Saturday, October 4, 2008

Salem Cemetery Lot No. 03: Louisa Clark/E. Morgan, Owners

NORTH HALF: LOUISA CLARK

There are no marked graves on the north half of this lot, although there are depressions suggesting that two graves might be located here. "Louisa Clark" is given on the 1930s Salem plat as the owner of this portion of the lot.


SOUTH HALF: ELIJAH MORGAN

The grave of Elijah H. Morgan, marked by a Confederate States of America service marker, is in the approxmate middle of this portion of the lot. Elijah is one of two Confederate veterans buried at Salem. Although there are at least two other graves on this portion of the lot, those of Elijah's wife, Mary, and son, William, it is not evident where they are located. The inscription on Elijah's Stone reads,

ELIJAH H. MORGAN
CO I
23 VA INF
C.S.A.

There is no record of Elijah's death in Lucas County so he must have died elsewhere. The following news story from The Chariton Patriot of 5 November 1931 (Page 1), does, however, give some details of his life.

CONFEDERATE WAR VETERAN CELEBRATED
97TH BIRTHDAY IN CHARITON WEDNESDAY, NOV. 4

E.H. Morgan Still Rememers Days He Spent Under General Jackson

E. H. Morgan, Chariton's only veteran of the Civil war who fought with the confederate army, celebrated his 97th birthday Wednesday at the home of his son, Paul Morgan, in Chariton.

Morgan is still quite active despite his advanced years and remembers the days spent with the Confederate army under General Pickett.

He was 25 years of age when he went to the old courthouse in Fawnville, Virginia, and cast his lot with the Southeran armies, becoming a member of Company L of the Twenty-Third Old Virginia.

Mr. Morgan was at Gettysburg with Pickett and in numerous other encounters with the Union forces. As a member of the ambulance company, he helped to bury the leg of Stonewall Jackson, shot off when the generall forgot an order which he had issued.

General Jackson had issued an order to fire on any one who attempted to come down the line. Forgetting his order, the General came riding down the line on a big horse and a hail of bullets was directed at him until the soldiers realized their error. Amputation of his leg was necessary because of the serious injury that he sustained.

Upon the death of the famous Southern general, Mr. Morgan was detailed as a guard of honor at the military funeral.

A member of the Southern army in the sixties, he's a thorough American today, and at the age of 97 years he still thrills at the stories of American valor and heroism in 1917 and 1918, and none is prouder of the boys that fought another war and died another year than he who one day met his present friends and neighbors on the field of battle.


Elijah apparently died during March of 1934. The following brief report was published in The Herald Patriot of 29 March 1934:

ATTENDED RITES SUNDAY FOR LATE E. H. MORGAN

Among the number who were here Sunday attending the funeral of E. H. Morgan, Civil War veteran, were Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Moore and Mrs. Vera Schnee and daughter, of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Porter and Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Doggett, of Villisca; Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Moore, of Earlham.

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If there were a tombstone here for Elijah H. Morgan's wife, Mary, who lies in an unmarked grave, it might read as follows:

MARY ELIZABETH MORGAN
Wife of Elijah H. Morgan
Born Dec. 10, 1852
Died June 11, 1917

OBITUARY: MRS. E. H. MORGAN

Mrs. E.H. Morgan passed away at her home in northwest Chariton on Monday night, June 11th, 1917, at 11 o'clock, after an extended illness with heart trouble and a complication of diseases.

Funeral services, conducted by her pastor, Rev. Herbert J. Bryce, were held at the family home in Brookdale (Brookdale is the name of a street in northwest Chariton, and perhaps also was the name of a neighborhood or subdivision) yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock, after which the remains were laid to rest in Salem cemetery.

Mary Elizabeth Clark was born in Pennsylvania, December 10th, 1852. She was married at Newbern, Iowa, in August, 1871, to E.H. Morgan, who survives her. Five children were born to them, three of whom, Mrs. Clarence Moore of Humeston, Mrs. Harry Porter of Villisca, and Paul, of this city, survive. She also leaves four grandchildren. She had been a resident of this county for over forty years, and was highly regarded by all who knew her for her many lovable traits of character. She had been a member of the Baptist church for many years, and was a good, christian woman. Her demise will be deplored by a host of friends who will extend sincere sympathy to the grief stricken family. (Chariton Herald-Patriot. 14 June 1917)


Mary E. (Clark) Morgan was a sister of Margaret (Clark) Hobson, first wife of Milburn Hobson, who died 20 June 1883 and who is buried in Salem Cemetery Lot. No. 17. Margaret's obituary identifies their parents as William and Nancy Clark.

Mary E. Morgan's obituary states that she was married to Elijah H. Morgan during 1871 at Newburn, Iowa. Newbern, almost a ghost town, is located in far north Lucas County, just south of the Warren County line, but Van Buren County, Iowa, marriage records show that Mary E. Clark and Elijah H. Morgan were married 19 August 1872 in Van Buren County.

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Also buried in an unmarked grave on this lot is William "Straighty" Morgan, son of Elijah and Mary E., who died in Chariton during 1905. If he had a tombstone, its inscription might read as follows:

WILLIAM MORGAN
Son of Elijah H. and Mary E. Morgan
1875-1905

DEATH OF "STRAIGHTY" MORGAN

Passes Away After an Illness of Only a Week With Pneumonia

William Morgan, familiarly known as "Straighty" Morgan, died at the home of his parents in this city (Chariton) on Tuesday evening, January 24, 1905, at 10:30 o'clock after an illness of only a few days with pneumonia. Funeral services conducted by Rev. F. B. Palmer were held at the family home this morning after which the remains were interred in the Salem cemetery.

William Morgan was the son of Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Morgan and was born in Warren county, this state, in 1875. For many years he has resided in Chariton and a greater part of the time has been engaged in the dray business. He was a kind hearted, honest young man, and had many friends who will regret to learn of his death and who will extend heartfelt sympathy to the sorrowing parents and two sisters and brother who survive him. (The Chariton Leader, 26 January 1905)


WILLIAM MORGAN

William Morgan, more familiarly known as "Straighty," died at the home of his father, E. H. Morgan, in this city, Tuesday evening, Jan. 24, 1905,at 10 o'clock p.m. after less than two weeks' illness with pneumonia. Funeral services were held from his late home this morning at 10 o'clock,conducted by Rev. F. B. Palmer, and interment was made in the Salemcemetery.

Deceased was thirty years old and had lived in Chariton all his life.

For years he has been engaged in the delivery business, and there are but few of the residents of Chariton who have not at some time employedhim in that capacity, and he was always prompt in the discharge of his duties. Beneath a somewhat rough exterior beat a warm and sympathetic heart, and "Straighty" never forgot when anyone showed him a kindness, and was always ready to grant a favor. He was a familiar character about town and will be greatly missed by his many friends.The bereaved relatives have the sympathy of the community. (The Chariton Herald, 26 January 1905)

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