My father, Joseph
Morgan, of Welsh descent, was the sixth child of David and Mary Morgan. He was
born March 18, 1864, at Georgetown, Tredegar, Monmouthshire,
England. His
parents were converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so he had
the advantage of being taught the Gospel from the time of his birth. At the age
of five years old he moved with his family to Treorchy,
a mining town in the Rhonda Valley, Glamorganshire, Wales.
He must have been
an alert, handsome little fellow with the curly, coal-black hair and eyes that
twinkled when he laughed. He was very ill when a small child
with brain fever. At an early age he worked in the coal mines in Wales where he
lost the first joint of his middle finger. He had very little opportunity for
schooling in the old country. Consequently,
he was only in the second grade when he came to this country in 1878.
Joseph, a boy of
fourteen years, and his sister Elvira, age seventeen, set sail from Liverpool, England,
September 14, 1878, on the streamer Wyoming.
They left behind their father, mother, brothers and sister. They found a home
in Logan, Utah,
with Brother Alexander Lewis, an old friend of their father's. Joseph's father,
David, joined them here in 1879. They all worked to bring Grandma and the rest
of the family to America.
It was late fall,
1889, when the David Morgan family reunited in Samaria, Idaho.
Joseph with the other boys worked on the family farm, went to the canyon for
logs to build a home and for fuel. Joseph always loved to read. He had a keen
intellect and
was what you called a self-made man. We children never did advance so far in
school that he couldn't help us with our lessons. He read textbooks while most
people read novels.
He attended the Brigham Young
College in Logan
for one year before his marriage to mother, Mary Margaret Clarkson (Maggie),
May 25th, 1892, in the Logan
Temple. He taught school
in Fielding for two years (1892-1894). He also taught school in Samaria before they went to Logan
to attend Brigham
Young College.
He attended college, graduating with top honors in the class of 1897. Maggie
want with him to the various functions connected with graduation. They were
very poor and had no money to get her an elaborate gown. She wore a mercerized
calico frock (that shined like silk, fifteen cents per yard) that she and Aunt
Lizzie made. Joseph told her that she was the prettiest girl present at the
banquet, and I'll bet he thought so too.
They moved back
to Samaria and
he taught school there. In the spring of 1898 he left on a mission for the
Church to the Southern States. Missionaries in those days traveled without
purse or script. When he received his letter from Box B, he had very little money.
He wrote a letter to the church headquarters telling them of his circumstances.
He said he could teach school the following year and perhaps save some money
for his family (wife and three children), but if they needed him immediately,
he was ready. They requested him to come now, and mama was in favor of it 100%.
Papa was a good missionary.
He returned from
his mission in the spring of 1900 and taught school again in Samaria
and a year in Whitney, Idaho. He took a Civil Service examination
and was appointed Logan's
first mail carrier. He worked in connection with the post office until his
death March 7th, 1926. He was then Superintendent of Mail. He had a perfect
record and hadn't been late or absent in all the years he worked there.
The four youngest
children were born in Logan; the four older ones
in Samaria. It
is the years in Logan
that I remember best. Joseph had a horse and red cart to carry the mail in
those early days. On the homeward trip it was usually filled with children. He
made friends everywhere on account of his beaming smile and jovial disposition.
Later, he walked on the mail route miles and miles everyday in all kinds of
weather. It was strenuous work, especially at Christmas time.
He was a home
man, who preferred to stay home with his family rather than go out socially. He
did seem to enjoy himself when he went with Maggie to ward socials. He was an
ideal father and a jolly companion and stood at the head of his family with dignity.
He used wisdom and understanding in dealing with the problems of the home. He
was a bit outspoken at times but always honest and just. He and Maggie stood
together on all points of discipline; never did I see either of them interfere
with the other. He was affectionate, took time to play with us, taught us
nursery rhymes, told us marvelous stories, fairy tales, and Bible stories, etc.
He was methodical in all his habits, got up at exactly six o' clock every
morning kindled the fire, put the teakettle on to boil, (also the wash boiler
every Monday morning), emptied the ashes, and when the kitchen was warm he
called Mama. He dressed the tiny tots while she prepared breakfast. He had a
place for everything. On pay day he sat down with his check book, wrote out a check
for tithing, for the grocery bill, light bill, etc. He was always punctual to
an appointment, to work, church, to
meals, etc.
He took an active
part in church work. He was in the superintendence of Logan 4th Ward Sunday School,
class leader of the Quorum of Seventy and later in the High Priests Quorum. He also served in the
4th Ward Bishopric. Later when the 4th Ward was divided, he became
superintendent of the 9th Ward Sunday School.
At the funeral
services, the 91h Ward chapel filled to overflowing. Many old friends from Samaria and Malad
Valley were there, as well as friends
from all over Logan,
showing their love. The post office force was there in body and the flag hung at
half mast over the post office during the services. The services were most
consoling, with beautiful music, and good speakers. It was a beautiful tribute from
life-long friends.
Catherine Morgan Hess, daughter
Submitted by: Myra
Knudsen
