Thomas Morgan was born 31 May 1875, in Treorky,
Glamorganshire, Wales,
a son of Mary Morgan and
David Morgan. He was the twelfth child in a family of thirteen.
He came to the United States of America
when five years of ages with his mother, brothers
William and David and his sister Mary Ann. They arrived in Samaria, Idaho
in November 1880 to the home their father had prepared for
them. He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ in Samaria Springs, Samaria, Idaho
April 6th , 1886 by Tom Thorpe and
confirmed by Jeremiah Williams.
When a young boy, he attended school and some of his teachers were
Agnes Bowen and Margaret Mary Clarkson, who later became his sister-in-law. (known to us as Aunt Maggie).
He loved to go into the mountains and look for wild horses. They
would round them up and bring them into the corrals where they would break them
for work and to sell. He loved to ride bucking broncos and was known as one of
the best riders in the county. He also worked on his father's farm and herded sheep.
Later in life, he took up a dry farm in Pleasantview, Idaho.
He found that he was very talented in music and joined the Samaria
Band under the direction of Ed Woozley. He played the
baritone, trombone, cornet, clarinet and violin. As he grew older, he organized
his own band and orchestra. They played for all the dances in Samaria and throughout the valley. His band
played in every July 4th and 24th
celebration.
On October
29th, 1902, he married Margaret Mary Richards of Samaria. He built a
two room log house on the corner of his father's lot known as the Morgan's
corner. Later he built
on another room. They were blessed with four children: Ann R. Morgan, Mary R.
Morgan,
Thomas R. Morgan and Margaret
Morgan.
On January 21, 1914, they journeyed for one day by sleigh and team
of horses to Logan
to have their temple work done. Uncle Andrew and Aunt Elvira went with them. It
was a day I shall always remember.
In the
spring of 1918 they moved to Pleasantview, five miles
from Samaria.
Here he farmed his land and raised cattle and chickens. In 1934 he bought a
home in Malad where he
lived until the time of his death 3 November 1960.
He served
in the following church positions: First Assistant in Sunday School,
Chorister, Ward Teacher, First Counselor in Elder's Quorum, member of ward and
stake choirs. He was made a High Priest
a few years before he died. The Stake Priesthood
had him play violin solos in their priesthood meetings.
On October 19, 1952, they
celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary. This was a very happy occasion for
them. Many friends and relatives came from far and near to wish them happiness.
MARGARET
MARY RICHARDS
Margaret Mary Richards Morgan was born 31 July
1878 to Edmund Thomas Richards and Ann John at the Big Bend (now St. John, Idaho).
Here they cleared the sage and her father farmed it. Her mother made butter to
sell and raised chickens and
sold eggs to buy their groceries. She attended the St. John school; they had to walk two miles
to school, so when the weather got bad, they had to stay at home. She also had
to stay home and help with the work on the farm. As a result, she only attended
school through
the fourth grade.
When
seventeen years of age, she went to work for Myr's
Comb in Marsh Valley. She earned $2.00 a week which she saved
to buy her mother a new stove.
When she was small, her mother and father separated.
Her mother and seven children went to Samaria
to live. Here they all worked hard to help her mother make a living.
On February 7th, 1900, she was baptized in
the Samaria Springs on a cold day when the ice had to be broken. She was
baptized by Joe Morris and confirmed by William E. Hawkins on the same day.
She was married to Thomas Morgan on October
29th, 1902. They lived in a two room sawed log house which her husband had
built. She was the mother of 4 children: Ann, Mary, Thomas, and Margaret. Later
in life, she adopted their niece, Myra Morgan. She worked hard making a home
and raising her family. When Ann was 16 years old, she was stricken with a
disease that doctors did not understand. She was left an invalid for 29 years.
It wasn't easy; life was hard. She did her best being good to others, and there
was always room for one more in their home. All were welcome to what they had.
When Ann died, Mary had a hard adjustment to
make, which she did. She and her husband made rugs and mats, and at 80 years,
she learned to play the piano under the direction of her daughter Mary. Thomas
always enjoyed playing his violin.
After her husband died, Mary had another hard adjustment to
make. She gave all her earthly belongings to her family and friends and went to
live with her daughter Mary and husband Hubert. They had been transferred to John Day, Oregon
where he was the District Manager for California Pacific Utilities.
She was a big help to the Gleed
family. Her son-in-law, Hubert, was the President of the John Day Branch, and
they had many district people in their home. Missionaries also made it their headquarters.
She loved to talk with Elders and Sisters.
The
members of the Branch loved her and called her "Grandma Morgan". She
died 16 November 1968 at John Day,
Oregon and was buried in the Malad City, Idaho Cemetery.
Written by: Floyd Gleed, May 2003
Submitted by: Myra
Knudsen
