C. B. Morgan

As printed in 1909

C. B. MORGAN.

C. B. Morgan is one of the extensive landowners of 'washington county, his property interests comprising five hundred and sixty acres in the home place, also one hundred and thirty acres elsewhere in Clay township with one hundred and sixty-six acres in Van Buren county, Iowa, and twenty-two acres adjoining the city of Des Moines. His investments have been judiciously made and he is therefore classed among the prosperous residents of this locality. He gives his time and attention largely to general farming and stock raising and his home place is well equipped with all of the necessary accessories and conveniences for carrying on his work in accordance with modern methods. He was born in Scotland about ten miles from the city of Glasgow, March 22, 1851, and is a son of John and Margaret (Russell) Morgan, who were likewise natives of the land of hills and weather. In the year 1854 the father came with his family to the United States, taking passage on a sailing vessel which was six weeks in making the voyage to New York. He first settled in the midst of the Allegheny mountains and later took up his above in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and later became a resident of Paradise, Kentucky, where he lived until his removal to Knox county, Illinois. He afterward went to Buffalo county, Wisconsin, and then again established his home in Illinois. Later he crossed the Mississippi into Iowa, settling in Jasper county and from that place went to Webster county, Iowa, where he died in 1907. His entire life was devoted to mining and he acted as superintendent of mines in Knox county, Illinois, and in Jasper county, Iowa. His life was one of industry and honor and whatever success he enjoyed was attributable entirely to his own labors. He had for ten years survived his wife who passed away in 1897 and was laid to rest at Gowrie, Iowa. In the family of this worthy and respected couple were ten children who are yet living and one who has passed away, the second child having died in infancy. C. B. Morgan is the eldest, while the other members of the family are as follows: Bertha, the wife of Valentine Coats, a blacksmith residing in Des Moines, Iowa: Thomas, who follows farming in Webster county, this state; John, who is living in Murdo, South Dakota; William, of Des Moines, who is with the Percena Hub & Willow Company; Barbara, who is the wife of James Somerville, a ranchman and mine superintendent living at Rock Springs, Wyoming; Robert, a farmer of Keokuk county; George, who follows farming near Fort Dodge, Iowa; James, a railroad engineer living at St. Paul, Minnesota; and Jeannette, the wife of Edward Starry, a traveling salesman.

C. B. Morgan was only four years of age when he accompanied his parents on their embarkation to the new world. He spent his boyhood and youth under the parental roof, remaining at home until twenty-one years of age, after which he engaged in farming for a year. He then removed to Polk county, Iowa, where he had charge of the operation of a mine for six years. On the expiration of that period he turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits in Clay township, making investment in land to which he has added from time to time as his financial resources have increased until his holdings are now extensive and bring to him a gratifying annual revenue. The home property of five hundred and sixty acres is a valuable tract, well improved and presenting a most attractive appearance. He has in addition one hundred and thirty acres in Clay township and one hundred and sixty-six acres in Van Buren county together with twenty-two acres near Des Moines. He was likewise one of the organizers and is one of the directors of the Rubio Savings Bank and he also owns real estate in the town of Rubio.

In 1877 J. Morgan was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Waters, whose father was one of the first school teachers in Washington county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have been born five children: Margaret, the wife of P. B. Johnson, a farmer of Clay township; Annie, the wife of Otto Schmitter, also a farmer: C. E., who is associated with his father in business; Pearl, a miller of Seattle. Washington; and Orville, at home.

In his political views Mr. Morgan is a republican, giving stalwart support to the party. He belongs to the Mutual Benevolent Association, is a member of the Friends church and is a stanch advocate of the cause of temperance. Indeed his influence is always given on the side of morality, justice.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in History of Washington County, Iowa from the first white settlements to 1908. Also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.