The family were likely to have been well settled in by the time of the 1880 American census which finds the family structure unchanged. Eldest son, David (16) is described as a labourer, the 2 girls, Sarah (13) and Mary (10) attend school while youngest child, Henry (9) apparently does not. Daniel is recorded as being unable to write. The family's neighbours - a mixture of many British, European and Scandanavian nationalities - are also mainly employed as miners or labourers.
If the 1890 American census records had not been destroyed, it would have shown some major changes for Hannah and Daniel's family. Both Sarah Ann and Mary were married by this time and Mary had given birth to a daughter, Bessie in 1888 - making Daniel and Hannah grandparents. From the later evidence of his own obituary, son, David had also left home to take up his studies for his career as a veterinary surgeon, while Henry was possibly still at home. More change was on the horizon. Only 2 years later, disaster struck the family when on Thursday, 31st March 1892, Hannah died, aged only 51 years. Her funeral was held from the Welsh Congregational Church, Osage City on Sunday 3rd April at 3 pm. She was buried at Osage City Cemetery.
The census of 1900 shows that soon after Hannah's death, Daniel married again to a Welsh woman called Rachel Thomas who was more than 20 years his junior. Rachel was a widow with 2 young daughters, Meriam aged 5 and Nellie, aged 2. Daniel seems to have adopted these children as his own and they both bear the surname of Morgan in the 1900 census which caused great confusion at first sight. Although this is one of the most informative of the early American censuses, some of the facts it offers about the family conflict with both later records and known information. It correctly records that Daniel and Rachel have been married for 8 years but describes Rachel as the mother of 0 children. This suggests that the 4 children not previously seen on any other census are all Daniel and Hannah's children. The recorded ages of these children (shown in the order they are enumerated) supports this: Meriam, born April 1887; Nellie, born February 1890 and twins, Roy and May, apparently born earlier than Nellie, in January 1888. However, Daniel's obituary makes it clear that Meriam and Nellie were his step-children and the next census in 1910, which enumerates only the twins, Roy and May at home with Daniel and Rachel, records their ages as being 13 (i.e. born circa 1897) and describes Rachel as the mother of 2. By this time, the 2 older girls, Meriam and Nellie had both left home. Another 1900 error describes Daniel as having lived in the US for 19 years and gives the year of his immigration as 1881 - which is disproved by the family's presence on the 1875 and 1880 censuses. The next census gives a truer picture by recording the year of immigration as 1871.
By 1910, only the twins remain at home. Daniel died on 15th March 1916, aged 80 years. He is also buried at Osage City Cemetery - with Hannah.
| Obituary: Osage City Free Press, 23rd March 1916 MORGAN-Daniel Thomas Morgan was born April 28, 1835 at Brynhynydd, Glanaman, Carmarthenshire, South Wales, and died, March 15, 1916 at his home after an illness of a few days at the age of 80 years, 10 months and 17 days. He joined the Welsh Congregational church at the age of 14, and was still a faithful member at the time of his death. In 1859 he married Hannah Bowen. To this union were born six children; the two eldest died in infancy. His wife died in 1892. Later he married Mrs. Rachel Thomas. To this union were born two children. He left Wales in 1871. After spending a year in Pennsylvania, he came to Arvonia living there on a farm four years. Then he moved to Osage City, at which place he spent the remainder of his life. Mr. Morgan was one of the earliest pioneers of this city. He leaves to mourn his death his wife and six children, Dr. David Morgan of Neosho, Mo; Dr. Harry Morgan of Muskogee, Oklahoma; Mrs. Sarah Edsell of San Francisco, Calif.; Mrs Mary McCrea,of Albuquerque, N.M.; Roy and Mae of Osage City; two grand daughters and one great grand daughter; one sister, Mrs. Benjamin Jones of Brynhynydd, Wales; two step daughters, Meriam Pearson and Nellie Pearson. All of the children were at the funeral with the exception of David and Sarah, who were unable to attend. Among the friends from out of town who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Carl Pearson, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Davis, Mrs T. H. Standiford, of Pant Teg; Mr. and Mrs. Cal Pearson of Vassar; Mrs. John Jones and son, Oliver of Arvonia; Mrs. John Davis and son, William; Mr. D. O. Davis of Reading; Mrs. Jas. Edwards and John Williams of Emporia; Mr. and Mrs. D. L. Williams and son of Topeka. The funeral services were held at the family home, Sunday, the 19th of March, at 2.30 p.m ., Rev. O.M. George of Emporia, officiating. Those who acted as pall bearers were John Prosser, Henry Lewis, Tom Hughes, Lumley Lloyd, Tom Jones and Tom Davis. A choir composed of Welsh singers rendered several appropriate selections. Interment was made in North cemetery. |
