William D Morgan
WILLIAM D. MORGAN, a farmer of Sugar Creek township, was born in County Down, Ireland, Nov. 4, 1845, son of Hugh Morgan, and grandson of Edward Morgan. The latter, who was of Welsh-Irish descent, died in Ireland.
Hugh Morgan, son of Edward Morgan, was born in County Down, Ireland, where he was reared and sent to school. He married in that county Christina MacMurrey, of Scotch-Irish parentage, daughter of Alexander MacMurrey, now deceased, formerly of Ireland. Twelve children were born of this marriage, all in Ireland, viz.: James A., Edward, Robert, Benjamin, Samuel, Hugh, William, George, two who died in infancy, Nancy and Sarah. Hugh Morgan was a linen weaver by trade, but not finding sufficient work to care for his large family he left Liverpool, England, on Oct. 7, 1854, for the United States, and landed at Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 7th, having made the trip on a sailing vessel. After landing he worked at Maple furnace in Butler county, Pa., for a period of two years, when he began farming in Parker township, Butler Co., Pa., there remaining until about 1871, when he came to Sugar Creek township, Armstrong Co., Pa. He settled on a partially improved property, and although he was then sixty years old, assisted in the work of further cultivating it. His death occurred on this farm March 13, 1888, when he was aged ninety-four years, and he is buried at Parker, Pa. He died firm in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was a member. His wife died at the age of eighty-one years, and they are buried side by side. From the time he cast his first vote Mr. Morgan was a Republican.
William D. Morgan attended school for one term in his native land before the family emigration, but had also been taught at home, for on his first day at school it was found that he could read in the third reader. After coming to the new home his services were required on the farm, and later he worked in the oil fields until his marriage, when he settled on the homestead, which has continued to be his home. He has erected the present farm buildings. About thirty-five acres of the 110-acre farm is in woodland, and on the remainder he carries on general farming, and raises pure bred Percheron horses.
Mr. Morgan married Mary Guiney, who was born in County Down, Ireland, daughter of the late Robert Guiney. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have had the following children: Sadie J., who is at home; George A., who married Annie Herbert; Robert James; Hugh C., who is deceased; Agnes Christina, who married T. A. McGarvey; Mary Eliza, at home; Samuel Blaine, who married Elva King and lives in Sugar Creek township; Joseph, at home; and Frank, also at home.
Fraternally Mr. Morgan is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Alpine Lodge, No. 479, in which he has passed the chairs, and he is a member of the grand lodge. His religious affiliations are with the Presbyterian Church. A lifelong Republican, he has been auditor for one term, assessor for nine years and school director for one term, and has proved himself an efficient and capable official.
Source: Pages(s) 714, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed October 1998 by Neil G. Anderson for the Armstrong County Beers Project
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