My Genealogy Hound

Mrs. Rebecca Morgan, widow of the late Edwin Morgan, resides on the beautiful and well located farm of 120 acres, situated in section 1, Waterford township, Oakland County, which was owned by her late husband. She enjoys the distinction of being one of the most energetic and best liked residents of her township.

Edwin Morgan was born in Tompkins County, New York, in 1831 and was a son of Charles A. and Phebe (Gibbs) Morgan. Charles A. Morgan, who was a native of New York, came to Michigan in 1845 and located on the farm in Waterford township, now the home of our subject, and followed the pursuits of a general farmer. He married Phebe Gibbs, who was a native of New Jersey, and they reared four children, namely: John, who resides in Independence township, Oakland County; Edwin, deceased; William, deceased; and Lewis of Pontiac township, Oakland County.

Edwin Morgan came to Oakland County with his parents when 14 years of age, and nearly all of his subsequent life was spent in this section. His boyhood days were spent on the farm, but when 25 years of age his venturesome ideas led him to believe that he could obtain a fortune in the newly discovered gold fields of the Pacific Coast, and he drove all the way to California, but the expedition proved fruitless and he returned home and began what proved to be a successful career as an agriculturist. In his younger years he also followed the trade of a cooper to some extent. He died November 8, 1900. He was a Republican, a member of the Presbyterian Church and a quiet home man, hospitable, kind and well liked.

In 1863 Mr. Morgan was married to Rebecca Cool, who was born in Independence township, Warren County, New Jersey, June 26, 1840, is a daughter of Charles P. and Susan (Thatcher) Cool, and came to Michigan with her parents when she was 14 years of age. Charles P. Cool, who was a son of Peter Cool, was a farmer of Independence township, Warren County, New Jersey. In 1854 he removed to Oakland County, Michigan, and secured a farm in Springfield township, where he engaged in agricultural operations until his death. He was a fine conversationalist, quite a public spirited citizen and in politics, a Democrat. Religiously, he was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a class leader for many years. He married Susan Thatcher, also a native of New Jersey, and they reared 10 children, namely: Anna M. (Beardslee), of Cedar Springs, Michigan; Jerusha (Gale), a resident of White Lake township, Oakland County; Lonata (Starkweather), a wealthy resident of Davisburg, Oakland County; Peter, a resident of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Mary (Smith), of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Eli and David, both residing on the old homestead in Springfield township, Oakland County; Ella, deceased; and Orilla (Enright), a resident of Toledo, Ohio.

Mrs. Rebecca Morgan and her two sons, — William, born October 3, 1872, and Charles C., born December 19, 1881, and married to Helen Klein, — keep up the farm of 120 acres which previous to the death of her husband - consisted of 240 acres. William is an inventor and has a patent on a machine for making wire fence, known as the “Morgan Weaver.”