Linton and Eudora Eggertsen Morgan

Linton Morgan is a well known and well established realtor of Vallejo and is police judge in and for that city, as well as local representative of the federal government in the operation of the affairs of the housing corporation. He is a native of Idaho and was reared in the state of Arizona, where he obtained his initial schooling, and he is a resident of California by choice and inclination, having found conditions here very much to his liking. Mr. Morgan was born in Preston, Idaho, September 21, 1890, and is a son of John and Mary (Linton) Morgan, the former of whom, now deceased, was for many years a prominent figure in educational circles in that state and in Utah.

Linton Morgan went to Washington, D. C, when he was about twenty years of age, and there he attended the Georgetown University and later the George Washington Law School. He early became trained for secretarial service and was for some time engaged in Washington as assistant secretary to United States Senator Wolcott of Delaware. Later he was attached to the staff of the secretary of labor and in that department of the federal government's activities rendered service as an assistant to the secretary until 1920, when he was sent to Vallejo as the representative of the department and was made manager of the housing corporation's operations here, a position he still occupies. Upon taking up his residence here Mr. Morgan also embarked in the local realty business and has built up a flourishing connection along that line. In 1925 he was appointed to act as city judge, and he is thus now serving in a dual public capacity.

In 1917, at Salt Lake City, Utah, Linton Morgan was united in marriage to Miss Eudora Eggertsen of that state, and they have three children, Dixie, Meline, and John W. Mr. Morgan is a democrat and is an active and influential member of the Vallejo Kiwanis Club. He also is affiliated with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Hunt, Marguerite, and Harry Lawrence Gunn. History of Solano County, California. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co, 1926.

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Records from the Brigham Young Academy High School

Morgan, Linton J.
Oakland, California US

Class of 1912. Linton Morgan, of St. Johns, Arizona. He graduated from Brigham Young High School in 1912. Source: 1912 BYU Mizpah, BYH section, photos and names on pp. 1 - 62, 105.

Linton J. Morgan was born on September 21, 1890 in Preston, Idaho. His parents were John Hamilton Morgan and Mary Ann Linton Morgan. Linton married Eudora Eggerston, BYH Class of 1913, on April 4, 1917. Eudora was born on February 26, 1894 in Provo, Utah. Her parents were Simon Peter Eggertsen and Henrietta Petrea Nielsen [or Nelson]. She died on May 15, 1982 in California. Linton J. Morgan died on April 16, 1951 in Oakland, California. His interment, Oakland, California.

[I’m not sure what the “J” as a middle initial stands for. I don’t see a middle name listed on any family records. On the Social Security Death Index he is listed as Richard Linton Morgan.]

Eggertsen, Eudora [Eggertson,]
Oakland, California, US

Class of 1913. Eudora Eggertson (spelled "-son" in both places, but actually is "-sen"). She graduated from Brigham Young High School, in the Music Department. Source 1: 1913 BYU Banyan yearbook, BYH section, pages 63-81.

Class of 1913. Eudora Eggertsen (spelled "-sen"). She received two diplomas in 1913: a BYH Music Diploma, and a High School Diploma. Source 2: Annual Record, B.Y. University, Book 5, page 341.

She married Linton J. Morgan, BYH Class of 1912, on April 4, 1917. Eudora was born on February 26, 1894 in Provo, Utah. Her parents were Simon Peter Eggertsen and Henrietta Petrea Nielsen [or Nelson]. She died on May 15, 1982 in California. Linton J. Morgan died on April 16, 1951 in Oakland, California. His interment, Oakland, California.

Brigham Young High School, Provo, Utah, website.

Grandma Morgan—Mary Ann Linton Morgan, Part 2

Grandma and Mom were always at odds, Mom couldn’t understand her and talked about her to us children so terribly that we had little use for her either. I understood why this was so much later when I found out Grandma Christensen disliked her so much for being a polygamous wife.

Grandma married John Hamilton Morgan in the Endowment House against her Mother’s wishes. One of Grandma’s aunts or cousins helped her to come to Salt Lake where she and Grandpa Morgan were married in the Endowment House. After the Manifesto Grandma was in Hunt, Arizona working for the D.K. Udall family and married “Uncle D.K.” I am sure that Grandma Christensen knew about this secret.

Mom was not a tidy housekeeper and Grandma would try to teach her how to be neater. Grandma had a tendency to snoop, too, (so Mom says) and Mom was upset with her about that.

