| Biography | | He was born in Boonville, NC in 1864. In 1870 census, age 7, he was at Providence, Hardin Co, IA. He was in school until he was 14. He worked on a farm for 3 years. He lived one summer at Carleton (now Popejoy) with his brother Drew. Drew found him a job with a railroad fence building. He was promoted to "straw boss" and took charge of reports at age 16. Drew insisted he return to school. He attended the Albion Seminary and graduated from the 4 year course in 2 years. He taught his first school at age 17. After finishing the Albion Seminary, he taught for 3 years. He attended Drake Univ. for a year then returned to teaching and began working for the Iowa State Teachers certificate and the study of the law. He passed the state certificate in 2 years passed the exams for Profess. Life Diploma in another year, and the State Bar exam. He coached athletics at Clarence and Sigourney. He was a school and Chautauqua lecturer, trained the town bands, vocal quartets and orchestras where he lived. He directed orchestras, bands and all kinds of vocial music in connection with his school positions, and was director of many Church choirs. He composed 60 or more school songs, and had an unpublished textbook on public speaking. He coached boy's athletics and practiced law in his spare time and had a real estate office. In 1890, he co-edited the Albion Seminary Alumni Magazine with Frank Houghton. He met Lydia at Albion Seminary and in 12/1887 married her. At age 23, he was the principal of the Albion public schools. He lived at the Houghton home until Genevieve was born in 1889. He moved to Gilman, Marshall Co, IA, where he was superintendent of schools. He moved to Clarence, Cedar Co, IA in 1893 where he was superintendent for 12 years. He moved to Sigourney in 1904 where he was superintendent for 4 years. He taught for 43 years, mostly in Iowa. He joined the Masonic Lodge there. He moved to Glenwood, Mills Co, IA in 1908 where he was superintendent for 4 years. The 1910 Census lists him at Glenwood, superintendent of schools, age 45, married 23 years. He was divorced by Lydia in 1912 . He was known as a scholar and read several languages. He was offered a professorship in English at Drake University. In 1938 he sent flowers for his ex-wife Lydia's funeral, and his son Max tracked him down through the florist. His granddaughter Jan Morgan visited him and his wife Lurene in 1948 in Seattle, WA. He and Lurene owned some copper claims located 4 miles northwest of Silverton, Washington, next to Deer Creek, for 7 years. They would make trips there where they had a cabin. He wrote poetry and published a lullaby with music. The Seattle City Directory lists him there in 1931 at 431 16th Ave, with Lurene. He was listed as a teacher in 1931 and 1934. He was listed alone in 1958 and last appeared in the 1959 directory. Lurene died before him . He left everything to her in his will. Marshall Uran was discouraged from visiting him because of family feelings toward him. He was know as "Prof." and "Supt.". He was an educator for 43 years and in the real estate business for 30 years. At age 90 he organized a male quarter in the McGuffey Reader's Society (average age of 80). He was in Seattle, Wash. in 1958 at age 94 (photo). In the last several years of his life, his son Max brought him to live with him at St. Petersburg, FL. He needed nursing home care toward the end of his life and died in St. Petersburg at age 97.
On 2/5/1952, he wrote on a map of his father's journey to Iowa from Boonville, NC: "Copied from the Diary of Hardin Morgan. Left Boonville, Oct. 17-1969. First day, stayed all night at Brooktown, Forsythe Co. Second day, stayed all night near Kernersville. Third day, got to Greensboro; took the cars ten o'clock at night; got to Richmond at eleven next morning. Left at one the same day; went to West Point in 2 hours - 35 miles. Took passage on the Kennebec 20 minutes after 3 P.M. Sailed 215 miles under Capt. Fremont; got to Baltimore at 8 o'clock in the morning. Left Baltimore by train at 4 in the evening; passed through Bellaire and Janusville, all got to Columbus. Passed through Union City, 5 P.M., Friday; reaching Logans in the morning at nine; (snowing very foot). Got to Chicago at 9 P.M; left at 11. Crossed the Mississippi at Clinton. Got to State Center, Iowa at 11, after passing through Cedar Rapids and Marshalltown, and arrived at New Providence, (wagon & on foot-18 miles) Nov. 20th, 1869. Moved to Liscomb, Ia., Nov. 7th, 1870.
