John Basil Morgan (1828 - 1879)

Born 29 Sep 1828 in New Market, Jefferson, Tennessee, United States

Husband of Abigail Coffin (Moore) Morgan — married 14 Aug 1851 in Guilford, North Carolina, United States

Died 15 Aug 1879 at age 50 in Lyon, Kansas, United States

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Biography

Originally shared by "cmaioriello" on Ancestry on Feb 03, 2013:

Reminiscences of John B. MORGAN after his death contributed by:

Mary MORGAN DEWEY: Father always worked for the church, and the uplift of the community, in which he lived. The last work he did was working for a church building to be built in our neighborhood, and for a bridge across the Neosho River which we had to cross to get our mail and supplies. Much of the time the river could not be forded because of high water. While he worked he was assured both would be built, but he did not live to see them completed.

Alice MORGAN FIDLER WILSON: when father was a young man, he and his mother to meeting on horseback one sabbath. The roads were very muddy. He was carrying his brother William, a baby in long clothes, and father in handing him from his horse to his mother on hers, dropped him in the mud but fortunately, the baby was not hurt. Father was a great friend of the Caw (Kaw) Indians, whose reservation joined our homestead. They frequently called on him to settle their difficulties, among themselves, and the White people with whom they had dealings. The Indians were also willing to abide by his decisions, as they held him in high esteem and for that reason never harmed or molested us. Father and mother were both endowed with the true southern hospitality. I have seen him walk a long distance to the main road to meet travelers whom we could see coming across the prairie in covered wagons, and welcome them in our home, and especially if there was a storm coming up, and would share food and shelter with them until the storm was over, which was several days, and then give them a God's speed on their journey, perhaps never to see them again. My youngest son Harry W. FIDLER enlisted in the World War in 1917 in the Navy and had two years in hard service in convoy duty. He traveled 75,000 miles on the water but returned home safe and sound. He, with three of sister Pritchards (Margaret MORGAN PRITCHARD) sons, was the only grandsons of John Morgan's to serve in the National Guard.

Kate MORGAN LAMB: Father was a very well read man for his day. He foretold of the automobile but did not live to see one. He was also very much interested in tree and vegetable grafting. He had one time a tree bearing three different kinds of fruit and if he could have had the chance, would have been equal to Duther Burbank.

Thompson J. MORGAN (Nephew): Uncle John discovered a formula for making sugar from molasses made from Sorghum cane, which in his day was grown by almost every farmer. I remember one time seeing a letterhead with a cut of his "factory", but from lack of capital, I believe he did not make a commercial success of it.

Sources

• Guilford College; Greensboro, North Carolina; Women's Minutes, 1843-1892; Collection: North Carolina Yearly Meeting Minutes