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DANIEL MORGAN. Among the farmers of Mechanicsburg Township none are better known than the Morgan family, they being among the oldest settlers now living, and belonging to the class to whose efforts is due the present advanced development of this section. Daniel Morgan, whose portrait on the opposite page represents a prominent pioneer, began his labors here while still but a boy and saw the country around him grow in evidences of civilization as he, himself, grew in years and strength. Where once his eyes beheld an almost unbroken expanse of primeval forests and swelling prairies he now sees fruitful orchards, broad grainfields and thriving towns, the whole bound together by good highways and the steel bands which link together the most distant boundaries of the State.

Our subject is the fourth in a family of thirteen children born to Charles and Elizabeth (Constant) Morgan. His father was a native of Virginia but became a resident in Kentucky when quite young. He removed thence to Ohio and some years later came to this State, finally breathing his last in Dawson, this county. The mother of our subject was born in the Blue Grass State and entered into rest in the township where her son is now living. This was the original home of the family in this State and here our subject has lived since 1826. He was born in Kentucky February 28, 1813, and while still an infant was taken to Clermont County, Ohio. There he began his pursuit of knowledge and after reaching this county continued his education in schools.

Mr. Morgan has always lived on a farm and is as thoroughly acquainted with the various details of farm live as any one can be. He began his personal career on the land which he now occupies, it being a part of section 21, Mechanicsburg Township. His original purchase here was made in 1835. At present his estate consists of one hundred and fifty acres of land that have been highly developed and made to bring forth abundantly of the crops for which this section of the State is noted. It is supplied with the various improvements which have been found necessary and convenient in prosecuting agricultural work and providing for the comfort of the occupants.

In 1832 Mr. Morgan led to the hymeneal altar Melinda Morgan, a native of Kentucky, who had gone from that State to Indiana and thence came hither. After a married life of more than fifty years our subject and his faithful companion were separated by the hand of death, the wife passing away in April, 1887. The bereaved husband is cheered in his sorrow by the comforts of religion and the loving care of the children who were left motherless. Two of his family still find a shelter under his roof and three are established in homes of their own. Eliza Jane is the wife of J. D. Kelly, living in Greenwood County, Kan.; Franklin Beason lives in Buffalo, this county; William Washington resides in Kansas; Calvin Erskin is unmarried and with his father; Alice, the wife of John Rutherford, is the housekeeper in the old home. Two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are deceased.

In his younger days Mr. Morgan was a School Director and Trustee. He has been a Democrat all his life but was always opposed to slavery. He is still strong in his faith in the worth of Democratic principles and supports them whenever occasion arises. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for sixty-four years and is active in the maintenance of the church and all matters pertaining thereto. In 1835 when Methodism was in its infancy in this section the old settlers bought a tract of land which was to be used for camp meetings and a cemetery forever. In the course of time it was deeded to a Cemetery Association. Mr. Morgan is one of those who believe that the church still owns it. The band of men who were here at the time of the deep snow and who are known as "snow birds" includes our subject. Mr. Morgan is well known for his steadfast adherence to his principles, whether connected with moral or education questions. He is still clear of mind and strong in body, although he has passed some distance beyond the seventieth milestone on the journey of life.