Newaygo County MI Archives Biographies.....Morgan, Lester C. June 13, 1822 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 March 23, 2009, 6:16 pm

Author: Chapman Brothers

LESTER C. MORGAN, President of the Morgan Lumber Company, resident of 
Muskegon, was born June 13, 1822, in 

Leroy, Genesee Co., N.Y.  His parents, William and Sophia (Coe) Morgan, were 
born, lived and died in the 

State of New York.

Mr. Morgan was possessed of an active temperament and made the best use of the 
advantages offered in the 

common schools of the generation in which he was born, and at 17 years of age 
he commenced teaching.  At 

the age of 20 years he began the manufacture of linseed oil in his native 
county, and the prosecution of 

that business occupied his attention 14 years, when he sold out and came to 
Wisconsin.  After a residence 

there of 18 months, he proceeded to Chicago, where he engaged in the wood and 
coal trade, and also 

interested himself to a considerable extent in speculating, operating in the 
fruit trade nearly five 

years.

In 1866 he located in Muskegon Co. Mich., and bought 250 acres of land near 
Muskegon.  He put the place 

under good improvements, among which was the planting of an apple and peach 
orchard, both of which were 

hopelessly injured by the excessive cold of the winter of 1869.  In 1868 he 
engaged in the business with 

which he is now connected and which he has since prosecuted in all its 
important branches.  The mill 

belonging to the concern is located in White Cloud, and has a productive 
capacity of 20,000 feet of lumber 

daily.  The company is a stock concern, and is doing a fair business.  An 
earlier business connection of 

Mr. Morgan was with S. N. Wilcox, of Chicago (now deceased), whose relations 
to the lumber trade of 

Northern Michigan are well known.  The partnership was for the purpose of 
instituting the trade in lumber 

at this point, and they credited the first mill for the production of lumber 
in this section.  Mr. Morgan 

built the pioneer house at White Cloud, and accomplished the first logging in 
this vicinity. He has been 

and is now extensively connected with the landed interests of the County of 
Newaygo.  the company own 

3,000 acres of land, lying chiefly in Wilcox Township.  The private estate of 
Mr. Morgan includes 200 

acres of land in Muskegon County, where he at one time owned a half-mile tract 
in its primitive condition. 

 He is a Republican of declared position, and was Supervisor of Lakeside, 
Muskegon County.  He is not 

prominent in the work of temperence reform, but has never in his life drank a 
glass of liquor.  In the 

fall of 1883 he had his first encounter with sickness, being past 60 years of 
age, when he was for the 

first time in his life under the necesity of calling a physician for personal 
attendance.

He was married Sept. 4, 1845, in Genesee Co., N.Y., to Mary J., daughter of 
James and Mary Long.  They 

were all natives of the State of New York.  Six children ahave been born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Morgan, four of 

whom survive.  They are, James L., Sarah A., Helen M., and William F.; Sophie 
and Kate died in infancy.

James L. Morgan, eldest son of L.C. Morgan, and treasurer of the Michigan 
Lumber Company, was born in 

Leroy, Genesee Co., N.Y., July 31, 1848.  He was during his early life, under 
the sole guidance of his 

father, and since attaining to a suitable age has been connected with him in 
business.  Since 1883 he has 

been officiating in his present capacity.  He inherits the political 
tendencies of his father, and held 

the postion of Postmaster two years, under President Grant.  He has held the 
position of Notary Public two 

years, and, on the incorporation of the village of White Cloud, was elected 
Trustee, and discharged the 

duties of the situation two years.  He has served one year as agent of the 
American Express Company, and 

was elected Township Treasurer but never qualified.

Additional Comments:
1884 Portrait & Bio Album of Newaygo Co.

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