Sydney James Morgan (1855 - 1910)

Born 11 Feb 1855 in Frasers Creek, Colony of New South Wales

Husband of Ida Agnes (Connell) Morgan — married 8 Oct 1881 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Descendants

Died 20 Dec 1910 at age 55 in Warwick, Queensland, Australia

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Biography

• Sydney James married Ida Agnes Connell 8 October 1881 at St. Stephen's Cathedral, Brisbane. They were to have 10 children.
• 1910:- ALDERMAN S. J. MORGAN. Warwick, December 20. Alderman S. J. Morgan died suddenly this morning. Deceased, who was an elder brother of Sir Arthur Morgan, was in his usual health yesterday. In the morning he attended the funeral of the late Mr. George McKinley, an old friend, and in the afternoon he attended the bowling green and inspected the parks as chairman of the Parks Committee. He retired to bed, and spent a somewhat restless night. About 5 o'clock he was heard to groan, and on Mrs. Morgan approaching to ascertain the cause he was found to be dead. The cause of death was heart failure. The deceased, who was 52 years of age, was a native of the town, and was one of the best known and most popular men in the district. He was the second son of the late Hon. James Morgan, Chairman of Committees of the Legislative Council, and an elder brother of Sir Arthur Morgan (President of the Legislative Council). He leaves a widow and large family. With the exception of a period in the Government service the whole of Mr. Morgan's life was spent in Warwick and district. He took at all times an active interest in public matters. A few years ago he was Mayor of the town, and at the time of his death he was representative of the Centre Ward in the Municipal Council, and chairman of the Parks Committee. He was a prominent member of the Warwick Turf Club, bowling club, and other local bodies. The funeral will take place to-morrow afternoon.
• Obituary:- MR. S. J. MORGAN. It is with feelings of deep regret that we chronicle the lamentable death of Mr. S. J. Morgan, which sad event occurred very suddenly yesterday morning. For some two years past the late Mr. Morgan had not enjoyed good health, but that his end was so near was never anticipated. On Monday the deceased attended the funeral of a life-long friend - Mr. George McKinley - and it is believed that the wrench of parting with such a firm and steadfast companion was such as to play havoc with an already weakened system, and thus Mr. Morgan's death, so soon after, was poignantly brought home to the wide circle of friends in Warwick and district of both deceased citizens. The late Mr. Morgan, who was 55 years of age at the time of his death, was born at Talgai, and was educated with his younger brother, Sir Arthur Morgan, at a private school near by. Later he attended the East Warwick public school, and upon completing his education he commenced life's earnest task on his father's newspaper, the Warwick "Argus", which at that time was published in a building where Tattersall's Hotel now stands in Albion Street. He thoroughly learnt his trade until the dawn of manhood, when he proceeded with his brother-in-law, the late Geo. Hall, to the Back Plains at Clifton, where he remained for a number of years. He then renewed his work on the "Argus" until he was married. Shortly afterwards the late Mr. Morgan went north as far as Mackay, where he engaged in the sugar industry. Coming south again after some years he was appointed Crown Lands Ranger at Toowoomba, but about four years later he again came back to Warwick, and for a time was employed with the "Examiner". Again he was connected with the "Argus", when, during the absence of Sir Arthur Morgan in Parliament, he was editor and manager of that newspaper, giving widespread satisfaction by the fine quality of his literary work. About eight years ago he concluded his relationship with the pressman's life, and opened a commission agency in Palmerin-street in buildings where the Commercial Bank now stands. In the course of this avocation he became a broker for the National Mutual Life Association, and as such he was remarkably successful. Perhaps no country agent of any great society achieved such a splendid success, and all over the southern part of the Downs his name was indeed a household word, due to his journalstic and business activities. During the last few years, however, ill-health came upon him, and he was compelled to largely relinquish the active business life that had previously been his metier. The late Mr. Morgan was a thorough popular sportsman, and his writings on the wide field of sport under the nom-de-plume of "Van Tromp" were models of accuracy and information. There is hardly a popular sport that can be mentioned that the deceased did not take an active interest in, and his connection with