During Grandma’s last years Mom took her into her home to care for. Aunt Eudora (Lin’s wife) came from California and said Grandma could no longer care for herself. Grandma had arthritis very bad and walked with a cane. She had little use for children and gave Jimmy a hard time while we had to stay with Mom and Dad at 777 Fourth Ave. until our house on 12th West was completed.…

Finally Dad was persuaded to put her in a nursing home on 13th South and it was here she died. The name of the home was Hill Haven and had been an orphanage while we children were growing up on 13th East and 13th South.

Grandma was the spur who interested Nicholas Groesbeck Morgan (Grandpa’s eldest son) in genealogy. He had the Morgan line traced back to three brothers who came from Glamorganshire, Wales to settle in the United States. One settled in New England; one in the middle Atlantic States; and one in Virginia. Our line comes through the latter man.

[A note from my dad: This information is probably inaccurate. In fact Nicholas Morgan traced the genealogy to Virginia where there were a number of Morgans. There is no evidence or proof that the Morgan he selected is the right one... A careful reading of the John Morgan book shows clearly that he just randomly selected a line that continued as opposed to ending the line in Virginia.]

Grandma had bunions on both her feet, one of which was most painful. Her arthritis kept her from raising her elbow but a little way and she combed her hair by propping elbow on her chest of drawers.… Lin was always Grandma’s favorite but it was Dad to whom she looked for the most support and help. She was always asking Dad to help provide for herself for genealogy, or one of his brothers.

Mom didn’t like to visit with Grandma, but one time we took a dinner in the pots and pans on the streetcar to surprise Grandma. I just remember how many parcels we all had to carry. We didn’t stay too long as there were too many of us for that little room. I remember going down the hall to the bath. There was a toilet with a long chain from the box at the top; a bathtub that stood on legs and in which all that whole floor bathed. Grandma had this small sink in her room in a sort of closet and Mom said she used it to wash dishes in…

Grandma used to call the managers of the Deseret News to see why Dad didn’t come to see her more often. This was upsetting to Mom, also.

Grandma was always praising Uncle Lin’s and Aunt Eudora’s kids to us. Aunt Eudora was an Eggertsen from Provo, and Grandma had a higher opinion of her than she did of the Christensens in St. Johns.

I trust Grandma has found peace and her rightful place in the hereafter. She endured many hardships for her belief in the Church and was persecuted severely for her participation in polygamy as a third wife. I am grateful to her for telling me there was a hereafter and that we should all be together again after death.

Photo of the Salt Lake Temple from http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimberlyfaye/2483954549/.

Grandma Morgan—Mary Ann Linton Morgan, Part 1

By Helen Morgan Ayrton

She was born 11 February 1865 to Samuel Linton and Mary Ellen (McKichins) Sutton. She was the third child of nine children. Her mother had been married to a Mr. McKichins [or McKechine] and had a daughter Sarah Ellen, who was ten years older than Mary Ann. Grandma told me that her mother left Mr. McKichins because he wanted nothing to do with the Church. The family group sheet in Dad’s records shows Sarah Ellen was adopted by Samuel Linton.

She was very fond of her family, especially her brother Samuel Linton. I remember going to Nephi once or twice during my early years and visiting with Grandma’s people. She thought a lot of her brothers, John and Samuel. My mother told me several times that Grandma’s father, Samuel Linton, was a very stern man. Dad mentions him in his Life Story.

Grandma had light reddish blond hair and was a stately woman who appeared taller than she was because of her slender but upright carriage at all times. She had beautiful brown eyes and very fair skin. She was always very proper, possessive of her sons, religious, and a quite beautiful woman who worked very hard all her life.

I remember several times being with her when she did janitorial work for Elias Morris & Sons in their offices located then on South Temple. She must have been in her late fifties or early sixties then.

Grandma became immersed totally in genealogical work. From some letters her fascination with this subject must have happened when I was a small girl. As I grew to a teenager, Grandma tried her best to interest me in the subject but somehow the “bug didn’t bite.”

Grandma lived for a time in Washington D.C. where Linton was studying for the bar. She lived with Lin, Eudora and one or two children (daughters). She also lived in California. The following is something which was found in one of her genealogy notebooks.

This Sun. Jan. 23 Larani and Jayne took Julia (Grandma’s sister) and myself and the little girls on a beautiful ride through the San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica Mountains, Van Nuys, Westwood, Bel Aire, University of California; through the famous Coast Highway then south to Ocean Park, Venice, Pala Del Rey.

Sat on the beach at the Palasaid; went through Manhatten, Harniosa and by Daud’s Beaches. Through the Palasverd Estate, over to Pont Permire where we had a delicious lunch Jule had prepared.

