Mrs. Frances A. Morgan
On the 13th of November our dear mother, Mrs. Frances A. Morgan, was called to
her heavenly reward. She died at Pulaski, Tenn., where she had gone to spend
the winter with my sister, Mrs. J. H. Morris. She was buried at Prairie Creek,
Vigo County, Ind., November 16, 1913, in the cemetery near the old farm
homestead, where she and lived since about the time of her marriage to Valentine
Morgan 72 years ago. Father died in 1880, and mother lived a widow 33 years.
She was born in the south part of Vigo County, Ind., March 15, 1822, when James
Monroe was president, and nearly 92 years of her life covers three fourths the
history of the federal government.
Mother's maiden name was Frances A. Thompson. She was related to Honorable
James B. Ray, who was governor of Indiana from 1825 to 1831.
At her death, mother left a family of 64, consisting of eight children, 20
grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. A
short time ago a five generation picture was taken--something quite unusual.
Her children now living (two are deceased) named in the order of their ages are
as follows: Cassius H. Morgan, Prairieton, Ind., Mrs. Lucretia C. Morris,
Pulaski, Tennessee; Mrs. Laura I. McDonald, Prairie Creek Ind.,; Chartley B.
Morgan, Manituo, Okla.; Dick T. Morgan, Woodward, Okla.; Harry L. Morgan, North
Terre Haute, Ind.; Fred T. Morgan, Gutherie, Okla.,; and Mrs. John D. Faqua,
Sanford, Ind. The oldest is 67 years old and the youngest is 48.
Preceding the interment, services were held at the Christian Church in
Middleton (Prairie Creek, P. O.) Mother and father were charter
members of this church, and it was here that most of her children
early in life obeyed the gospel. In this church forty four years ago
I made the good confession and was baptized in Prairie Creek, which
runs near by the cemetery where mother was laid to rest.
Called to her eternal reward at the age of ninety two, she had been a
Christian seventy two years. She was staunch believer in the plea and
principles of the Disciples of Christ. She derived much pleasure from
reading the Christian Evangelist and other publications of our
brotherhood.
It is not my purpose to attempt in word or phrase to pay any adequate
tribute to mother, but, as my eldest brother, C. H. Morgan, said in a
meeting of the family, "We had a good father and the best mother that
ever lived." She was woman of high ideals and did all in her power to
have her children go out into the world imbued with the highest
standards of manhood, womanhood and citizenship. I have had numerous
persons say to me; "Your mother was a remarkable woman." When on my
way from Oklahoma to take my seat as a Representative in Congress, I
stopped in Indiana to visit mother. As I owed much to her for
whatever I had accomplished in life that was worth while, my political
success deepened my love and affection for her, increased my
admiration for her noble character, and enabled me to appreciate more
keenly the debt of gratitude. I owed to her. ---Dick Morgan
The Christian Evangelist P 158, 1914
Located by Dennis Nicklaus, typed by Lyman Morrison 1995
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