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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Union County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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G. M. Morgan, an old and influential citizen of Caledonia, whose name is not unfamiliar to the people of Union County, was born in Moore County, N. C, in 1823, and is the second of six children, born to W. W. and Elizabeth (Moore) Morgan, natives of Virginia. A number of the Morgan family who were living at the time were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. W. W. Morgan moved to North Carolina in 1819, followed merchandising for some time and later was a successful teacher in Alabama, whither he had moved in 1831. He made that State his home until his death in 1842. The mother died in 1845. The maternal grandparents were early settlers of North Carolina, and from this family, Moore County of that State was named. G. M. Morgan spent his youth until fifteen years of age in North Carolina, where he attended school until his removal with his parents to Alabama. After reaching that State he followed agricultural pursuits until 1853, and made a success of the same, his farming operations being all conducted on first-class principles. Previous to the last mentioned date Mr. Morgan had married (in 1847) Miss Luquincy Melton, and immediately after emigrated to Arkansas, locating in Union County, near Hillsboro, where he bought 160 acres of land. He remained on this but two years and then removed to Louisiana, where he followed farming until 1858. After this he moved to Caledonia, Union County, Ark., where he immediately began merchandising, and followed this until 1875, with the exception of two years during the war. In 1877 his wife died and left four children, all grown: F. E. (a physician and resident of Stephens, Ouachita County), Martha J. (resides in this county, and is the wife of S. W. Cobb), Sarah E. (resides in Caledonia, and is the wife of C. C. Mayfield), and Joan, who was the wife of W. S. Meek, and who died in 1888, leaving five children). Mr. Morgan was married, the second time, to Miss Elizabeth M. Lauderdale, a native of Alabama. In 1866 Mr. Morgan bought his present farm at Caledonia, consisting of 260 acres, with 125 acres under cultivation, and of this he has cleared about eighty acres. In addition to this he is the owner of 160 acres of good timber. He and first wife and children were members of the Baptist Church, but his present wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Morgan is active in politics, and has served as chairman of the Democratic Central Committee of the county. He has always been a leader in school matters, favors every good movement, and the respect and esteem shown him is as wide as his acquaintance. He has aided all of his children financially, and they are all doing well.

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This family biography is one of 84 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Union County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Union County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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