Morgan - Benjamin F.
Source: . A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans, written & compiled by William E. Connelley, 1918, transcribed by Peter Hillbrand, student from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, December 1, 1999
Benjamin Franklin
Morgan, MD., is a physician and surgeon of nearly thirty years'
experience, almost all of which time has been spent in the State
of Kansas, and the past seventeen years in the City of Clay
Center. The name "Dr. Morgan" is a household word in almost
every family throughout Clay and surrounding counties, as four
of the immediate family have practiced in Clay Center and never
since the year 1883 has there been a time when the familiar
form and genial smile of one or more of this family of physicians
did not form a part of the memories of a day spent on the streets
of Clay Center, and during quite a number of these years the
"Shingle" of "Doctors Morgan & Morgan" has swung in the breezes
or basked lazily in the sunshine of the Sunflower state. This
branch of the Morgan family originated in Wales. Doctor Morgan's
early ancestor came to America just before the Revolutionary
war, in which war he joined with the colonists and fought with
them for independence. After that he settled in Kentucky. Doctor
Morgan's father, E. D. Morgan, was born at Sardis in the Blue
Grass state in the year 1816. In his early manhood he learned
the tailor's trade, which he followed most successfully for
many years. In the year 1838 E. D. Morgan was united in marriage
with Karrilla A. D. Wilhoit, daughter of Elliott and Julia Ann
(Fink) Wilhoit. She was born at Crawfordsville, Indiana, in
the year 1814. Elliott Wilhoit was a descendant of John Garr,
who was of Bavarian extraction. The immediate ancestor of Elliott
Wilhoit came to America in the early colonial days and with
all lovers of liberty he fought for independence. In the fifteenth
century the Garr family was ennobled by Emperor Charles, the
fifth, for notable bravery, and a family crest given them. This
crest now decorates many of the homes of his descendants, and
of which they are very proud. Mrs. Morgan was a devout Christian
and a staunch Baptist. Her life was full of good works and of
charity and love. E. D. Morgan with his wife and the children
then born to them removed to Pella, Iowa, in the year 1854,
when Iowa was still a territory. Soon after locating bought
at Pella, they bought a little farm one mile east of the modest
village, which farm was the family home for a period of about
thirty-four years. As life on a farm in those very early pioneer
days did not furnish very favorable opportunities for prosecuting
his chosen profession, E. D. Morgan drifted into things that
were more in harmony with his surroundings, depending more upon
good Mother Earth for her aid in caring for his growing family.
He made a speciality of the cultivation and growing of the hardy
fruit frees which were adapted to the rigorous Iowa climate.
This business increased until his was the largest nurseries
in the state, and all of the very old orchards of the surrounding
country owe their origin to "The Morgan Nurseries." In 1888
Mr. and Mrs. Morgan moved to Clay Center, Kansas, where they
made their home with one of their sons until the day of their
passing. E. D. Morgan was a republican. In religion he was a
Baptist, for which organization he worked untiringly and for
which he made many sacrifices during all of his sojourn in Pella.
He was many times a member of the church board, and years without
number he was superintendent of the Baptist Sunday school. When
this family arrived in Pella in the year 1884 they found that
the Baptist people of Iowa had already organized a college known
as "Central University of Iowa." Mr. Morgan was soon made a
member of the building committee, in which office he did very
earnest and efficient work. In those days it was necessary for
each one to work with his own hands as well as to direct the
labors of others. So he with other members of the building committee
helped to quarry the rock which formed the foundation of the
college building, and to haul it to the building site in heavy
wagons drawn by oxen. This foundation still stands firm as on
the day when it was laid, a fitting memorial and symbol of the
honest purpose of the hearts of those who sacrificed themselves
for the thing in which they believed. E. D. Morgan was also
a very staunch Mason, and often said to his sons, "As soon as
you are old enough, son, join the Masons, it will make you a
better man and will be a safeguard always." He was serving as
master of the lodge in Pella at the breaking out of the Civil
war. By special dispensation he was granted the power to give
the three degrees in a single night to his son John S., and
two other young men who were to go to Oskaloosa the following
day to muster in as soldiers of the Union. Mrs. Morgan passed
away in 1890. Mr. Morgan following her in two years, each at
the age of seventy-six. Dr. B. F. Morgan was the seventh in
a family of eight children. His eldest brother, Henry J., owns
and operates a fruit ranch in Penryn, California. The second
brother, John S. (above mentioned as a soldier in the Union
army), was a graduate of Central University. He began the practice
of law after his return from the war, but after a very short
but successful career as an attorney he passed away in the year
1872. Mattie M., the third child, is a graduate of Central University
and now resides at Colorado Springs, Colorado. She is the widow
of J. W. Paschal, who was a lieutenant in the late war and a
high class machinist. The fourth child, Wilber Fisk, died at
the age of three years. Horace Wilber was a physician of high
standing, a graduate of the Medical College at Keokuk, Iowa,
afterward taking several post-graduate courses at Bellevue Hospital
Medical College and other medical schools of Now York. He began
the practice of medicine in his native state, but removed to
Clay Center, Kansas, in the year 1883, where his home was at
the time of his passing in 1895. Teda A. J. is the wife of I.
