Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/473

 MORGAN

MORGAN

to liiin in 1781, for services rendered at the Ck>wpens. In 1795 he was chosen major-general of the Virginia troops that took part in the sup- pression of the whiskey insurrection in western Pennsylvania. He was a Federal representative in the 5th congress, 1797-99, and supported the administration of John Adams. A statue was dedicated to him at Spartanburg, S.C., in 1881. He died at Winchester, Va.. July 6, 1802.

MORQAN, Edwin Border, representative, was born in Aurora, N.Y., May 2, 1806; son of Christopher and Nancy (Barber) Morgan. His father went from Connecticut to Central New York as a school teacher and clerk of the Cayuga

WELLS COLLECE..

Bridge comjmny in 1800 and became a prosper- ous merchant in Aurora. He attended the public school, entered his father's store as a clerk in 1810 and succeeded to the business in 1827. He was married, Sept. 27, 1829, to Charlotte Fidelia, daughter of Walter Woods of Aurora. He was a founder and the first president of the Wells, Fargo & Co.'s express, and a founder of the United States Express company. He represented his district in the 33d, 34th and 35th congresses, 1853-59, and was one of the representatives who went to the assistance of Senator Sumner when assaulted by Preston S. Brooks, May 22, 1856. He accumulated a large fortune, and was a principal stockholder in the New York Times. He helped many young men to obtain an education and established others in business ; erected with William E. Dodge the Dodge-Morgan library building, connected with Auburn Theological seminary, at a cost of $40,000 ; gave to the semi- nary as his personal gift a dormitory called Morgan Hall ; and at Wells college, at Aurora, in which his interest was second only to that of the founder, he established in 1873 the Alonzo D. Morgan Fund, in memory of his eldest son, increased by provisions of his will to over $200,000, and buildings, land and equipments valued at about $300,000. His wife built Morgan Hall for Wells college at a cost of $25,000. He was a trustee of Auburn Theological seminary, 1870-81 ; a charter trustee of Wells college, 1868-81, and president of the board, 1878-81, and a trustee of Cornell university, 1865-74. He died in Aurora, N.Y., Oct. 13, 1881.

MORGAN, Edwin Dennison, governor of New York, was born in Washington, Mass., Feb. 8, 1811 ; son of Jasper and Catherine (Copp) Avery Morgan, grandson of William Avery and Lydia (Smith) Morgan ; and a descendant of James and Marjory (Hill) Morgan, New London, 1650. He removed with his parents, in childhood, to Wind- sor, Conn., where he worked on the farm, attended the free academy, and in 1826 he ent<?red Ba- con academy, Colchester, Conn. He became a clerk in the wholesale grocery store of his uncle, Nathan Morgan, at Hartford, Conn., in 1828, and was admitted into partnership in 1831. He waa married Aug. 19, 1833, to Eliza Matilda, daughter of Capt. Henry and Lydia (Morgan) Waterman, of Hartford. He was a meml)er of the city coun- cil of Hartford in 1832 ; removed to New York city in 1836, establishing himself as a merchant, and accumulated a large fortune. He was an alderman in 1849 ; a memljer of the New York senate, 1850-54 ; commissioner of emigration, 1855-58, and vice-president of the Republican national convention of 1856. He was chairman of the Republican national committee, 1856-64. As governor of New York, 1859-62, he reduced the state debt, increased the canal revenue, placed New York harbor in a state of defense, and sent 223,000 volunteer soldiers to the U.S. army. He was appoitited a major-general of volunteers by President Lincoln, Sept. 30, 1861, and commanded the military department of the state of New York, refusing pay for his services. He was U.S. senator, 1863-69 ; was the temporary chairman of the Republican national convention of 1864 ; a delegate to the Loyalists' convention Philadelphia in 18G6, and chairman of the Repub- lican national convention of 1872, and conducted the campaign that resulted in the re-election of President Grant. He declined the portfolio of the treasury in President Lincoln's cabinet in 1865, and was defeated as the candidate for U.S. senator in 1875, and for governor of New York in 1876. He declined the secretaryship of the treas- ury in President Arthur's cabinet in 1881. He devoted large sums to the equipment of soldiers and the relief of their families, 1861-65. He gave more than $200,000 to the Union Theological seminary. New York city, and to Williams college library buildings, and $100,000 to Williams col- lege for a dormitory. His philanthropic bequests amounted to $795,000. He received the degree LL.D. from Williams college in 1867 and was a trustee of Cornell university 1865-69. He died in New York city, Feb. 14, 1883.

MORGAN, Edwin Wright, soldier, was born in Pennsylvania., 1814. He was graduated at the U.S. Military academy, third in the class of 1837, and was assigned to the 2d artillery, July 1, 1837. He served in the Florida war, 1837-38, and engaged