Pages 197-198
HARVEY J. MORGAN, a representative
pioneer farmer of Belle Plaine township, Shawano county, is a native of
New York State, born June 20, 1836, in Galen township, Wayne county.
Patrick Morgan, father of our subject, a stone mason by trade,
was born May 1, 1802, in County Down, Ireland, and, in 1827, came to America,
locating for a time in New York State. He married Miss Lovina
Graves, who was born in Vermont about the year 1806, and nine children
came to them, as follows: Elizabeth, who married, and died in Fond du Lac
county, Wis., leaving a husband and three children—Mary Ann, Eliza and
Bernard; John, who was a farmer and carpenter, and died in Fond du Lac
county, Wis., leaving a wife and one child, Harvey Thomas; Catherine, Mrs.
John Patrick, of Greenbush, Sheboygan county, Wis.; Harvey J.; Roger, a
farmer and blacksmith in Fond du Lac county, who is married and has children;
Edward, also a farmer of Fond du Lac county; Francis W., a farmer and carpenter
of Fond du Lac county, who is married and has a family; and two that died
in infancy. In 1848 the family came west to Wisconsin, locating in Fond
du Lac county, where the father bought 160 acres of wild land, distant
some ten miles from any clearing, whereon they built a log shanty, covering
it with split logs, the floor of it, both summer and winter, being simply
Mother Earth, devoid of the slightest covering. Here they lived about eighteen
months, at the end of which time a more commodious and substantial house
was built in its place, and a few more of the comforts of a comparatively
modern home were added. The nearest village of any kind was Fond du, Lac,
some fifteen miles distant, whence the father had to carry the family provisions
on his back, frequently conveying thither in the same manner homemade maple
sugar which he would trade at the rate of three cents per pound. A byroad,
ten miles, in length, leading to the main road, was cut entirely by the
family. At that time game of all kinds, including deer, was plentiful,
while bears, wolves and panthers ("painters")roamed the forest, howling
and growling as they went in search of prey. The farm implements of the
family were simply an axe and grub hoe, and they were assisted in their
work with their ox-team and logging chain. The parents died on the homestead,
the mother in 1879, the father in 1883.
Pretty early in life did our subject "get into harness," as
it can readily be understood, consequently his school experiences were
very meagre, fourteen months being all the attendance he was ever able
to give. His first writing lessons were of a very primitive description,
being nothing better than tracing his "A B Cs" on the surface of the snow
with the end of his whip, while he would be engaged in hauling logs in
the woods. In 1856, having decided on commencing business on his own account,
he moved to Shawano and engaged in the manufacture of shingles, then embarked
in the lumber trade, which he followed some years, or until 1875, the time
of his purchasing in Belle Plaine township 110 acres of partly improved
land, his present farm; since when he has been actively and successfully
engaged in both agricultural pursuits and lumbering. He has been enabled
from time to time to increase his possessions, and at present owns 200
acres of land, eighty of which are under cultivation.
In 1859 Mr. Morgan was married to Miss Laura A. Wilbur, daughter
of Russell Wilbur, and born, in 1838, in Massachusetts, whence when a girl
she came to Wisconsin with her parents, locating in Shawano county. To
this union were born four children, all yet living, as follows: Milton
E., at home; Francis H., in Shawano; William Albert, residing at Whitcomb,
Shawano county; and Josephine, now the wife of E. A. Guernsey. The mother
of these died April 18, 1873, at Shawano, and for his second wife our subject
wedded Miss Anna P. Ollison. Politically Mr. Morgan is a Republican; socially
he is a member of the Union League, and no one in Shawano county stands
higher in the esteem and regard of his fellow citizens. |
