TEXAS RANGER MEMORIAL CROSS CEREMONY
Oct. 30, 2004 Tow Cemetery Tow, Texas
HIRAM DOUGLAS MORGAN
By V. Keith Morgan, 2G Grandson

H.D. Morgan was mustered into and served in Frank Breazeal's Company, 3rd Frontier District, 33' Brigade Texas Cavalry, Texas State Troops, Brig. General J.S. McAdoo, Commander, serving as a private from 1863 to 1864. It is this service which qualifies him as a TEXAS RANGER and is the basis of today's Honor to his memory.
H.D. Morgan's early history will be similar to that of his two brothers, also being honored here today. This MORGAN line has been traced back to Col. Morgan Morgan who was born in Wales in 1766. His son, David Morgan was born in Delaware in 1721. David's son, Evan T. Morgan was born in Maryland in 1753. Evan's son, John Ferguson Morgan was born in 1808 in West Virginia, and this brings us to John F.'s son, whom we honor today, Hiram Douglas Morgan, who was born in Vermilion, Illinois, on March 10,1836.
The family traveled from Illinois to Missouri and then to Texas by 1841. Hiram Douglas's mother, Minerva Clyman died in 1846. The 1850 Hopkins Co, Texas lists only the five children, as John F. grieving for his lost wife, Minerva, would leave Hiram Douglas and his siblings, Evan Bennet, George Washington, Margaret Ellen and Joseph Amos at home alone for long periods of time. The children cared for the place and each other. No doubt, Hiram Douglas, being the oldest, felt a keen sense of responsibility for his younger siblings as they plowed and planted and harvested in the absence of their father.
The late Lloyd Cowan of Tow has preserved the story in the words of his grandmother, Margaret Ellen Morgan Tow, sister to Hiram Douglas. She tells how, soon after the death of their mother,
"Their father went away and was gone for a very long time; returning home just barely in time for harvest. And early the next year he left again and was gone so long the children had given up hope of ever seeing him again. The older boys, Hiram Douglas being the eldest, plowed and set in the crops and made a very good crop that year. Finally, their father returned with a new wife, Martha Kelsay Shuman and her three daughters.
Martha Kelsay Shuman was a sister to Mary J. (Polly) Kelsay Tow, wife of William Tow. Martha had traveled to Texas with her sister and brother-in-law William Tow, where in 1850, she is listed as a widow living near the Tows.
All the early settlers in this area were involved in the works of the Salt Mines. In addition, the Morgan's were involved in farming, raising livestock and trapping beaver, giving name to BEAVER HOLLER and MORGAN CREEK across the river in Bumet County today. The spring near the home is called MORGAN SPRING. The beaver hides were used to make wide-brimmed beaver skin hats which were well known and much desired in the area. The Morgans made the hats free for Confederate soldiers.
The Morgans were involved in political affairs of early days. John F. Morgan was elected as First Commissioner of the district in the newly formed Llano County. The names of the Morgans, J.F. H.D; J.A. and E.B. can be found on various petitions from Llano County in the Texas State Archives. They were sympathetic with and supportive of the Southern Cause. H.D.Morgan qualified for CSA Pension #24181.
Hiram Douglas Morgan married Mary Shuman who was born Feb. 04, 1843, the daughter of Martha Kelsay Shuman and David Shuman. Mary was one of the three daughters of the new wife John F. brought back after one of his long absences.
Children of Hiram Douglas Morgan and Mary Shuman are:
An infant born and died Feb 04, 1860,
John Washington Morgan,
Marthy E. (Mattie) Morgan,
Joseph Benjamin Morgan,
Susie Morgan,
Charles Monroe Morgan,
James Hiram Douglas (Jim) Morgan and
Benjamin Franklin Morgan.
In memoirs of early Tow area residents, H.D. Morgan was called Douglas Morgan or "Uncle Doug" and his wife "Aunt Mary". O.K. McDonald said in his book, "Aunt Mary Morgan" had a speech disorder."
Hiram Douglas was a tall slender man and pictures surviving today, show him with a long flowing beard. Late in life he helped raise his grandson, Frank Morgan. Frank's mother died soon after his birth and his father, Charles Monroe, moved back home with his young son. Mary Shuman Morgan died Sept 27, 1905, and is buried in the Tow Cemetery. Hiram Douglas Morgan died in his home on April 18, 1919, with some of his closest friends and family at his side. He was buried beside Mary in the Tow cemetery.
The Morgans are related to many old families in Tow and surrounding area. Descendants are scattered, and vocations and lifestyles vary; but for the most part, we remain an unpretentious people with a sense of responsibility to God, our family, our Country and our work.
And now we will have the unveiling of the memorial cross.
(the kids come up and uncover the cross, Zachary Morgan, Grant Morgan, Autumn Wilson, Jesika Farmer and Ciarra Beats, ggg grandchildren and Echo Farmer gggg grandchild)
Thank you and please proceed to the grave site of Private M.D.L. Davis.