I traced our journey from North Carolina to Iowa, as shown by the above Map.
James Hamilton Morgan, youngest son of Hardin and Elizabeth Morgan; now the last living one of the Morgan Family of eleven Children. I shall be 88 on March 31st, 1952. Dated Feb.5-1952." He stated that only his mother, and Ellen and Jimmie rode in the wagon from State Center to New Providence; everyone else walked the 18 miles. Eight children made the trip from North Carolina to IA (Mase, Mattie, Jack, Lou, Emma, Jimmie, and Ellen Annetta).
"The Great Treck of 4 Families" (by J. (Jack) Morgan (spelling as given): "The Morgan Family comprising 12, including Father and Mother; Next comes Mose Cordals Family comprising 8, the next was Isham Copeland--wife and son John, then comes a new married couple Lewis Hall and Manda Cordle, one of Mose's daughters. We started from near Boonville, Yadkin County, North Carolina. Was on the road 3 days and 2 nites before we reached Greansboro where we took the train at 10 o'clock at nite. However Father being better educated and having more business experience, swing to his dealing in his manufacturing and selling tobacco, was chosen Captain and Head Spokesman of the Entire outfit. And when the tickets was bought, which cost $79 for all full fare tickets and $40 for half fare tickets. Mat and I came through for 1/2 fare, although Mat was above the age limit of 12 years. Jimmy and little Ellin came through free. None of us but Father had ever seen a train or large town before and you can bet your bottom dollar we were wide eyed. We reached Richmond, Vaginnia [sic] 11 o'clock the next day. Left there at L - 10. Reached West Point and took the beat Kennebeck 3:30 same day. Reached Baltimore, Marriland 8 o'clock next morning. Remained there 8 hours. Left at 4 P.M. Our Caption's namewas Fremont. Lots of people get sea sich and kept the Limber Legs busy with their mops and pails. We was offered a grand dinner on the beat about 9 P.M . free of charge, but we were so shabbaly dressed Mother would not let us go in the dinning room. Father, nancy, I and I think Sister Lou, went to the door and looked in at the table and it just dazzled our eyes as we had never sean any thing to compare with it before. My recollection is, Father and I think nance went in and dined, but I'm not certain abot it.
Got to Ohio River at Belair, 7:30. Our trian ran onto a Ferry Boat and they took us train and all across. Reached Zanesville, Ohio at 10:30 A.M. Passed Union City, at 5 P.M. Friday evening. Got to Logansport, Indiana 2 o'clock Saturday morning. Reached Chicago Illinois at 9, crossed the Mississippi River 4 P.M. on a wire Bridg reaching from bank to bank composed of 6 heavy wire cables, the First and only rail road bridg crossing the river at that time. Our train cralled across so slow you could hardly feal it move. It sagged down almost touching the water, we arrived at State Center 11 P.M. remained there till 9 Sunday A.M. Father got 3 teams to hall the outfit to friends near New Providence where we staid over nite. Then went on to Quill Spears. Then moved to New Providence. Lived there 1 year. Then moved to Liscomb, where Father and Isham Copeland, our friend and neighbor back in North Carolina bought 2 lots side by each and built houses wher Father and Mother spent the remainder of their lives."
He and Lurene taught school in Montana and after retiring moved to Seatlle WA.
He stated that his grandparents were all born in Virginia, except for grandma Knight who was born in Wales.
On July 19,1887, he wrote to May Houghton: "I commenced at the age of 11 to buy my own clothes. I have never allowed father to buy me one single "dud" since. The spring I was 14 I began work on the farm as a full hand and worked the year round except 2 or 3 months in the winter, giving all my earnings outside of my own expenses to Father until I was almost 20. I left home then simply because father depended upon me and not himself. He at one time was well off and could have been rich if not for his mismanagement, and when I saw that he was able to work, I knew that he ought to do it and not receive so much help from his children, till no longer able to labor, so I left home with $10 in pocket and since then it has been 4 yrs during which time I have gone to school 2 yrs which cost me full $300 nearly all borrowed money, which I have repaid during the two years I have been out of school besides taking the trip to Nebraska which cost me $50 and I now have $50 to my credit."
According to Fern Hauser, James had a fine voice and sang a lead role in the opera, "Barbara Fritchie".4 |
