Morgan's sister Mary "Polly" Morgan who married R. M. [Robert Marshall] Hamilton mentioned above. 

My own great great grandmother Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan, married to Garrard Morgan, doesn't yet appear to be connected to these Hamiltons. Both groups immigrated to Indiana from Nicholas County, Kentucky. Eliza Ann is the daughter of James Hamilton, who is the son of John Hamilton. 

Thus far I haven't found any Roberts mentioned  in that family ancestry. Decatur County, Indiana information about Robert Marshall Hamilton, indicates he descended from a line of Roberts.

Hmmm!  Much still to do.

Leonidas Morgan "FOUND"

Leonidas Morgan April 28, 1847 - May 10, 1923

Twenty-three-year-old Leonidas Morgan was in Salt Lake City in 1870 working as a school teacher in his brother John Morgan’s college. He lived with his brother and sister-in-law Helen Melvina “Mellie” Morgan, and their 5-month-old baby daughter.

Since that time Leonidas Morgan has been elusive—one of John Morgan’s missing siblings.

John Morgan noted Leonidas’ kindness to him during an 1883 visit to Chicago, Illinois.

1883, November 8, Up early this a.m. and took the 6:44 train into Chicago. Lon [Leonidas] assisted us and was very kind.

Other than that I have had no luck locating him. This morning after reading James Tanner’s post on the value of probate records, I followed one of the links he provided.

Ever looking for my Great Great Grandfather Garrard Morgan’s actual place of death and the date he died, I searched for his name in Illinois. And up came,

“Garrard Morgan in entry for Leon Morgan,

“Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947”

Leon Morgan died May 10, 1923 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, at 76. He was born April 28, 1847 in Greensburg, Ind. to Garrard Morgan and Eliza Hamilton. His occupation was Salesman Advertijements [sic], and he was married to Mary E. Morgan.

Instead of Mary E. as his wife appeared in more than one census, her name is Marie Rice Morgan. She was married to Leon Morgan on November 27, 1895 in Pittsfield, Berkeshire, Massachusetts. Leon’s parent as they appear on the Massachusetts, Marriages, 1695-1910 records are Gaward Morgan and Eliza H. Hamilton. That is a very different way to write Garrard. Perhaps that’s the way it sounded to a clerk, or the way it looked from someone’s handwriting.

Their children are, Sarah D. H. Morgan, born October 5, 1896 in E. O. Essex, New Jersey, and Leon Morgan, born November 18, 1897 in E. O. Essex, New Jersey. From “New Jersey, Births and Christenings, 1660-1980”

Leon Morgan family is found in Chicago, Cook, Illinois Census 1910, 1920, 1940.

Hair, Hair Everywhere--Whose Is It?

The History Room at the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum in Salt Lake City holds an interesting framed work of Hair Art. It’s a collection of hair samples from early prominent Church leaders fashioned into a Weeping Willow Tree. I like looking at it, besides my Great Grandfather John Hamilton Morgan’s hair makes up branch 22.

Last year’s DUP History Lesson on “Pioneer Hair Art” explained that Weeping Willow Trees were often created at the passing of loved ones. The colors in this one are faded. The legend beneath the tree identifying the people whose hair was used, has become difficult to read.  

I walk by it each time I go to that department and decided to purchase a copy of it for myself.  A newer, easier to read legend, was recently made by a volunteer.

Hair samples from prophets and colleagues of John Morgan are included in the tree—the same people he writes of in his journal.

Cousin Karen M. gave me the following picture of Great Grandmother Helen Melvina “Mellie” Groesbeck Morgan’s hair collection. Widow of John Hamilton Morgan, she created her own hair collection. It appears to me it began with a sample of hair she probably received from her mother-in-law, ElizaAnn Hamilton Morgan. The card has a swatch of hair from John Morgan’s father, Garrard/Gerrard Morgan--affectionately known as, “Pa.”

Auburn

All hair samples on the card, including those that are now missing, are  Auburn (probably). That may have been the reason Grandmother Morgan gathered them together. The other swatches are from a son and her grandchildren.