M. Earle, who is a successful attorney and at present vice president
and general counsel for the Bankers Life Insurance Company of
Des Moines, Iowa. Curtice C. was also a physician, a graduate
of the time of his graduation he formed a partnership with his
brother H. Wilber in the practice of medicine at Clay Center,
Kansas, where he followed this profession until the time of
his death in 1897. Dr. Benjamin Franklin Morgan was born at
Pella, Iowa, August 3, 1857. He attended the public schools
of his native town, graduating from high school, and in 1885
he completed the course at the Iowa Central University. He prepared
for his profession in the medical department of Drake University
at Des Moines, from which he received his Doctor of Medicine
degree in 1888. Doctor Morgan is a wide awake physician and
surgeon and a constant student. He took post-graduate work in
the New York Post- Graduate School, and two courses in the Chicago
Post-Graduate School. Doctor Morgan began practice at Riley,
Kansas, in 1888, and that was his home and center of practice
for twelve years. In 1900 he removed to Denver, Colorado, but
as the high altitude affected his wife's health, he gave up
his practice there after a year and in 1901 located at Clay
Center, where his two brothers had previously practiced. Since
then Doctor Morgan has built up a large general medical and
surgical practice and has offices in the Galloba Building. He
is a member of the Clay County and Kansas State medical societies
and the American Medical Association, and for two years was
lecturer on anaesthesia in the University of Kansas. While living
at Riley he was county coroner of that county and has served
on the United States Board of Pension Examiners in both Riley
and Clay counties. During the illness of ex-President Taft while
he was passing through Kansas Doctor Morgan had the honor of
being the attending physician. Doctor Morgan is a republican
and like his father has become a deep student in Masonry. He
is affiliated with Clay Center Lodge No. 135, Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons, and for three years was Master of Riley Lodge
No. 48. He also belongs to Bethany Chapter No. 38, Royal Arch
Masons, and is past commander of Coronado Commandery No. 20
of the Knights Templar and is a life member of Isis Temple of
the Mystic Shrine at Salina. In 1916 he was representative to
the Imperial Council from Isis Temple at Buffalo, New York.
Doctor Morgan owns his home at 329 Dexter Street in Clay Center.
On May 22, 1882, at Wakeeney, Kansas, he married Miss Lucy M.
Hanna. She is a daughter of the late B. J. F. and Margaret (Phillips)
Hanna. Her father was at that time register of the United States
land office at Wakeeney. Her mother was a sister of Colonel
Phillips, who platted Salina as a town, was colonel of an Indian
regiment during the Civil war and afterward was agent for the
Cherokee Indians. Doctor and Mrs. Morgan have two children.
Edwin Clyde, the son, graduated A. B. from the University of
Kansas and took his medical course in Northwestern University
Medical School of Chicago and had been in practice as a partner
with his father until August 20, 1917, when he was called to
France in the medical department of the United States army and
is now serving his country in a base hospital on French soil,
having been commissioned a first lieutenant. The daughter, Margaret,
is a graduate of the University of Kansas in the classical course
and is still at home