- ISAAC PARSONS MORGAN, a retired hardware merchant and the
founder of the village of
- Milton Junction, was born in the town of Wilton, N.H., on
the 25th day of July, 1805, and is a grandson of Isaac MORGAN,
who settled on a farm in Wilton, Hillsboro Co., N.H., in the
early days of the history of that place. The family name is of
Welsh origin, but Mr. MORGAN has no further direct trace of his
ancestry. His father, also named Isaac, was born in Wilton, was
there reared to manhood, and married Tabitha PARSONS, a native
of Westford, Mass. He was a saddler and harness-maker by trade,
and engaged in business at Weston and Poultney, Vt.
- When our subject was fifteen years old his father removed
to Tyngsboro, Mass., and when
- eighteen years of age young MORGAN was apprenticed to the
trade of candle-making at Danvers, now Peabody, Mass. For seven
years after completing his apprenticeship he continued to work
as a journeyman with his old employer and at the expiration of
that time established business for himself in a room just opposite
that in which he learned his trade. For fifteen years he carried
on business at Nashua, N.H., and was located for various periods
at Manchester and Amherst. He also followed candle-making at
Lowell and Methuen, now Lawrence, Mass., and for a period of
four years was located at South Royalton, Vt., remaining in that
place until his removal to the West in 1853.
- Not long after entering upon his business career Mr. MORGAN
wedded Miss Rebecca
- GLADING, a native of Salem, Mass., born in 1810, who is still
his companion and helpmate in life's journey. Their union was
celebrated in 1829. Mrs. MORGAN is a daughter of William and
Mary (VANDERFORD) GLADING, the former a native of Philadelphia,
and the latter of Salem. She lived in the exciting times of the
War of 1812, in which her father served. He was made prisoner
during that struggle, and the hardships and confinement of Dartmoor
prison so undermined his health that he died of consumption.
He served on board a man-of-war, and Mrs. MORGAN remembers visiting
her father on the vessel, where she frequently recited for the
entertainment of the seamen. She also recalls the visit of La
Fayette to Salem, where, as one of a band of maidens decked in
ribbons, she welcomed that distinguished visitor.
- As before stated, Mr. MORGAN, accompanied by his family,
came to the West in 1853, settling
- in Manchester, Mich., where he carried on a general merchandise
and produce store. In 1856 he came to Rock County, and in the
spring of the following year opened a general store at Milton.
In 1862 he bought thirty-four acres of land, on which now stands
the village of Milton Junction, and platted the place the next
year, his brother taking a half interest in the site. They have
had the satisfaction of seeing a thrifty village grow up around
them, which now has many substantial and handsome buildings and
enjoys a good trade. For some time Mr. MORGAN engaged in the
hardware business in the town which he founded, but has now retired
to private life. A modest and unassuming citizen, he has taken
no part in official affairs, although he has always felt a deep
interest in the general topics of the day, as every true American
citizen should do. Politically he has steadfastly sustained the
Republican party. He is now a member of any religious organization,
but is a firm adherent of the Unitarian faith. An honored pioneer
and highly esteemed citizen, his sketch deserves an honored place
in the history of his adopted county.
- The children born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. MORGAN are
as follows: William H., who is
- now engaged in farming in the town of Milton; Benjamin F.,
who died in Austin, Minn., was married and left a family of seven
children; Charlotta M., the youngest and the only daughter, is
the widow of William V. LITTLE, and is now making her home with
her parents. Mr. MORGAN is largely interested in mining in Northern
Wisconsin, Michigan and Canada, is a stock holder in the Marquette
Iron Syndicate, the Imperial Mining Company of Canada, the Spence
& Snyder Co. and other concerns engaged in the same business.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 737-738.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|