William R. Morgan Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1079-1080 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				WILLIAM R. MORGAN. 

	William R. Morgan is the efficient county treasurer of Fall River 
county, now serving for the fourth term, and as the custodian of public 
funds he is most loyal, careful and systematic. He was born in 
Poweshiek county, Iowa, August 22, 1852, and is the elder of the two 
children of Andrew J. and Pamelia (Durbin) Morgan, both of whom were 
born near Zanesville, Ohio. The father followed both carpentering and 
farming and on leaving his native state removed to Iowa, settling in 
Poweshiek county, where he owned land and carried on general 
agricultural pursuits. He afterward removed to northern Missouri, where 
he continued to engage in farming, spending the remainder of his days 
in Harrison county, that state. He was at one time a member of the 
Missouri state militia and died while in the service in the year 1862. 
His widow long survived him and passed away about 1888. 

	William R. Morgan was a pupil in the public schools near his 
father,s home in Missouri, but was only about ten years of age when his 
father died and, as the family was left in somewhat straightened 
financial circumstances, he began earning his own living. He worked for 
others in that state until 1883, when, hoping to find more advantageous 
opportunities elsewhere, he made his way to the Black Hills country in 
August of that year and located on the Belle Fourche river, where he 
engaged in ranching. There he resided for about eighteen months or two 
years, on the expiration of which period he went to Buffalo Gap in the 
fall of 1885 and was there connected with a drug store until the fall 
of 1886. The hatter date witnessed his arrival in Hot Springs, where he 
engaged in the drug business and was also employed in the post office 
for about six years. At the end of that time he was appointed 
postmaster and served for a period of four years. When he retired from 
that position he was once more employed in a drug store until he was 
called to his present office. After four years in that position he 
established a drug business of his own, of which he has since been the 
proprietor and he is also a property holder in Hot Springs. The major 
portion of his time and attention, however, is given to his official 
duties. 

	In his political views Mr. Morgan is a stalwart republican and, 
having been elected county treasurer, he assumed the duties of that 
office in 1898, serving until 1902. He was once more elected and took 
the office on the 1st of January, 1913, and at the end of two years was 
reelected, so that he entered upon his fourth term on the 1st of 
January, 1915. He is most faithful in this connection, discharges his 
duties with promptness and fidelity and has a most creditable record. 

	In September, 1885, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Morgan and 
Miss Lillian Chamberlain, who was born near Denver, Colorado, a 
daughter of Henry Chamberlain, a native of Michigan. He engaged in the 
meat business and after removing with his family to Colorado turned his 
attention to the freighting business in 1876, freighting between Denver 
and the Hills. For a time he resided in Deadwood, afterward became a 
resident of Belle Fourche and lived for a time on a ranch on the Belle 
Fourche river. Both he and his wife have passed away. 

	Mr. Morgan is well known in fraternal circles. He belongs to the 
Masonic Lodge, to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has 
taken the various degrees, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights 
of Pythias and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He enjoys the 
high regard of his brethren in these fraternities and that he is 
favorably known throughout Fall River county is indicated by the 
liberal support which has been given him when he has been the candidate 
for the office of county treasurer. Over the record of his official 
career there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil and in 
private life, too, he displays the admirable qualities which have made 
his acquaintances his friends.