At San Pedro Harbor we saw 21 battleships.

We came on through the Western Ave. which reaches from the mountains to the sea.

In coming home we called at Mr. & Mrs. (?) (Jayne’s sister) and saw her lovely baby boy.

On the back of this page from one of her genealogy notebooks this, dated 5 April 1938:

I have found a wealth of books which may give much information on our lines.

What a lonely life Grandma had. She never had more than one room with a small sink; the bathroom was down the hall. This was in the Sharon Building where she lived many years of her life. She had good friends—Cecilia Steed, a lady with a decided accent from the French side of Switzerland, and Margaret Harned, a Mrs. Jones who helped her with genealogy [I'm guessing Jessie Penrose Jones]. There were others but these are the ones I remember best. She used to keep her food perishables on the window sill of her room.There were two windows, one large and one small facing South Temple, so her room was on the north side of the building. Grandma had no possessions to speak of but accumulated many notebooks with genealogy notes, a good many of them in pencil. She did much Temple Work. Grandma went to the 14th Ward in Salt Lake City.

[To be continued.]

Ancestral Ties on John Hamilton and Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan

Bessie has put up two lovely posts about John Hamilton Morgan and his wife Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan. The first is a series of entries from John Morgan's diary and includes information on the death of his daughter Flora. The second is the first part of Mellie's biography. I've never seen the first photograph in the post about Mellie. What a distinguished looking woman, and what amazing beadwork on her dress.

Coming up this week: a biography of Mary Linton Morgan written by her granddaughter and a post on John and Mary's son Linton Morgan and his wife Eudora Eggertsen Morgan. In addition, Bessie sent a selection from John Morgan's diary about a trip to Arizona, which I will type up and post as soon as possible.

The Life Story of Mary Ann Linton Morgan Written by Herself

Daughter of Samuel Linton and Ellen Sutton (Linton) b. 11 Feb. 1865 in Nephi, Juab Co. Utah. In a brown adobe house built I think by Homer Brown a farmer for whom my father worked.

It was situated on the So. East corner of what is now 2nd So. and 2nd East St. We lived there till I was 4 years old when we moved into a log house on 3rd E. Father had cut and hauled the logs from the mts. They were sawed at the John Andrews Saw Mill in Nephi.

My brother John was b. in S.L. city Apr. 6, 1859. My mother had a little daughter by a former marriage also b. (b. 29 May 1855) in S.L. City. Sarah Ellen McKetchney dau. of Charles who apostacised from the ch. and went to California. I also had a little sister Lucilla b. 16 Oct. 1861 who died 29 Apr. 1863. My bro. Samuel b. 7 Jan. 1867 in the same brown adobe house.

While we lived in this house my parents shared their home with Bro. John Adams and wife Jane. Converts from England for several months till they could get a little place of their own. They had there two children Alice and Henry b. in Eng. and one dau. born in Nephi after they moved in their own home. We were life long friends and neighbors. Father always used to send for Bro. Adams to help him administer to us, when we were ailing and we were always restored to health without the service of a physician. Never had a Dr. in our home till after my husband John Morgan d. in 1894 in Jan. 1895 my mother was stricken by typhoid fever same disease as Bro. M. had, and my sisters were frightened and sent for Dr. Ed Wilcox much to fathers displeasure.

He had great faith and enjoyed to a marked degree the gift of healing. Soon after we moved into the log house Father was called to the “muddy mission” near St. George, Utah. As the company of missionaries were to leave father left a few days before my sister Alice was born. Mother had a very difficult delivery, a serious hemorage. She was attended by a midwife Eliza Gadd who had been called, blest and set apart for this service. She had great faith in the power of the Priesthood, and as I remember hearing, she never lost a case out of the hundreds she delivered. Mother lay in a pool of her own blood while (help was immediately neded or was near) dear Auntie Udall (Rebecca May Udall) waded the creeks to get Dr. (Bp.) Bryan to come and help. This was the 30 of December when she returned ahead of the Dr. she saw Sis. Gadd on her knees with her hands raised pleading for mothers life. Auntie went on to get Elder John Adams to help administer to her and her life was spared.

When I was 7 or 8 years old I started to School. Mary Ellen Love was one of my first techers. She was very kind and loveable, but John being 6 y. older, was under Andrew Love, M.E.’s father, who was a severe disiplinarian. John used to get punished and I would cry and beg for him. We were such pals, he used to take me on the horse behind him to take the cows up in the hills where there was good grass. When we came back we would stop and pick wild flowers which mother enjoyed so much.
We often did school in the winter and helped what we could with the work in the Summer. We always had our chores to do before and after school. Father was an early riser and saw to it that we were all up and dressed ready to go for family prayer before breakfast. No matter how early he had to leave to go to his work, he never missed this duty.

