DAVID MORGAN
Quote from Grandpa Morgan's family record: "David
Morgan was born on the 24th of August in the year 1830 at Tredegar
in the Parish of Bedwellty, Monmouthshire, England.
Reared up in the sect called Baptist. Baptized into
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the 16th of July in the year
1855 by Elder Thomas Williams . . . . married on the 7th of November 1852 to one of
the female members by name Mary Morgan, daughter of John and Ann Morgan."
In his family record, Grandpa lists the birth dates and
places of all thirteen of their children, also death dates and places of burial
of the seven children who died in infancy, ranging in age from a few days to
thirteen months. Four are buried at Tredegar, three
at Treorchy, Rhondda
Valley, Glamorganshire, Wales. They lost another
lovely teen-age daughter after coming to Samaria.
Quote, "Our daughter, Mary Ann, died on the 14th of December, 1887, age 14 years, 11 months and
12 days."
I am grateful to Grandpa for leaving us his family record.
Without it we would have been in the dark concerning our relatives. He
furnished so many clues that have led the way to further research.
He would never have his portrait taken, believing it
contrary to the commandment "Thou shalt not make
unto thyself any graven images, etc." Older people who can remember him
say that Uncle Dave looked very much like him. I was only four years (plus)
when he died. I remember him as an old gentleman, with a black skull cap on his
head, sitting in an old fashioned rocking chair near the fire, or tap, tapping
around the house and yard. A great trial came to him when he was about sixty
years old. Cataracts came on his eyes leaving him blind for the rest of his
life. He loved to read and knew his Bible well.
According to tradition, Grandpa was studying for the
ministry when the glad tiding of the Gospel reached him. He gave up his dreams
of being a Baptist Minister and went down into the coal mines, to labor for the
support of his ever-growing family. He used his talents as a preacher in the
Church of his choice, holding many positions of responsibility. Quote from Mary
Morgan Gleed's story: "David Morgan was a home
missionary for many years going from Ward to Ward by wagon and sleigh. He spoke
in many funerals, everyone loved to hear him speak. Older people of today will
say what a wonderful speaker he was."
Quote, "David Morgan and family removed in 1869 to Treorcky, Rhondda
Valley, Glamorganshire, Wales,
and were received as members to the Cumsaerbren
Branch on the 29th of May 1869.
. . myself, David Morgan was appointed to succeed
Timothy Woozley as President of the Branch on May 3, 1874." Grandpa was also
secretary to the Branch before becoming President. It was a thrill for me to
find his signature (D. Morgan) on nearly every page of the Cumsaerbren
Branch record on microfilm in the Salt Lake Genealogical Library.
From Grandpa's record I got the clues I needed to find
the church-sponsored emigration records. My father and his sister Elvira came
first on the steamship Arizona
that left Liverpool, 17 October 1879. Quote from his record, "On October 17, 1879, David Morgan left
his home at Treorcky, his wife and four children and
sailed for America.
He went on board at 12 o'clock noon, October 1879, started out on the great
ocean towards the United States.
We arrived in New York on Monday
evening the 27th of November and had to stay on board that night. The next day
(Tuesday) went to Castle Garden
from there I went to Pittsburgh. I
had no means to go on with the company so I wished my friends goodbye and the
next day (Thursday) I took the cars to West Elizabeth (near Pittsburgh) arrived
safe and was received kindly by my sister-in-law Margaret Evans (Grandma's
sister) and other relations."
I found Grandpa, my father Joseph, and Elvira Morgan in
the 1880 census (dated 5th day of June 1880) Logan, Cache Co., Utah.
They were boarders in the home of Alexander Lewis. Another boarder was Evan
Stevens (song writer of Church fame).
Grandma, Mary Morgan, their oldest son William John
(Uncle Bill) age 24, David Jr., Mary A., and Thomas sailed on the steamship Wisconsin
which left Liverpool 23 October 1880. Quote, "When his family arrived in New
York they were afraid they wouldn't be able to go
through the customs for Thomas Morgan (age 5 years) was sick. They let them go
through and when they got to Council Bluffs
he broke out with measles. The emigrants brought them to Ogden,
Utah where they stayed with a family by the
name of Tunes. They stayed here for a few days waiting for the wagons. They
came to Samaria with Hyrum Powell
and John Daniels, which took three days."
The family was now all united in Samaria
(all except Elvira). She had work in Logan.
(I don't. think she ever lived in Samaria).
She married Andrew Nelson in the Logan
Temple 15 February 1883 and lived in Logan
5th Ward until her death, 25 January
1931.
The first winter they lived with William W. Williams, the
following spring they moved to their city lot and built a dugout. Later the
boys went to the canyon for logs to build a two-room log house with a slope on
the west side. Here they raised their family. Later on they took up a claim of
160 acres in Pleasant View where they raised wheat and barley. Three of the
Morgan sons played in the musical organizations of the community, they were:
Bill, Dave and Tom. Bill Morgan also called for the square dances.
In addition to being a home teacher, Grandpa was also
second counselor in the presidency of the High Priest's Quorum of the Malad Stake when he lived in Samaria.
He died there 11 May 1899.
My father was out preaching the Gospel, on a Southern States Mission, at the
time of Grandpa's death. He left us a priceless gift in the records so
carefully recorded in the little brown book now faded and worn.
- Mary M. Gleed and Catherine
M. Hess, granddaughters
