John Morgan (1830 - 1909)

Born 28 Mar 1830 in Preston, Lancashire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Ann (Gillott) Morgan — married 6 Apr 1850 in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Descendants

Died 7 Apr 1909 at age 79 in Millcreek, Salt Lake, Utah, United States

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Biography

John Morgan was born 28 March 1830 at Preston, Lancashire, England, the son of Joseph Morgan (born 20 Jan 1807 in Preston, Lancashire, England) and Elizabeth Hardman (born 22 March 1810 in Salwick, Lancashire, England). When he was eight years old his father died, leaving his widow with three small children to care for, John being the oldest son. John's daughter-in-law Johannah (Reuben Willard Morgan's wife) wrote a biography about her father-in-law. In it she stated, " A few years after her {Elizabeth's} husband's death she heard two Mormon missionaries preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, she became converted and she and her children were baptized. Their main desire after joining the church was to immigrate to Zion."

John sailed to America with his mother, sister and brother, at the age of ten on the ship, Sheffield, in 1841, landing in New Orleans, then coming up the Mississippi River to Nauvoo, Illinois. His obituary (cited below) states that "Elizabeth Hardman Morgan, and the family arrived in Nauvoo, Ill., June 1, 1842, leaving that city in the exodus of 1846." John was most likely involved in the winding up scenes in Nauvoo, and the sad days surrounding the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith. John's older sister Mary died during the time they lived in Nauvoo .

Ann Gillett was born 15 October 1832 at Hansworth, near Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, a daughter of Joshua Hague Gillott and Mary Butterley. She came to America with her parents and 4 siblings on the ship Zetland, entering New Orleans port on 10 November 1849, eight years after John arrived in the United States. It did not take them very long to fall in love. John was 20 years old when he and Ann Gillott, age 17, were married on 6 April 1850 in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri. They were later sealed in the Endowment house in Salt Lake City on March 25, 1853, and were subsequently blessed to have seven sons and eight daughters, a total of fifteen children, added to their household.

According to the Deseret Evening News dated Thursday April 8, 1909 in the Obituary for John Morgan, they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on October 6, 1850. In addition, John Morgan, age 21, mason, his wife Ann, age 17, and his brother Edward Morgan, age 14 are listed in the 1850 United States Federal Census, page 183, household 8, near the top of the page.

John and his younger brother Edward were very close brothers. Edward had worked and earned enough money to purchase ten acres of ground in Mill Creek, and he gave five acres to John. They both spent the rest of their lives living close to their mother Elizabeth and taking care of her as well as their families.

John Morgan was a polygamist. He married a second wife, Karen Kristine Riis, on 13 April 1856. Karen Kristine was born 4 November 1839 in Nylarsker, Bornholm, Denmark. She was the daughter of Hans Peter Riis and Margrethe Lythjesen. Karen Kristine came to America when she was 14 years old for the gospel's sake. In addition to the 15 children born to John and Ann, John and Karen Kristine had 8 children. John and Karen Kristine were sealed in the Endowment House 16 May 1856.

The 1860 United States Federal Census lists John with Ann and Christine Nielsen as family 1789, household 183. Kristine's occupation is a "domestic" on this census. The next entry is Edward Morgan and family #183. The following family lists their stepfather, Francis Birch, wife Elizabeth (Morgan) and two others in the household. We are not sure when Elizabeth married Francis Birch, but Edward mentioned that his stepfather built cisterns for a living and that he was baptized by his stepfather in one that he had built.

John and both wives lived the remainder of their lives in Mill Creek. John Morgan worked as a mason for a few years, then worked at farming. John went on a mission to the states in about 1874 (Utah was still a territory.) He labored for about one year and was then released to return home on account of poor health. He filled several important positions in the church. He and his wife, Ann, worked for many years doing temple work in the Salt Lake temple for their kindred dead, on both the Morgan and Gilott lines. John and Ann were sealed in the President?s Office 15 March 1852.

Date: 7 APR 1909

Place: Mill Creek, Salt Lake, Utah, USA

Census

In the 1880 census John Morgan (age 50), Farmer, was the married head of household in Mill Creek, Salt Lake, Utah, United States.^[1]

John Morgan M 50 Married Head Farmer England

Ann G. Morgan F 48 Married Wife House Keeping England

John G. Morgan M 22 Single Son At Home Utah Territory

Jos. P. Morgan M 21 Single Son At Home Utah Territory

Joshua B. Morgan M 18 Single Son At Home Utah Territory

Mary L. Morgan F 19 Single Daughter At Home Utah Territory

Nettie J. Morgan F 13 Single Daughter At Home Utah Territory

Samuel G. Morgan M 14 Single Son At Home Utah Territory

Alberta Morgan F 11 Single Daughter At Home Utah Territory

Rhoda A. Morgan F 9 Single Daughter Utah Territory

Reuben W. Morgan M 8 Single Son Utah Territory

Franklin Morgan M 3 Single Son Utah Territory

Lillian Morgan F 2/12 Single Daughter Utah Territory

Christene Morgan F 41 Married Wife Denmark

Sarah J. Morgan F 19 Single Daughter At Home Utah Territory

Rosa M. Morgan F 17 Single Daughter At School Utah Territory

Heber J. Morgan M 14 Single Son At School Utah Territory

Wm. T. Morgan M 10 Single Son At School Utah Territory

Vilate Morgan F 6 Single Daughter Utah Territory

Luetta Morgan F 3 Single Daughter Utah Territory

Sources

1. ↑ 1880 Census: "1880 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1880; Census Place: Mill Creek, Salt Lake, Utah; Roll: 1337; Page: 243D; Enumeration District: 055
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 6742 #14029445 (accessed 20 October 2023)
   John Morgan (50), married, Farmer, head of household in Mill Creek, Salt Lake, Utah, USA. Born in England.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36442888/john-morgan

Acknowledgement

WikiTree profile Morgan-1528 created through the import of Salmon tree.ged on May 31, 2011 by Rena Brewin.

11788 added to this biography on 9 April 2016.