Junior Morgan, N. G. Morgan (son Nicholas Groesbeck Morgan)

John Morgan hair (husband)

John Morgan whiskers (husband)

Gerrard E. Morgan Jr. (grandson)

Dorothy Morgan (granddaughter)

James P. and Margaret (Peggy) Turner Hamilton, (1844-1848) estate settlement, and heirs.

This picture of Eliza Ann Hamilton, and her husband Garrard Morgan III (unknown date), is from the gray pamphlet Nicholas G. Morgan put together, with pictures and miscellaneous information about his Morgan family in the East.

In 1844 Garrard III and Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan were living near her parents, James P. and Margaret Turner Hamilton, in Greensburg, Decatur, Indiana. When James died, son-in-law, Garrard, was appointed administrator of James' estate.

P229, May 12, 1845. Garrard Morgan administrator of the estate of James P. Hamilton deceased VS Margaret Hamilton the widow and Jesse Hamilton etal [sic] heirs of James P. Hamilton deceased in a petition to sell real estate to pay the debts of the estate. The real estate was eighty acres in Section 33, township 11, range 9.

P231-232, July 20, 1845. Jesse T. Hamilton was listed as an heir and as a non-resident of Indiana in a petition to sell the real estate of James P. Hamilton deceased. Other heirs; Margaret Hamilton, Garrard and Eliza Morgan, George W. and Sarah Jane Hopkins and John T., James A., David M., Francis P. and Garrard M. Hamilton. An ad of this sale was to be placed in the Greensburg Repository.

P247, Feb 10, 1846. Garrard Morgan administrator of the estate of James P. Hamilton deceased reported to the court that he had sold James’ real estate in section 33, township 11, range 9 to Parish Aldrich.

P293. Feb 17. [presumably 1848] Final settlement was made of the estate of James P. Hamilton deceased. A sum was due the administrator in this final settlement which he agreed to pay out of his own funds.

P394-394, Feb 1848 (from page 552-probate book D) On his application, Garrard Morgan was appointed administrator Feb. 6, 1844 of the estate of James P. Hamilton deceased with James B. Foley and Chatfield Howell as his securities. Filed in court was an inventory of James’ personal property appraised by John Whitlow and Joshua Clark, which was insufficient to pay the debts of the estate and the adm. petitioned the court to sell James’ real estate in section 33, township 11, range 9 of 80 acres. At his death he 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. * were minors. Jesse T. was listed as a non-resident of Indiana. The real estate was purchased by Parish Aldrich. Final settlement was made in Feb. 1848 with the adm. paying part of the claims against the estate out of his own funds.

I looked through this book to get a better feel for who the 100 Hamiltons on 1850 Census for Decatur, Indiana are--and I found James and Margaret's entire family--what a thrill! And I already know who some of these folks are.

From Court Records of Decatur County, Indiana 1822-1848, by Maurice Holmes, Copyright 1980, by Maurice Holmes, US/CAN 977.216 P2c

James Morgan, brother of John Hamilton Morgan. Part 2.

(Continued from Part 1 here.)

James' mother, Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan, wrote a news filled letter from her Champaign, Illinois home on April 29, 1895 to daughter-in-law, Mellie Morgan, which is posted here. The paragraph in it, where she writes about James [Jimmie], is below.

James Morgan [1850- ]

Picture taken 1905.

Mr. Richard sent the 20 dollars as you requested (thanks to you both). We gave it out for insurance on the property for the next 3 years and Jimmie sent us 40 dollars to pay taxes. We manage to keep even by being economical and working.

Additional information about James is contained in a July 9, 1900 letter from G. M. [Garrard Morgan] Hamilton of Greensburg, Indiana to Mellie Morgan in Salt Lake City. It appears G.M. is Eliza Ann's brother. John Hamilton Morgan writes in his journal of visiting this same Uncle Morgan.

On October 27, 1882, John wrote in his journal entry, posted here, Started early this a.m. and drove to town and at 10 a.m. took train for Indianapolis where I visited cousin Robbins and uncle Morgan Hamilton. Attended the Grand Opera with cousin Gail Hamilton and saw the Hanlons play. Stayed all night at uncle Hamiltons.

A sample portion of the original 4 page letter follows here. A typed version of the paragraph about James from this letter follows.

