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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