Background
At the age of twenty-one he took over his father's affairs, and soon created a large business in buying and shipping agricultural produce and in boat-building, his brothers becoming his partners.
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Edwin Morgan
Edit ProfileEducation
Edwin, the eldest of his sons, attended a school there, and when he was thirteen went to work in his father's store.
Career
In 1800 he became a merchant at Aurora.
Some of the capital thus acquired he used in developing express companies.
At the organization, in 1852, of Wells, Fargo & Company's Express, Morgan became its president.
Through these and other activities he gained a large fortune.
In the House Morgan actively expressed his anti-slavery convictions, and was one of the members who rescued Charles Sumner from Brooks's assault.
During the Civil War he devoted himself to raising and equipping troops, and the strong representation of central New York in the army was due considerably to his influence and gifts.
His work in the war brought him the title of colonel.
Accordingly, in 1871, Morgan bought for $375, 000 enough stock to assure the continuance of Jones's policy, thus materially contributing to Tweed's downfall.
Auburn Theological Seminary, situated near his home, also received from him strong support.
Most of the cost of its dormitory was met by him, and he and William E. Dodge [q. v. ] made possible its library building.
Physically and mentally he was quick-moving and incessantly active, even to old age.
Large interests elsewhere never lessened his devotion to his own village.
His personal beneficences were innumerable.
He helped many young people to get educations and many men to advance in business.
[Biog.
Dir.
Am.
Cong.
(1928); E. A. Storke, Hist.
of Cayuga County, N. Y. (1879); E. S. Frisbie, in Report of Regents of Univ. of State of N. Y. (1888); W. I. Lowe, Wells College and Its Founders (1901); Wells College Hist.
Sketches (1894); J. Q. Adams, A Hist.
of Auburn Theological Seminary, 1818-1918 (1918); Elmer Davis, Hist.
of the N. Y. Times, 1851-1921 (1921); N. Y. Times, Oct. 14, 1881. ]
Politics
From its formation he was attached to the Republican party.
Connections
Thence young Christopher Morgan, whose wife was Nancy Barber, went to be clerk of the company building the long bridge across the lower waters of Cayuga.
During his last term his cousin, Edwin Denison Morgan [q. v. ], was chosen governor of the state.
Morgan died at Aurora, survived by a son and a daughter.
His wife, to whom he was married on Sept. 27, 1829, was Charlotte Fidelia Wood of Aurora.
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Born
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Died
1881 (aged 75) -
Nationality
Wales -
Political Party
Republican