Lois Foot was another of my early school teachers. Then Aunt Hannah Grover, wife of Thomas (deceased). She had two sons Joel and Thom. Jo. who moved from Farmington to Nephi Joel having been called to be Bp. there. Father used to haul and chop wood to pay our tuition. I was quite a favorite with Sis. Grover which caused Jealousy of some of the students and made trouble sometimes for me. One time I remember particularly the monitor kissed me and said she was glad I prayed and if I would be a good girl H.F. would always hear & answer my prayers.

As I advanced in School Frederick W. Choppe was my teacher in Mathematics, writing, Spelling. Elizabeth Ann Schofield taught English, Geography, history & reading.

I loved both of these teachers very much. Used to wash at night and early in the morning so as not to miss a half day in School. Both teachers were very interested in my advancement and gr.ma Schofield Lizzies mother came and beged me to try the Teachers Examination. Said she felt sure I could pass. I didn’t think I could, so wouldn’t try. I have always wished I had if only to please dear gr.ma Schofield.

I used to help them on Saturdays and sometimes after school to pay my tuition. When I was 15 I did the work for Eliza Schofield Hawarth when her oldest son was born and again two years after with her 2nd son. I also lived with James Pepton and wife when their 2 dau. was born. with Lottie & Henry Adams when their eldest son Merritt was born.

[That's all of this history. I preserved her spelling and abbreviations.]

An Incident In The Life of President John Morgan

President John Morgan was scheduled to attend a conference in Kentucky. Expecting money with which to pay his fare from headquarters in Chattanooga, Tenn., which failed to arrive before the departure, he was greatly worried. Just before train time he felt impressed to wire the general passenger agent of the N.C. & St. Louis Railway [Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway] in Nashville, Tenn., to wire a ticket to President Morgan's destination. He boarded the train and when the conductor asked for the ticket informed that official that a telegram would be at the next station from the general agent authorizing the passage.

The telegram was there as promised. Returning from Kentucky, President Morgan stopped in Nashville, introduced himself to the general agent, whom he had never seen or known in any way, explained his business and offered pay for the ticket. The telegram for the ticket had been a simple request with no explanation. The agent said that when he received the wire he asked, "Who the hell is John Morgan." The agent said he did not know what made him comply with the request from an utter stranger.

The upshot of the whole matter was the appointment of President Morgan as an emigrant agent of the railroad which entitled him to ride free and resulted in considerable revenue to the Mission from commissions on tickets by reason of Saints going west over the N.C. & St. Louis Railway.

Thus the failure of the money to arrive on time proved a blessing in disguise and is an example of the sublime faith of President Morgan.

Some Experiences from John Hamilton Morgan and His Family

Here are a few pages from a book written by Nicholas G. Morgan, copied and sent by John and Mellie Morgan descendant Bessie. Thank you! Very interesting memories and stories and a letter well worth reading.

History of the Southern States Mission, Part 19: More Violence and a Church Burning and The Calm Before the Storm

After the conference in Mississippi President Roberts continued his travels. On June 31 he met with the Alabama Elders. Although the people of this locality were not as interested in the services as anticipated, and although the Elders were somewhat disappointed, yet they enjoyed themselves, as they were given a goodly portion of the spirit of God which mitigated all worry and dispelled all gloom.

The counsel imparted unto the Elders by President Roberts was timely and adequate to the conditions which surrounded them. He thought it pertinent that they relinquish their claims on old fields and launch out into unexplored portions, where prejudice was not so rife and where the seeds of the Gospel had never been planted.

On account of all the Elders of Alabama not being able to meet at general conference, a conclave was held at Travelers’ Rest. The six Elders that constituted this council meeting were given similar instruction to those who met at the general assemblage.

The conditions for disseminating the Gospel truths in Tennessee were not as auspicious at the present as they previously had been. In Lawrence county Elders J.A. Ross and A.J. McCueston were harassed considerably. While holding meeting at Knob Creek they were accosted by a fiendish mob of five, armed with hickory cudgels, and warned to leave the county before 10 o’clock next day. Despite their portentious [sic] premonitions, the Elders unrelentingly prosecuted their labors, warning the people of the dangers of living in Babylon and partaking of the sins of the world.

