Macoupin County
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Biography - CORBIN S. MORGAN

Corbin S. Morgan, an honored and prominent agriculturist of Macoupin County, resides on his handsome farm of 340 acres which is situated in sections 2 and 10, Hilyard township. He was born in Monroe County, Ohio, July 4, 1850, and is a son of Samuel A. and Louisa P. (Jones) Morgan, and a grandson of James Morgan. The Morgan family may with justice term itself American, for it has been established in this country for many generations.

James Morgan was a native of old Virginia and went to what is now West Virginia in company with his parents. On this journey James Morgan's father was killed by the Indians while crossing the mountains. Mr. Morgan was a farmer all his life and was in every way successful in his work as a pioneer agriculturist. James Morgan was the father of nine children, namely: John, Thomas, Samuel A., William, Corbly, Stewart, Nancy (Stein), Amanda and Mary (Simpson).

Samuel A. Morgan was born in Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia) in 1817, and migrated to Ohio in company with his parents, being a lad in years when this journey was made. Mr. Morgan followed the occupation of farming and devoted a great deal of his time to cattle buying and shipping, in which he proved very successful, leaving at his death, in 1872, a good farm. When the Civil War broke out, he went to enlist but was rejected. Politically he was a Democrat and served as deputy sheriff of his county and also as tax collector, besides holding several other offices. In religious circles he was a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Morgan was married to Louisa P. Jones, who was born in Monroe County, Ohio, in 1818, being the first girl born in that county. She was a daughter of Amos B. Jones. They were the parents of ten children, of whom one died in infancy. The others are as follows: James J., who resides with our subject; Permelia, deceased; Katherine, of Ohio; Augustus L., a resident of Ohio, who is a bachelor; Amanda (Brown), a resident of Marietta, Ohio; Elizabeth, also a resident of Ohio; Corbin S., our subject; and Nathaniel and Mary F. (Elliot), who are residents of Jefferson County, Ohio. Mr. Morgan died in 1872.

Corbin S. Morgan came West in 1870, locating in St. Louis, Missouri, where he remained but a short time in the employ of Henry Jobin, who conducted a nursery. From there he went to Laclede, Linn County, Missouri, remained there until March, 1871, and then removed to Denver, Colorado, where he worked at the carpenter's trade for some time. Next entered the employ of Hitson & Patterson, he worked as a cowboy until the following summer, when he traveled through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Mexico and California. Mr. Morgan then returned to Ohio and engaged in work at the shoemaker's trade at Stafford. On July 9, 1874, he came to Macoupin County, Illinois, and worked for six years by the month for W. H. Dey. In 1880 he removed to Montgomery County, Illinois, but after one year's residence returned to Macoupin County and rented a farm in Hilyard township of Mr. Dey. He remained on that farm for 10 years and then purchased his present farm, 320 acres of which is prairie land, the remaining portion being in timber land. Mr. Morgan is a feeder and raiser of stock and has proved himself to be skilled at that occupation. He also raises grain and other farm produce. Although Mr. Morgan started in a somewhat lowly station in life he has attained a high position among the prominent business men of his county. In 1874, when he came to Bunker Hill, he had but $1.25, and his possessions of to-day are but a reward for his unceasing energies and skilled methods of farming. Mr. Morgan is a member of the Republican party, but takes but a citizen's interest in political affairs. In fraternal circles he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

On February 1, 1880, Mr. Morgan was married to Mary Boyle, who was born at Bornton, New Jersey, April 16, 1853, and is a daughter of William and Margaret (McPhillips) Boyle, both natives of Ireland, raised near Belfast. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are the parents of three children, namely: Mabel, James W. and Sarah Jane, all of whom reside at home with their parents. Mr. Morgan and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.


Extracted 2018 May 07 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, page 263.


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