P. W. MORGAN

FROM: The History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties, Illinois (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887).  P. 730-731.

          P. W. Morgan, farmer, was born October, 11, 1836, in Livingston, Ky., the youngest of six children--one living--of Friby and Nancy A. (Thompson) Morgan. It is thought that the father was Scotch, born in New York, and the mother English in origin, born in South Carolina, and were married in Kentucky. The father died in Hamilton County, when our subject was three years old, after he had been there but a year or so. The mother then married Squire Hillman, of Ohio, a soldier of 1812 and of the Black Hawk war. He died in 1875, and the mother in 1878. One of their two children is living. Our subject was reared and educated by his uncle, Phillip W. Bearden. When eighteen he began for himself at merchandising, at Laovilla. He remained there three years and married and settled on the farm on which he was raised and of which be boa since become possessor. It is one of the finest 280-acre farms in the vicinity, and well improved.  His wife, Harriett J., daughter of Owen. Damon, was born June 29, 1840, in Vermont. Their children are Mary A., wife of August E. Irvin; Lewis C.; Florence O., deceased; Nora N., wife of John Grigg; William G., Emaline W., Owen A. and Alice M. Our subject began as a poor boy and has accumulated his property by hard work. Formerly a Republican, casting his fast vote for John Bell, he has, since the Greenback movement of 1875, been independent in politics. Although not active as a politician, he was elected county commissioner in 1876, and served satisfactorily three years. He is a Mason, McLeansboro Lodge, No. 157, and a member of the F. M. B. A., Moore's Prairie Lodge. His wife, Lewis Carson, and Nora are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.