On June 25, 1884, the Saints of St. Clair county, Alabama, were forced to suffer the loss of their newly erected church. After burning the building the poltroons made known unto Brother P.M. Coleman, Elder of the branch, their odious intentions, that if Mormonism was not crushed in that vicinity, they would anihiliate [sic] all who aided or assisted them in any way. Persecution being so ardent, was decided that a discontinuation of services for a short time would prove very beneficial unto the cause.

During the latter part of the month of June violence toward the servants of God diminished considerably. The Elders enjoyed themselves exceedingly during this period of time, as it was a change for them. This innovation was an unusual one in the south.

The tranquility which came with the termination of June was to be of but short duration. No sooner had July thoroughly presented herself than Elders Morrell and Gailey were constrainted [sic] to bear the calumnies and suffer the lashes of an inhuman crowd of supposed Christians.

(To be Continued.)

(Although, as I understand it, John Morgan has taken a largely ceremonial place as President of the Southern States Mission with B.H. Roberts on site in the mission doing most of the work as Acting President of the Mission, I will continue the history of the mission at least through the Cane Creek Massacre. For very fine coverage of the Massacre, I will refer you once again to Amateur Mormon Historian blog.)

Latter Day Saints Southern Star, Vol. 1, No. 23, Chattanooga, Tenn. Saturday, May 6, 1899, p 177.

Photo from www.flickr.com/photos/auvet/314932792/.

Mary Ann Linton Morgan: Five Faith Promoting Instances, No. 5

“Five Faith Promoting Instances”

#5. A Reward of Submission to the Will of the Father. In the year 1895 during the winter, after my husband’s death in August 1894, my mother was afflicted with varicose veins, and had a bad leg for 3 months, could not step on it, or even let it hang down. She was getting better of this, when typhoid fever set in, the same malignant form that took our beloved husband and father [John Hamilton Morgan] from us. We had always been healed in our home through the power of Administration of the servants of God. I had never been disappointed in answer to my prayers in my life, up to the time of Bro. Morgan's death. I guess that weakened our faith and we sent for Dr. Ed. Wilcox much against the wishes of father. Mother gradually grew worse. The Dr. gave us little hope, and friends thot she could not live.

I felt I could not give her up, thot it would not be possible to live without her in my lonely condition, but I had not much faith to pray.

One morning after a very anxious night, I felt I must be submissive to the will of the Lord, and I immediately bowed myself in humble prayer, telling my Heavenly Father thru sobs and tears how much I felt I needed my mother, but I knew He knew what was for her best good, and I wanted to be reconciled to His will.

She lay in a stupor most of the day, too weak to even lift her hand. Her pains had ceased and she looked as tho she was going to leave us.

In the evening our beloved President William Paxman drove in from St. George. Hearing on the way of our mother’s serious illness, drove right to our home. He and my brothers John and Sam administered to her (I think father had lost faith she would live) and she rested well that night, slept most of the night and improved rapidly to a complete recovery, and lived 14 years a comfort and blessing to us all.

I am very thankful for the many blessings I have received, and know that our Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers. Not always as soon as we ask nor in the way we expect, but He wants us to have faith and confidence in His judgment, by saying and feeling Thy will be done.

Morgan, Mary Ann Linton. “Five Faith Promoting Instances.”

Photo of a Utah farm from www.flickr.com/photos/shawnecono/233619320/.

Mary Ann Linton Morgan: Five Faith Promoting Instances, No. 4

“Five Faith Promoting Instances”

#4. Reward of Sacrifice. Just before the dedication of the Manti Temple Bro. Cyrus Wheellock was sent out to make a last appeal to the Saints for contributions to finish paying for the temple. He came over to the Juab Stake. He made a very impressive talk on the importance of temple work and urged the people to give of their means. He promised the sisters if they would sacrifice a coveted bonnet and give the price of it to this fund that it would come back to them in bonnets or what so ever they sacrificed. I did not take it literally, but had $5.00 put away to buy me a nice parasol. When the satin lined with shot silk, and a deep black lace ruffle was the style. I decided I could do without the parasol, and gave Bro. Wheellock the $5.00 the next morning. In about two weeks a traveling salesman of one of our leading department stores presented me with one of his sample parasols. A beautiful one which would have cost much more than $5.00 at wholesale. I felt the Lord had made good His promise to His children in my case anyway, for I had given freely not expecting it to come back in such a way.

Morgan, Mary Ann Linton. “Five Faith Promoting Instances.”

Photo of central Utah from www.flickr.com/photos/photoblackburn/3377514399/.