Greensburg, Ind., July 9, 1900
Mrs. Helen M. Morgan:
Dear Niece

Your very kind and welcome letter came in Saturday, July 7th ... 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 at Bills Worthington [illegible]with a woman he called his wife but not the woman we know as his wife ...

I found a James Morgan in the 1910 census in an Indiana prison. After conferring with the Indiana archivist, I determined he was our James Morgan, and ordered all of the material in his file, including his picture. The left hand side of the 17x22 ledger sheet they sent me is below. Perhaps James didn't know both of his parents were deceased by 1901.


James' wife is shown as Irene. When I read this yesterday, it looked like June to me. James was incarcerated for six years, the last three in a hospital. Many questions answered, so many more to find answers to. The letters are from cousin Karen M., with a big, Thank You! Entries from John Hamilton Morgan's journal at the Marriott Library, University of Utah. Prison documents from Indiana State Archives, Commission on Public Records, 6550 E. 30th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46219.

Morgan Family Reunion,Peoria, Illinois, 1925.

Among my Mother (Helen Rex Frazier’s) things was a gray 26-page booklet she received from her Uncle Nicholas G. Morgan sometime after 1955. I tried reading it years ago, but I couldn't understand how it applied to any Morgans I knew of. This picture is from that booklet.

In the front of the booklet, Nicholas G. Morgan wrote,

“brochure of the Bruce and Morgan Families for the information largely of the Morgans of Utah and the West.”

Children and grandchildren of William Franklin and Ann Threlkeld Bruce Morgan are pictured in this family reunion photo. Information about some of these family members was posted on this blog here and here.

Some of these people are mentioned in Eliza Hamilton Morgan’s 1895 letter to her recently widowed daughter-in-law, Mellie, posted here.

Ann Threlkeld Bruce married William Franklin Morgan, the youngest son of Garrard III and Sarah Sanderson Morgan, of Nicholas County, Kentucky. Their children are Lucinda Bruce, Amelia I, Garrard, Henry Bruce, Woodson, Elizabeth, William Bruce, Annie, Millard and James Morgan.

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.

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.

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

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

Part 1.

Part 2.

Part 3.

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

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

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

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

William F. Morgan

Woodson Morgan

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

William H. Morgan

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

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

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

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

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

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

William Harrison Morgan, 28 July 1840 – 17 April 1907.

During the last few months I have finally been able to understand the papers in my mother’s (Helen Rex Frazier 1913-1982) Garrard Morgan III file folder.

It is a legal sized folder filled with about twenty-five legal sized documents/papers. Among them are her Garrard Morgan III family group records, and the temple ordinance work she prepared and submitted in the late 1970's-1982. And there are twenty photocopied documents from William Harrison Morgan’s Veteran Benefits File, and his widow, Emeline E. Morgan’s, Widow's Benefits File.

Helen had a copy of a letter dated November 18, 1977 from the Vital Records Office, Indiana State Board of Health stating.

“We have received your request for a record of death for: William Harrison Morgan said to have died in Henry County, Indiana, April 17, 1907. … We have checked the original records of death filed in this office for Henry County, Indiana for the years 1905 thru 1909 and find no record to correspond with the information you have provided.”

Helen’s last noted genealogy work was February 7, 1982. She wrote “mailed” on a letter she’d received from the Chief, Correspondence Branch (NNCC National Archives and Records Service, indicating her order for copies of veterans records was “returned because it was not accompanied by the required pre-paid fee ($5 for each record ordered).”

Helen passed away June 26, 1982. The following document is one of many she received from the National Archives Service. They were shuffled around in envelopes for years, before being laid flat in her Garrard Morgan III folder. Where I finally took the time to study them.

It appears that William Harrison is Garrard III and Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan’s oldest child. You can see him listed on two censuses with his family posted here on The Ancestor Files blog.

I've learned a little more about William Harrison Morgan and his family, that I will post here soon.

1895 letter from Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan to her daughter-in-law Helen Melvina (Mellie) Groesbeck Morgan. Part 3. Concluded.

