W. Morgan

As printed in 1887

W. MORGAN, M. D., of the firm of Morgan & Gardner, Wellman, Iowa, was born in Tal)le (grove. Fulton Co.. 111., Dec. 8, 1837, and is the son of Joseph and Lydia (Thomas) Morgan, both of whom were natives of New York. They moved from Oneida County, N. Y., in 1830, to Chicago, Ill., where they remained until 1832, and then moved to near Table Grove, Fulton Coinity. In that place he )purchased eighty.acres of land, remaining on it until 184.i, and then purchased another farm in the same county, where he remained until 18G2, then sold out and moved to i, the village of Cuba, in the same county. The reason assigned for selling the farm was that his sons iuid enlisted in the service of their country, and he did not feel like continuing to actively engage in farm work.

After making his home in Cuba for about five years, Mr. Morgan removed to Bushnell, McDonough Co., Ill., where he remained till his death, which occurred from Bright's disease, in 1877. His remains were buried in the cemetery at Bushnell. For many years lie was a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal Cluirch, and did much for the advancement of the Lord's cause. He was a sincere Christian, and a man who enjoyed the respect of all who knew him. His wife, who yet survives him, has passed her eighty-sixth birthday, and is now making her home with her children. They were the parents of eleven children: D. T. was for a number of j'ears a practicing physician in Bushnell, Ill., and died in 1881; William, a farmer residing in Sumner County, Kan., was a member of the id Illinois Infantry, and was discharged on account of disability' after the second battle of Corinth; Joseph died at the age of four years, from the bite of a snake; J. W., our subject, was next in order of birth. A. R. was a member of the 8th Illinois Infantry, and served three years during the war of the Rebellion; he is now a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is stationed at Moline, Ill. R. A. is engaged in farming near Bushnell, Ill.; he was a member of the 17th Illinois Infantry during the war of the Rebellion, and served three years. Mary A. is the wife of G. W. Moss, of Cuba, Ill. Three died in infancy.

J. W. Morgan, the subject of this sketch, was reared upon his father's farm, and attended schools generally until twenty-two years of age, when he commenced reading medicine in the office of his brother, Ur. D. T. Morgan, of Bushnell, Ill. He continued with his brother for about four years, and then attended the Keokuk Medical College, from which institution he was graduated in 1876. Before his graduation, he practiced for a time in Illinois. In 1868 he came to Lexington, Washington Co., Iowa, and there engaged in practice one year. He then removed to the old town of Dayton, in Lime Creek Township, where he remained-4- until 1882. The railroad having been completed and the village of Wellman laid out, he removed to the latter place, where he has since continued to reside, and is actively engaged in the practice of his profession.

Ur. Morgan was united in marriage, July 4, 1861, with Miss Mary E. Wright, a native of Licking County, Ohio, and daughter of George Wright. She died Oct. 3, 1863, leaving one child, Nellie, born Dec. 15, 1862. Nellie grew to womanhood, married 0. W. Moon, a resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and died in June. 1887. Dr. Morgan, Jan. 31, 1865, married Miss Mary A. Long, a native of Indiana and daughter of James and Nancy (Jones) Long. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Doctor is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is a member of the Medical Association of Washington County.

Dr. Morgan is a great admirer of good horses, and has in his stable two Harabletonian horses which are numbered among the finest in Washington County. For one colt he refused #500 when it was three years old. He has also one Membrino and one English Foxhunter horse. As a physician. Dr. Morgan ranks high in the profession, and has a practice probably second to no physician in Washington County. He is of a jovial disposition, enjoys a joke well, and is a fine judge of human nature.

jl G. FORDYCE, farmer and stock-raiser, section 5, Highland Township, was born in Greene County, Pa., in 1840. He is the son of James H. and Nancy (Bowers) Fordyce, both natives of Greene County, the former born in 1804, and the latter in 1809. The father was an old and highly respected citizen of that county, and died at the advanced age of seventy-nine years, in 1883. He was a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. The mother is still living at the old home. They were the parents of eleven children, six of whom are now living.

The subject of this sketch w.as reared upon a farm, and received his education in the district schools. At the age of twenty-one he answered the call to firms, and in 1861 enlisted in the ist

Peiuisylvaniu Cavalry, and served three years, pavticipatiiijriii the following engagements: Fredericksburg, second battle of Bull Hun, Shenandoah catnpagn, Chanceliorsville, battle of the Wilderness, and with Sheridan at Richmond. At Hays' Church he was wounded in the arm. and at JIalvern Hill was wounded in the leg. lie also participated in the battles of Petersburg and (Gettysburg, and was several times detailed on important duty as dispatclinian. Once while foraging he was surrounded by rebels and shot at six times, but escaped, though his horse was shot. At another time he was surrounded and ordered to surrender, which he did, but afterward made his escape. At Baltimore Cross Roads, Va., he was shot at, the ball coming so close to his head that the shock sturmed him. He was discharged Sept. 9, 1864, at that time being compelled to walk on crutches on account of the wound in his leg. Returning to Greene County, Pa., he engaged in the oil business for a j'car and then emigrated to Washington County, Iowa, in the spring of 1866, locating on section 6, Highland Township, where he bought forty acres of land which he in)i)moved and to which he has since added until he now owns 240.acres of land in a high state of cultivation.

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'JOSEPH A. MclXTlRE is a retired farmer residing in the village of Brighton. He is a native of Franklin County, Pa., born Feb. 3, 1810, and is a son of.joseph and Anna (Adams) Mclntire, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. They were the parents of six children, of whom but two are living: Thomas A., a farmer residing near Burlington, Iowa, and Joseph A., the subject of this sketch. The deceased were John N., William,.Jane and Mary- Ann. The familjmoved from Franklin County, Pa., to Miami County, Ohio, in 181 1, when that part of Ohio was inhabited by the Indians. They- were among the first settlers on the Big Miami Hiver. The father (lit'(l in 18,")() and the nioLher in 1852. They were members of the Presbyterian Church.

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William H. H., born June 18, 1856, grew to luanhoofl.

In the spring of 1854 Mr. Mclntire came with his family to Washington County, Iowa, and purchased 100' acres of land in Brighton Township, and in the spring of 1855.added 110 acres more, making a farm of 210 acres. On this farm he lived till the fall of 1856, when he moved to the village of Brighton, and followed the trade of carpenter, which he learned in his youth. He continued in that line of work until he felt that he could retire. His farm he sold in 1859. In the spring and summer of 1883 he built a beautiful two-story house in the village of Brighton, where he now resides, and is the owner of twenty-three acres of land, lying within the city limits.

Mr. Mclntire has held various township offices, which he has filled with credit to himself and his constituents, and for two terms was a member of the Citv Council. Fraternally he is a Mason, uniting with the order in 1850, in Pickaway County. Ohio. He has filled all the offices in the Blue Lodge except Senior Deacon and Tyler. Foi several years he was Master of the lodge. Mrs. Mclntire is a member of the Presbyterian Church. The subject of this sketch is a man who enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens in a high degree, and in his life has always endeavored to live in obedience to the Golden Rule.

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Washington County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and (1887). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.