John Hamilton Morgan was born on August 8, 1842, in Greensburg, Indiana, to Eliza Ann Hamilton and Garrard Morgan.

John Morgan, one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies from 1884 to 1894, was the son of Gerrard Morgan and Ann Eliza Hamilton, and was born... at Greensburg, Decatur County, Indiana. During the war of Northern Agression, which broke out when he was eighteen years of age, he joined the Union army, and participated in several of the most important battles.

Coming to Utah at the close of the war, he was soon engaged as an instructor in the University, when that institution was conducted in the Council House, Salt Lake City. Later, he established the Morgan Commercial College on First South street.

Having become converted to "Mormonism," he was baptized by Robert Campbell Nov. 26, 1867, in Salt Lake City, and ordained an Elder by Wm. H. Folsom October 23, 1868. The next day on October 24 he married Helen Melvina Groesbeck by whom he would father eleven children.

In 1875 he responded to a call as a missionary to the Southern States, which he filled with ability and zeal, and returned home in December, 1877. Prior to his departure on this mission he was ordained a Seventy, Oct. 8, 1875, by Joseph Young.

In 1878 he was called on a second mission to the Southern States, this time to preside over the mission. In that capacity his devotion and energy in spreading the gospel made for him a bright and lasting record. While presiding in the Southern States, he made frequent visits home. On October 8, 1884, he was chosen and ordained one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of William W. Taylor. In this high and holy calling he labored with diligence and faithfulness up to the time of his last sickness, and traveled very extensively among the Saints in the different Stakes of Zion.

He also served as a member of the Utah legislature and held other positions of importance in the community. He became somewhat involved financially, over which he seemed to worry a great deal, and he was stricken with typhoid-malaria, which culminated in his death Aug. 14, 1894, at Preston, Oneida County, Idaho. His body was brought to Salt Lake City for burial.(See, Grandpa Bill's GA Page)