Following is the conclusion of (Letter from Eliza Hamilton Morgan, mother of John Hamilton Morgan, to Helen M. Morgan, wife of John Morgan) from the John Hamilton Morgan Collection at the Marriott Library, Special Collections, University of Utah.

Part 3.
Eliza described the Morgan garden and Rettie Green’s exquisite darning bag.

Part 1

Part 2


Mr. Richard sent the 20 dollars as you requested (thanks to you both). We gave it out for insurance on the property for the next 3 years and Jimmie sent us 40 dollars to pay taxes. We manage to keep even by being economical and working. I have been trying to sew some and have had 2 rooms cleaned.

We have radishes, onions, tomatoes, beets, lettuce all growing in the garden next to the stable. I sowed some grass seed half way down from the house next to Mrs. Hill’s. It is coming up. Our hens keep us in eggs, averaging 5 a day. Nine hens but some are all the time tied out to keep from setting.

Some time ago, Rettie Green wrote me she was making me a darning bag and when it came for an Easter offering, I was taken clear back when I opened the package to find such a beautiful bag made of blue flowered thin silk all trimmed off with blue satin ribbon bows and strings made like the crestom [sic] one that Bettie Falls made me. It took a great many fine stitches to make it and in it were two large spools of knitting silk to darn with and a beautiful emery bag with silver top cord and tassel. Also a silver fixer to run in the glove fingers to mend them and silk of various colors to suit the kids and a fancy painted easter egg with Forget-me-nots painted on it and Easter greetings and a very handsome silver handle; sissors [sic] and fine steel blades and a very heavy gold thimble beautifully carved with my name carved on it and besides a very handsome box of the very finest candy. The box is made of [Print page 4.] beeds [sic] and white satin. The box was ready filled, I think, at the finest confectionary.

Now you better believe I had to try to write her as sweet a letter of thanks as I was able to do and sent her our Pictures as they had asked for them. They are at the Adam’s House, Boston. I think they will go to Lynn again in the summer. I hear Dr. Morgan does not like Mexico and is coming back.

(Letter from Eliza Hamilton Morgan, mother of John Hamilton Morgan, to Helen M. Morgan, wife of John Morgan)

Letter concluded.

Notes:

Lynn, Massachusetts

Adam's House, Boston

Jimmie may be John Morgan's brother, James.

The following entry in the John Hamilton Morgan journal, eight years earlier, in 1887, may have had Jimmie in Kansas City, Kansas/Missouri.

1887, June 5. Arrived in Kansas City at 7:50 a.m. Met Mr. Geo. T. Nicholson and had a conference about rates West of the Missouri River. Came to an agreement at last. Called and had a talk with Mr. Lockwood about railroad matters. Met Jimmie, [blank] ? his wife during the evening. Left for Memphis at 9 p.m. [Note: The ? written after the blank space in this entry, could mean the name was unreadable, or not there. Perhaps John Morgan couldn't recall her name, as he wrote the entry. That's happened in other places in his journal.]

1895 letter from Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan to her daughter-in-law Helen Melvina (Mellie) Groesbeck Morgan. Part 2.

Following is the continuation of (Letter from Eliza Hamilton Morgan, mother of John Hamilton Morgan, to Helen M. Morgan, wife of John Morgan) from the John Hamilton Morgan Collection at the Marriott Library, Special Collections, University of Utah.

Part 2

Visits and birthday wishes to “Pa” are recapped by Eliza.

Continued from here.


You have been hearing from some of the family who perhaps have told you all that is worth telling. I believe all are well now for the first time. I venture out into the street. I went to see Woodson’s babe who had been very bad with a cough and cold, but it is well now and Hattie brought it to see us last week as she was having it out to have a picture of it.

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. Those was for Pa’s birthday and Henry wrote and sent 10 dollars. Gertrude brought him a dozen oranges—very large. Amelia brought him a basket of fruit. Florence brought him 2 segars [sic, sugars?].

You ask about Harry’s salary. I thin[k] he gets $35 per month. He gave me 5 dollars a few days since and $3 to give to Maude. She was not to know who gave it but must think it came from me and I must not speak of my gift. I made no promises except to not tell Maude, so--. You are so far away and want to know ever[y] thing—so I tell you.