racing and open coursing is still a pleasing memory with a host of now sorrowing friends. He kept up his interest in the turf until the last, being at the time of his death, an enthusiastic member of the committee of the present Warwick Turf Club. He was also a Justice of the Peace, and a Licensing Justice. At the February municipal elections in 1902 the deceased headed the poll, and ever since he betrayed a warm interest in all municipal matters. When the division of the town into wards took place he was elected, and re-elected, for the Central Ward and in the year 1906 he was Mayor of Warwick. The late Mr. Morgan was essentially open-hearted and generous, and was inspired by a deep and ready sympathy, for those who might be in trouble. Possessed of urbane and generous manners, a ready wit, and an undoubted gift for charming and interesting conversation, his passing will be sorely regretted by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, not only in town but throughout the whole countryside. He leaves a widow and family of eight - four sons and four daughters - to whom the sympathy of the community will be readily extended. The funeral is announced to take place to-day at 3 o'clock for the Warwick cemetery.
• SUDDEN DEATH OF MR. SYDNEY J. MORGAN. At 5 o'clock on Tuesday morning Mr. Sydney James Morgan died at his residence in Palmerin street. Asleep in his bed, his end came peacefully. A sigh, deep drawn and heavy, abnormal enough to attract attention, was all that marked the end as he rolled on to his side and expired before medical aid could be summoned. Death was due to stoppage of the heart's action. Some years ago - in 1908 - the deceased gentleman was stricken with a serious illness which a strong constitution enabled him to survive, but it affected the heart's action and left him in broken health. The abnormal heat of the past few days, perhaps some fevered dream or passing excitement, placed on the function of the disordered organ a strain greater than it could bear, and caused a death that will be deplored among an extremely large circle of friends in the town and district of Warwick. Mr. Morgan was the second son of the late Mr. James Morgan, and an elder brother of Sir Arthur Morgan, and was 55 years of age. He was educated in Warwick, and after leaving school joined the staff of the Warwick "Argus", then the property of his father. With the fortunes of this journal his life was long associated in all capacities that mark the progress of the journalist from office boy to editor's chair, except for a few intervals in which he followed avocations elsewhere. His work brought him in touch with the residents of the town and district, and it is doubtful if there was a man more widely known and more generally popular in the district in which he lived and with which his life-work was associated. A desire for change led him in 1899 to abandon his profession as a journalist, and he entered business as a commisssion agent and local representative of the National Mutual Life Association, a financial institution that through his agency acquired great interests in the district. Naturally politics, both State and local government, attracted his attention. In the former he was a seasoned and successful campaigner, in the latter an active and no less successful participant. At the municipal elections of 1902 he was returned at the head of the poll as an alderman of the Town Council, and on division of the area into wards a little later he was elected as a representative of the Central Ward, and has sat continuously as one of its representatives ever since. In 1906 he was chosen by fellow alderman for the highest civic honor, and his term of mayoralty marked a successful stage in the history of our advancement. As chairman of the Parks Committee of the Council he inaugurated a period of developmental progress in town beautification that has for its monument the present excellent condition of the two principal pleasure resorts that grace the centre of the town. Successful in the executive duties, he was no less successful as an individual alderman at the Council table, and by his passing his constituents will lose a representative always studiedly mindful of their interests, always anxious for the advancement of the town. He was also a prominent member of the Turf Club, an enthusiastic and intelligent follower of the sport, and many will recall with pleasure "Van Tromp's" spirited reports of many a hard fought battle on the turf in the earlier days of racing in Warwick. He was a Justice of the Peace and a Licensing Justice for the Warwick District. In all public affairs he took an interest; privately he was a mentor of many a man who can today mark himself a successful farmer. Because of these things, it is not surprising that he was popular, not surprising that his death will be widely deplored. Personally he was a man of liberal instincts and generous impulses, large-hearted and kind to a fault. He was not pretentious or ostentatious and he never abandoned or allowed a kind-hearted nature to be obscured by self-seeking. That was the element in his character that made for his wide popularity. He is survived by a wife and family of eight children - four girls and four boys - and to the bereaved we extend our sincere sympathy. