Woodson Morgan

 

SOURCE: "History of Champaign County, Illinois with Illustrations," 1878

SURNAMES: BRUCE, DUNLAP, MORGAN, VAUGHN

 

WOODSON MORGAN. Was born January 18th, 1804, in Nicholas county, Kentucky, and is a son of Garrard MORGAN, a prominent citizen of that state. Mr. Morgan spent his childhood upon a farm, and availed himself of the limited opportunity for obtaining an education in the county schoo1 of his vicinity.

Nothing of importance except the regular routine of duties incident to the life of a young man of that day occurred until March 10th, 1853, when Mr. Morgan was married to Elizabeth, daughter of William BRUCE, a wealthy farmer of Fleming county, Kentucky. They began housekeeping on a farm in Fleming county, which had been purchased prior to the marriage. Here they remained until July 10, 1851, at which time Mrs. Morgan died, leaving her husband and eight children to mourn her loss; the youngest of these, however, soon followed the mother.

Mrs. Morgan was a lady of fine culture, and possessed, for her day, a good education. The death of the mother caused the family to become separated, Mr. Morgan going to Elizabeth, a village near by, while the children were sent to live with some relatives.

The family was re-united on the 22d day of February, 1857, by a second marriage, which took place between the gentleman of whom we write, and Mrs. Amanda DUNLAP, of Jacksonville, Illinois, and a daughter of Wm. VAUGHAN, D. D., a celebrated minister of the Baptist church, in Kentucky. A few months after the marriage, Mr. Morgan removed his family to a farm near where he still resides.

In 1840, without any solicitation upon his part, the friends of Mr. Morgan elected him to represent his county in the Kentucky legislature. He acquitted himself very creditably while there, but no solicitation could induce him to accept a second nomination. He was elected supervisor of the township in which he resides, in 1862, and with the exception of four years, has held that office ever since, besides several others of less importance. Mr. Morgan is genial and kind-hearted to all. Having been employed largely in the public service, he has promptly and faithfully discharged every duty devolving upon him.