We do not see much of Amelia and Gertrude but hear of them being over in town often. Mr. Richard was here a few minutes yesterday—found your Pa asleep. He does not come often. He went from here to call at Woodson’s. Don’t you speak of it but a young Mr. Stanley Boggs is very attentive to Gertrude; Harry Marble to Velma; Max Beck to Maude—the last two are kids.

Your Pa is sitting out on the porch. I wish he had a new one, but it is better than none at all. We are having fine spring weather—everything is green and the trees are in full bloom—fine prospects for fruit.

Billy’s business is picking up but his feet still hurt him. Woodson’s business is still good. Garrard is still running over with his new found hope. He sent Florence some money last week. Told he[r] he wanted them to get up a real good dinner for her birthday [Print page 3.] and have strawberries and when they seated themselves at their little table they must all bow their heads and ask God’s blessings and have Velma read the 8th or 10th chapter of Romans and have Irine sing “Amazing Grace,’” He taught her to sing it so nice when they lived out on the farm and told her that her Grandpa used to sing it to him early in the morning sitting by the fire side when he was a little boy. Velma told me they carried out his request all but having the strawberries. We are all so glad that he is so happy.

(To be continued.)

[Editor's notes.]
As I’ve studied this letter I made a list of forty different people and places; named or generalized that Eliza writes about. My hearts warmed by the love her letter exudes from several generations ago. And it is sobering to consider the kind of research needed to “chart” this family.

1) It appears John Morgan’s siblings may have communicated with Mellie after John’s death. And Eliza knows about it.

2) Did Mary Ann Linton compile family group sheets for any of Garrard Morgan III siblings? My mother (Helen Rex Frazier) didn’t have any.

My head’s finally wrapped around the reality that three of Garrard III brothers: John Sanderson, Woodson, and William Franklin married three Bruce sisters; Eleanor, Elizabeth, and Ann Threlkeld, respectively. It appears that the nieces and nephews named in this letter could come from these families, as they are listed in Life and Ministry of John Morgan, Appendix II, pgs. 588-590. That helps me understand a “Bruce Family” booklet my mother had. I’ve never seen a book about the three Morgan brothers’ legend. I will ask other family members, and at the Church History Library.

Perhaps Garrard, in the last paragraph (above), is Eliza's youngest son, and Velma, Florence, and Irine are his daughters/and/or wife. And could his reflections to Florence, of her Grandpa, be of "Pa?"

3) I wonder if John Morgan’s brother, “Lon” Leonidas Morgan, worked at John Morgan’s school.

4) Mellie showed interest in her husband's family.

1895 letter from Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan to her daughter-in-law, Helen Melvina (Mellie) Groesbeck Morgan.

To learn of the lives of Garrard and Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan III, of Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, read this excellent four part history by Amy at The Ancestor Files blog.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Following is a copy of a typed (Letter from Eliza Hamilton Morgan, mother of John Hamilton Morgan, to Helen M. Morgan, wife of John Morgan) from the John Hamilton Morgan Collection at the Marriott Library, Special Collections, University of Utah. I found it in a folder marked “miscellaneous.”

I’m going to post the letter in three parts, which I have titled:

Part 1
Eliza received a letter from a stranger, Mathias F. Cowley.

Part 2
Eliza recapped birthday visits and gifts to “Pa,” named numerous family members, and described a family birthday celebration.

Part 3
Eliza described the Morgan garden and Rettie Green’s exquisite darning bag.

In 1895, Eliza would have been about eighty years old. And born in 1806, her husband, Garrard, would have been nearly ninety. There is a death date, prior to this letter, in Family Search for him. Amy couldn’t find a source. It appears to me that Garrard Morgan was living the Spring following his son, John’s, untimely death in 1894.

I inserted some paragraph breaks, to make it easier to read. Other than that, it reads as I found it.

Part 1
Eliza Ann received a letter from a stranger, Mathias, F. Cowley.