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon and was largely attended, the service at the graveside being conducted by Rev. J. Lewis. The cortege was one of the largest seen in Warwick, and was half-a-mile long. Following the hearse, with its pall bearers - Messrs. J. Thornton, R. Thornton, G. Gillet, J. Painter, J. Devitt, and M. Kelly, all employees of the Town Council - marched the Mayor and Aldermen of the Town Council, the officers (Messrs. John Spreadborough, Town Clerk, and Mr. F. J. Kingsford, assistant Town Clerk), and the other Council employees. Then followed a cab, heavily laden with floral tokens of sympathy, the cabs of the chief mourners, representatives of the Hibernian Society, the Turf Club, and a long line of town and country mourners. It was a cortege that attested in silent tribute the popularity of the deceased.
• Messages of sympathy were received from the following:- James Tolmie, M.L.A. (Toowoomba), G. P. Barnes, M.L.A., F. Grayson, M.L.A., Sir Arthur and Lady Morgan, Mr. and Mrs. J. Stack (Albion), Mr. and Mrs. G. Stack (Sydney), Mr. and Mrs. A. Raff (Corinda), Mrs. G. Hall and family, Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Whelan and family, Mr. and Mrs. A. Barron (Sydney), Mr. and Mrs. E. Morgan (Toowong), National Mutual Life Association (Brisbane), Hugh Bergin, Canon Hay, J. Kingsford (Allora), H. J. Kingsford (Dalveen), D. McInnnes (Dalveen), H. Mott (Clifton), J. Logan (Clifton), Mrs. J. Morgan (Eagle Junction), J. Donovan (Valley), D. Allman, Mr. and Mrs. F. Kingsford (Toowoomba), Dr. and Mrs. Wolfgang Hunt, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Hardaker, John Dalton (Gladstone), Mrs. C. S. Saunders, Mrs. A. Stephens and family, Mr. and Mrs. F. Barton, Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Tommerup, Mr. and Mrs. C. Thompson, Members of the "Argus" staff, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Johnson, Mrs. Joe Healy, Mr. and Mrs. J. Ahearn, Mr. and Mrs. W. Finnen, Mr. and Mrs. F. Grayson (Mildura), Mrs. McEvoy, Mrs. M. O'Sullivan, Piggott and Co., Frank Brennan, Mr. and Mrs. M. McEniery, Mr. and Mrs. G. Chandler, Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Kingsford, J. D. Rowland, H. Sterne, S. Irwin, Mr. and Mrs. S. Ryan, Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Higgins, A. P. Jutsum, Miss N. Parker, Mr. and Mrs. J. Keane, P. Mathison (Sandgate), J. Devlin, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Allen.
• Wreaths were forwarded by Mother and Family, Arthur and Alice, Jack and Loney, Mr. and Mrs. G. Stack, Dolly and family, Alex and Cissy, Arthur and Eileen, Dr. and Mrs. Egan, Rolley, Minnie and Norman, Herbert and Ethel, Messrs. Curnow, Fleming and Caine, Warwick Town Council, Officers of the Town Council, Warwick Turf Club, Hibernian Society, Staff of the Warwick "Argus", Mrs. J. McCamey and family, Mrs. F. T. Grayson, Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Huxley, Mr. and Mrs. D. Pugh, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Cummings, Mr. J. McKinley, Hon. T. A. Johnson, M.L.C., Mr. and Mrs. R. McKinley, Mr. and Mrs. H. Parker, Miss N. Parker, Mrs. M. Higgins and family, Mr. and Mrs. H. Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Aspinall, Mrs. Devlin and family, John Allman, Mr. and Mrs. Donoghue and family, McKenna family, Mr. and Mrs. A. Mantle, Mrs. J. Finnen, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Wright, Mr. and Mrs. W. Redmond, Jack, Joe, and Miss Murdoch, F. and C. Clinton, the Campbell family, Mr. and Mrs. J. Murphy, Mr. and Mrs. J. Donovan, Mr. and Mrs. D. Crawford, Mr. and Mrs. J. Lamb, Mr. and Mrs. J. Lewis, Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Shilliday, Sub-Inspector and Mrs. M. Portley and family, Allman and Foster, Mr. and Mrs. J. McKerihan, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. J. Spreadborough, Mrs. Jerry Allman, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Connelly, Messrs. Smythe and Ekerick.
• 1910:- Sydney is buried in the Warwick Cemetery on 21 December.

Sources

• Queensland Marriage Index:- 1881/B/7459.
• The "Brisbane Courier" ... Wednesday, 21 December 1910; DEATH OF A WARWICK IDENTITY.
• "The Warwick Examiner and Times" ... Wednesday, 21 December 1910: OBITUARY.
• "The Warwick Argus" ... Thursday, 22 December 1910: OBITUARY.
• Queensland Death Index:- 1911/C/4743.