Biography: Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Richard T. Morgan ************************************************************************ Submitted by Kathy Grace, December 2004 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ History of northern Wisconsin: containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources, an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories, biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers, views of county seats, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Co., 1881 p. 1155-1156 Richard T. Morgan, the son of Thomas and Catherine Morgan, was born in Wales Oct. 6, 1829. When the subject of this sketch was but three years old his parents emigrated to this country and settled in Utica, N.Y. His educational privileges were poor and limited. In 1847 his parents removed to Cattaraugus Co., N.Y., and Richard commenced word at carpentering. In the following year he worked in a sash, door and blind factory, and here became possessed of an ambition to engage in that business on his own account. Twenty-six years ago, with but little means, he started for the great West, and located in Oshkosh, Wis., where he found employment as a carpenter and joiner with John D. Jones. By diligence and economy he accumulated a small amount of capital; then, in company with his brother, John R. Morgan, and two others, purchased of John G. Bailey his small sash, door and blind factory. Fire visited them early and they lost their all, having failed to effect insurance on their building. The next winter was one that taxed their best energies. R.T. and his brother made sash and doors by hand and sold them to dealers, and in the following March he returned to New York state and was married to Miss Martha Roberts, of Cattaraugus Co. In the spring he returned with his wife, and shortly after organized the firm of Morgan, Watts & Jones (E. Watts and J.D. Jones), and built a sash, door and blind factory. This factory was totally destroyed by fire in July, 1859, involving a loss of $9,000, with only $500 insurance. Mr. Watts then withdrew from the firm, and the remaining partners, R.T. Morgan and J.D. Jones, built a new factory, which stood for many years, at the corner of Light and Marion streets. At this time they employed ten to twelve hands. Two years later Mr. Jones sold his one-half interest to R. McMillen and C.W. Davis, and the firm became Morgan, Davis & Co., and continued so for one and a half years, when McMillen and Davis withdrew. From this time on their business prospered. In 1866 this firm, with R.P. Roberts, built the Northwestern Planing Mill, near the Northwestern depot. The Light-street factory was placed in charge of J.R. Morgan, who superintended it until the following year, when it was sold to Williamson & Co. They then purchased a one-half interest in the McCartney saw-mill and disposed of the Northwestern Planing-Mill to Gould & Hume. In 1868 they purchased McCartney's remaining interest and devoted their time exclusively to the operations of this mill, and the first season's cut was 4,000,000 feet. They operated this mill two years, when R.P. Roberts sold them his interest. The firm of Morgan & Brother was then organized and has remained the same without any changes to the present time. In the fall of 1870 they were again sufferers by fire, and their mill was totally destroyed. Its value was $6,000, but was insured for $1,500 only. In the fall of that year they built one of the best mills in Oshkosh, at a cost of $20,000, and with a capacity of 6,000,000 feet per annum. Again the fire fiend swept away their property, and in October, 1873, this $20,000 was destroyed; insured to the extent of $7,000. Nothing daunted, they rebuilt this mill, at a cost of $20,000, adding a fire-proof engine and boiler house. They operated this but one season, when the great fire of 1875 again wiped out their property. Besides their mill, the fire destroyed 3,000,000 feet of lumber, and their loss was $25,000 over and above insurance. This last misfortune tested them severely, and for a time they lost heart. Finally they took courage and ventured into business again, this time on the south side. They purchased L.B. Read's small sawmill and operated it three years and met with good success. They then moved back to their old mill site, the ground of which they owned, and, adding the James mill site, they enlarged their mill to its present capacity. This additional purchase gives them a river frontage of 1,000 feet. Their "cut" during 1879 was 7,000,000 feet, and their business averages $100,000 per annum. They own 25,000,000 feet of standing timber, which they are cutting and supplying their own mill with. For pluck and energy, this firm has no equal. They have contended with adversity, they have battled on, against great odds, but they maintained their courage and their credit, to which they owe their success. So great is the confidence reposed in them by those with whom their transactions have been the greatest, that they were able to rebuild their mills when they had no means- only their word to pledge. Today Mr. R.T. Morgan is one of the substantial men of Oshkosh. He is a stockholder and directory in the Union National Bank; was Alderman from the First Ward three terms. Mr. Morgan, while not a politician, has always been a consistent Republican and lent his aid to the success of that party. He is much respected and looked up to by the Welsh settlers of this section, who are quite numerous, and among whom his political sentiments. prevail. But to most people Mr. Morgan is known as a philanthropist and a Christian worker. While kind to all, he has made the Welsh communities his special field of labor, by whom his name is revered far and near. While a terror to slothfulness and vice, he is a friend to thrift and virtue in all. He has done much for temperance and education, Bible and missionary societies; often presides at the public meetings of his own nationality, for which office he has great tact, though a man of few words. The hospitality of his family is spoken of everywhere, his house being always open to his numerous acquaintances, especially ministers of the Gospel, that visit the city. His religious trials also have been many and fiery, but he never "grows weary in well doing", knowing that "it is given to us in behalf of Christ, not only to belive on him, but also to suffer for his sake."