Champaigne, [Illinois], April 29, 1895

My dear Daughter [Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan]:

It is Monday morning and wash day but I must not let another day pass without writing to you—my dear one. I have thought of you each day as it passed and knew I ought to write you, but so many things to do and have done. I have been kept busy and have had so many enexpected [sic] letters to answer from the children and nieces and nephews and even a great niece that it seems a task for me to write; but nevertheless, I have written. This makes the thirteenth letter this month. Yes, this is your Pa’s birth month and all the children have written him such nice affectionate letters and he puts all the letter writing upon me. Says he cannot write—and I am sorry to say it is true—he cannot collect his thoughts. I am very fond of writing letters, but oh how I dread to write your Pa’s.

Received a letter this morning from a perfect strange[r] from Preston, Idaho (Mathias F. Cowley) inquiring about the far back relatives of the Morgans. Said he had always held the highest esteem of the Morgan family ever since he heard of them. Said he had a book which gives the account of three brothers by the name of Morgan who came from Wales about 1836 and settled in Connecticut. Their given names were James, John, and Miles. The book says the one named John went to Virginia and located soon after their arrival in America. This man goes on and asks a gret [sic] many questions.

He says he went to school to John and Lon Morgan in Salt Lake City when he was about 15 years old. He said John died 14th last August in his town after an illness of 5 weeks; he said he was by his side when he passed away. Said he was a noble man and one so full of kindness that to know him was to love him and he was very desirous to know something more of his kin[’]s people. And as a token of deep esteem he wished to record in a book all he could learn of his relatives. [Print page 2.] He said he had letters from your Aunt Eliza and she referred him to your Pa who knows so little.

(To be continued.)

John Hamilton and Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan, Part 9

John Hamilton Morgan’s parents; Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan, Garrard Morgan II.

[Editor’s note: The John Morgan Journal account of John and Mellie traveling to the East, beginning October 23, 1883, continues. It appears that in these journal entries H. stands for Hamilton. I returned to John Morgan's 1876 journal entries for the very first time he visited home and family, hoping to better understand the people he mentions and visits. To his January 4, 1876 entry he added his genealogy, clarifying the complexity of the Hamilton and Morgan families. Hum! Is it possible to clarify this complexity? Perhaps there is information in this account that will assist family genealogists.]
                                   
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.
...
1883
November 1
Left Cin. [Cincinnati] For Greensburg at 8:17 a.m. arriving at 10:40 a.m. and was met at the depot by cousin Gail Hamilton. Went up to uncle Morgan H. and spent the day. Called on cousin Malinda McCane.

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

November 3
Started early and drove to Charles Hamiltons and stopped an hour or two returning to Woodson H. for dinner. Left there at 3 for Greensburg. Met uncle D. W. Hamilton and a number of old acquaintances. Stopped at uncle Morg. [Morgan] H’s.

November 4At uncle Morgans all day. A number called to see us, including Jas. Hart whose parents were members of the church. Josh. Pool and wife, two of the Peery’s and John Logan and wife. During the day walked out through the town.

November 5
After bidding the folks goodbye, we left Greensburg on the 10:12 a.m. train which was 10 minutes late. Went by way of Indianapolis and Kankarkee [sic.] to Chicago and put up at the Windsor House. Raining terribly all the afternoon.

November 6
Went about the city for an hour or two. Visited the Court house Square, Wabash Avenue, the piers on the Lake and at 11:05 came down on the train to Hinsdale on the C. B. and Q. R. R. to see father and mother whom we met, also cousin Jas. Chambers and wife. The weather has cleared up and quite pleasant.

November 7
Bad weather today again. Went to the city and called on Will. Met a very cool reception. Attended to some business about town and returned to father’s.

November 8Up early this a.m. and took the 6:44 train into Chicago. Lon [Leonidas] assisted us and was very kind. At 8:45 took the Wabash train for Champaign, arriving at uncle William Morgans at 7: p.m. and was met kindly.













Leonidas [Lon] Morgan.

This post at The Ancestor Files is about John Morgan's parents and siblings. Amy would like more information.

Some family members mentioned in this post can be found at LDS FamilySearch.
(To be continued.)

The John Morgan Journal from the Marriott Library, Special Collections, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. The pictures of the Morgans; Garrard II, Eliza Ann Hamilton, and Leonidas are from the Nicholas G. Morgan, Sr. photo collection at the Marriott Library, Special Collections, University of Utah.