Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Samuel Thomas Morgan

All was not well between Sam and Minnie in the early years of their marriage. Minnie came from a family of money, her father and grandfather having been physicians.Sam, on the other hand, came from an agricultural background. He was the oldest of three sons whose father died on 13 September 1891 at the age of 39 from an infection in his leg. Sam was only 11 years old at the time. His mother exercised her dower right to continue to live on one third of the property on which she and her husband had lived. She tried to keep the farm running but it was very difficult. She met another man and married him in November 1893. As a result, she forfeited her dower right to her first husband's land and moved to a nearby town to live with her new husband. The three sons lived with them.

Sam and Minnie Morgan, having come from different backgrounds, never did see eye to eye. After the birth of Mary Allen, it was not unusual for Minnie to want to travel to her parents' home or, as mentioned earlier, to Black Mountain for the summer months. I have a letter that she wrote to Sam from her parents' home in May 1908 intimating that she might not come back. She had Mary Allen with her and a family story says that Sam was so distraught by the letter that he immediately traveled to Minnie's parents' home and demanded that she and Mary Allen pack and return immediately.

Nevertheless, Minnie became pregnant and gave birth to a son, Samuel Thomas Morgan, on 18 December 1909 in Mebane, Alamance County, North Carolina. This was the man who was to come become my father.

Sam worked as head cashier of the Farmers Commercial Bank in Mebane and earned a good living. He was well respected as a businessman and, since his wife had gotten him involved in "society" in town, he also gained a reputation as a good husband and father.

The birth of his son, whom they called Tom, was a matter of great pride to Sam. He now had a child to carry on the family name and a son with whom he could bond. As with Mary Allen, Sam spared no expense in buying toys for the child. He was often seen walking with his young son to the railroad depot before supper each evening to watch the evening train stop. Tom was fascinated with trains and anything mechanical, and he instinctively took to mathematics. His grade school, high school, and college records document that he was an excellent student who applied himself, particularly in mathematics. (In later years, Tom would become a mathematical prodigy, an expert in accounting, and an industrial engineer.)

Minnie continued her social and church activities, and participated in the local book club, garden club, and other ladies' organizations. These help provide distractions that helped make her feel important. Unfortunately, they detracted from her duties at home and especially caring for her children. Linie remained the constant caring female influence in their lives. After the birth of Tom, Minnie was resolved to have no further children. I can only imagine how devoid of affection in a meaningful marital relationship Sam must have endured.

The two children attended the local public school system and, by all accounts and surviving records, they both did very well with their studies. Newspaper accounts of the time mentioned their participation in both academic activities and and social events of the town.

The next installments of the blog will discuss their college careers, the onset of the Great Depression, and some devastating turns of events that Minnie precipitated.

(c) Copyright 2017 - George G. Morgan
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