Sedgwick County KSGenWeb
Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.
Chapman Brothers 1888
Pages 451 - 452
WILLIAM MORGAN, a resident of Attica Township, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits on section 1, was born in Lewistown, Fulton Co., Ill, Aug. 10, 1842. His great-grandfather was of Scotch descent, his forefathers coming to America in early Colonial times, and were probably among the earlier settlers of the colony of Virginia. None were more patriotic in the cause of American independence during the Revolutionary War than the honest and sturdy Scots, and the great-grandfather of our subject was no exception to the rule. He became a soldier in the Continental Army, and suffered all the privations of that body of heroes in the campaigns under Washington. Mr. Morgan remembers very well having heard among the other traditions of the family how, at the close of this war, the old hero was so anxious to reach his home that he blistered his feet in traveling over the rough country, over which he had no other conveyance. The family at that time was probably living in Virginia, as our subject's grandfather, Daniel, had his home in that State, where the father of William, James Morgan, was born. Daniel Morgan removed to Ohio in a very early day, while his son James was a small boy, but having the instincts of a frontiersman strong within him, James Morgan, the father of our subject, moved westward, and settled in Fulton County, Ill., previous to the Black Hawk War, and was among the earliest settlers of that portion of the Prairie State. During the war above spoken of James Morgan served for two terms of enlistment in the Illinois troops.
The father of our subject learned the cabinetmaker's trade, which occupation he followed for several years. He was married in Fulton County, Ill., to Miss Elizabeth Hummel, who became the mother of four children — Sarah, Mary, Matilda, and William, the subject of this narration. These are all living, one near William and the other two in Illinois. In the decade between 1840 and 1850, James Morgan purchased 160 acres of land in Fulton County, in which he still makes his residence. Our subject's mother died when he was an infant about a year old, and a few years thereafter his father married Miss Mary Orwig, who became the mother of four children—Rachel, Melinda and Lucinda, twins, and David, all of whom are living. In 1850, James Morgan being seized with the gold fever, went overland to California, and after remaining there about a year, during which he made considerable money, returned home by way of the Isthmus. In 1870 he took a trip to Kansas, preempted some land, upon which he lived awhile, and then purchased another tract of land, upon which he platted the town of Jamesburg, which had excellent prospects for a few years and may yet become quite a business center. The old gentleman is still living in Fulton County, Ill., being upward of eighty years of age, but still hale and hearty. He visited Kansas in November, 1887.
The subject of our sketch received the elements of a good common-school education in his boyhood days, in Illinois, and remained at home, helping his father upon the farm until he was some twenty-five years of age. Having a desire about that time to strike out for himself, his father made him a present of a team of horses and a wagon, and about $2,500 in money. Our subject then removed to Hancock County, in the same State, where he purchased eighty-five acres of land, and commenced farming operations on his own account. Two years later he sold this property and returned to his father's home, where he managed the homestead for the ensuing three years. About that time he bought eighty-five acres of land adjoining his father's place, which he owned some years, but rented it out, and made his home beneath the paternal roof-tree. In 1878 he came to Kansas, and purchasing some land put in a crop of wheat, which he did for several successive seasons, returning to his Illinois home each fall, and there spending the winter.
March 22, 1881, Mr. Morgan was united in marriage with Miss Eleanora Rife, who is a native of Madison County, Va., born in 1858, and the daughter of Noah and Sarah Ellen (May) Rife. The ceremony took place in Madison County, Va., at the residence of the bride's parents, but the parties had become acquainted in Illinois. Shortly after the wedding our subject and his young wife came to this part of Kansas to make a permanent settlement, where his new residence was awaiting him. Previous to coming to this point he had disposed of all his property in Illinois, and is now the owner of 420 acres of as good land as there is in the county, all of it lying in Attica Township. A fine stream of living water meanders through the property, and a fine grove covering some thirty acres is upon the place. The latter is said to be unequaled in the county. Mr. Morgan has very handsome improvements on his farm, his residence being one of the finest in this section of the county. He is giving a large share of his attention to stock-raising, and has a fine herd of graded Short-horn cattle.
In his political faith Mr. Morgan is a strong adherent to the principles of Jeffersonian Democracy, and cast his first Presidential vote for Horace Greeley in 1872. He has no desire for political preferment, although he served as Constable for one year, but takes a great interest in educational matters, and is the Treasurer of the Jamesburg School District. Although no member of any church organization, he is quite liberal in the support of the ministry, giving about $200 a year to the Jamesburg Church, of which his wife is a member. The latter is a lady of fine education, and scholarly attainments, and is highly esteemed, as is her husband, in the community in which they live.
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