Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 511

JOSEPH V. MORGAN, an enterprising farmer, residing on section 29, Goshen Township, is a native of Ohio, born in Monroe County in 1835. His parents, John and Mary ( McVicker ) Morgan, were natives of Virginia and had a family of seven children, of whom our subject was the fifth in order of birth. Three of that number are now deceased, namely; James G., who was a practicing physician of Johnson County, Iowa, died in 1882, at the age of fifty-four years, leaving a wife and three children, now living in Glenwood, Iowa; George Washington, who was a teacher by profession, died in Cedar County, Iowa, in 1854, at the age of twenty-two years; David, who attended the Medical College at Keokuk, Iowa, practiced his profession at Moscow until his death, which occurred in December, 1866. The children living are J.V., of this sketch; William F., now married, is engaged in farming in Keokuk, Iowa; Thomas J., a farmer, residing in Woodbury County, Iowa, is also married; John, who took a medical course at Keokuk, Iowa being graduated from the school at that place in 1868, commenced practicing in Johnson County, but since 1876 has followed his profession in the West.

Throughout his entire life Mr. Morgan, the father of this family, followed the occupation of farming. About the year 1834 he emigrated to Ohio with his family, and after making that his home for ten years loaded his household effects upon a boat on the Ohio River, and with his wife and children started for Iowa. Reaching the Mississippi he then came up the river to Muscatine, where he landed, and then continued his travels to Cedar County, where he entered forty acres of Government land, which he improved, but later sold and returned to Muscatine County. He built a residence in the city, and there engaged in teaming for a while, but, subsequently removed to Wapsinonoc Township, where he entered 560 acres of land, then called swamp land, but by the aid of his sons he transformed this apparently worthless land into a fine farm. His death occurred on the 1st day of February, 1867, when about sixty-two years of age. He was a Democrat in politics, and took an active interest in the advancement of that party. His death was caused by accidently taking an overdose of morphine, and proved a sad affliction not only to the family, but to his friends and the entire community, in which he was one of the best citizens. Mrs. Morgan survived her husband several years, her death occurring in August, 1880, when sixty seven years of age.

Our subject was reared to manhood upon his father's farm, and received a liberal education in the city schools of Muscatine. He was married in this county in 1856, becoming the husband of Miss Sarah M. Odell, who was born in St. Joseph County, Mich., and is a daughter of Thomas and Nancy ( Drake ) Odell, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter born in the Buckeye State. They removed from Ohio to Michigan, where they resided until 1839, at which time they became residents of Muscatine County, Iowa. Mr. Odell here purchased land, paying for the same at the Burlington land sale. He continued the cultivation of his farm until 1858, when he removed to Illinois, and from there to Shawnee., Kan., where his death occurred in 1861, at the age of sixty-six years. His wife departed this life in 1842.

After his marriage Mr. Morgan took up his residence on the farm which still continues to be his home. Purchasing eighty acres of raw prairie land, he immediately began its cultivation, and since that time by his able management and industry has been enabled to add to the original purchase until his farm now comprises 400 acres under a good state of cultivation, with many useful and ornamental improvements. He raises a fine grade of both horses and cattle, the latter being mostly of the Short-horn breed. In political affairs he takes an active interest, voting with the Democratic party. He is numbered among the leading citizens of Goshen Township, and is prominent in the promotion of any enterprise for the public welfare. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which denomination her father was a minister.

By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have been born two children: Washington C., wedded Ella I. Reed in February, 1882,and to them have been born three children: Harry, Odell, and Joseph H. Mary Udella, is the wife of F.L. Fisher, a resident of Goshen Township, and to them have been born two children: Grace and Hattie.


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