MARION COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES

"M"

MORGAN, John W(illiam) - John W. Morgan was born in Nixburg, Alabama, on December 9, 1859. His parents, Milton and Elizabeth Sarah (Carter) Morgan, were prosperous farmers in Alabama prior to the Civil War; however, the War and its resulting destruction and confusion changed the family’s fortunes. Shortly after the War, Milton died after a long siege of fever. Sarah left the Chaos in Alabama and moved to Comanche County, Texas, accompanied by John and his three brothers.

In his early years, John W. Morgan drove an ox-wagon freighting to Comanche, Menard, Ballinger, San Saba, Sonora, and other parts of West Texas. He had many encounters with the Indians and could tell chilling stories of his narrow escapes.

He married Cordelia Beuna Vista Grissom prior to coming to Martin County in 1928. Cordelia was born in Arkansas, the daughter of Sam and Margaret Grissom. John and Cordelia had ten children, five boys and five girls.
By the time the family moved to Martin County, three of the daughters were married. The Morgan’s and their seven remaining children settled in the Tarzan community and farmed for W.F. Stewart. John was a hard working man; but with such a large family, everyone had to work to make ends meet. He was a man who was always looking for “greener pastures”, as Cordelia always said, so the family moved often.

Even though the family had some very lean years in the depression of the 1930’s they had each other and were happy. John was hit by a car while walking home from town one day. After that he could not work very much. He raised vegetables in his garden and sold them in Stanton in his later years.

Cordelia was very religious and became a member of the Stanton Church of Christ. John, Cordelia and their children took every opportunity to go to the revival “tent” meetings on that day. Some of their children still attend the same church to which their mother belonged.

John was healthy (although unable to work) well into his 80’s. He regularly walked to town, even though his family worried about him crossing the railroad tracks. He thought that since had walked across the railroad track so many times, they should have known he was “a coming”. He died on his 87th birthday, December 9, 1946. Cordelia died three months later. Their descendants included the ten and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Photo - Click on the name John William Morgan
Death Certificate & Headstone - Click on Certificate-Headstone

Submitted by Linda Morgan Clark

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