Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
SAMUEL ALVINGI MORGAN was born
in Pensylvania, on October 9, 1852. His father, Alonzo Morgan, was
born in Wales and came to Pennsylvania when a young man. His mother,
Phoebe J. Cole, was born in Pennsylvania and her father was a veteran of
the War of 1812 and an early settler in the Keystone State. When
our subject was an infant, the father died and left the mother with six
small children. He was obliged, with the others, to work to make
a living and was denied the privilege of schools. However, he secured
three months' schooling from the frontier schools of Michigan when he was
sixteen years of age. He was industrious and applied himself so that
he has become a well informed man and is a wide reader. Mr. Morgan
worked for wages all his life until 1885, when he came to Nebraska and
engaged in farming for himself. Three years later, he came to Lincoln
county and located where he now lives, about two miles west from Hesseltine.
He took a homestead and later bought another quarter section, making himself
a half section of fine wheat land. The farm is well improved and
supplied with buildings, fences, orchard, and everything neded on a first
class estate. Mr. Morgan has about thirty head of horses and a small
bunch of cattle and is one of the prosperous and well to do men of the
community. His wife and children own real estate in Spokane, besides
other property. When Mr. Morgan first came to Lincoln county, he
had no funds and had a very hard time for several years. He packed
his blankets to Spokane and worked out until he had sufficient money to
improve the land and make it productive. Since first coming to Lincoln
county, he has manifested an uprightness and integrity that have given
him the confidence and good will of all who know him. His standing
is of the best and he has always taken a great interest in educational
matters and church work.
In Benzie county, Michigan,
on October 11, 1877, Mr. Morgan married Miss Louisa, daughter of Patrick
and Louisa (Griffin) Daley, natives of Ireland and New York, respectively.
Mrs. Morgan was born November 20, 1852, in Cape Vincent, New York.
To this union three children have been born, Agnes D., Mearl A. and Obe
V. Mr. Morgan has two brothers, Solomon E., a veteran of the Civil
war, and Benjamin E., and three sisters, Mrs. Ann Dow, Mrs. Alice Willsay,
and Mrs. Emma White. She and her husband are very active members
of the Methodist church.