James Morgan, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Oakland; one of the early pioneers of Coles Co.; born in Vermilion Co., Ind., April 20, 1830; he was the youngest son of David Morgan, who was born in Washington Co., Ky., Nov. 18, 1797; he emigrated from Kentucky to Indiana with his family, where he lived until he emigrated to Coles Co., Ill., where he located April 20, 1834, in what is now Morgan Tp., the township being named in honor of David Morgan. He married Oct. 7, 1818, to Jane Rodman she was born in Kentucky, June 9, 1799; six children were the fruit of this union, five of whom emigrated to Illinois with the family at the above date, one having died in infancy; the names of the living were Sarah, Catharine J., Mary E., William and James; Mr. Morgan died Sept. 10, 1860; Mrs. Morgan died Jan. 31, 1832. The subject of this sketch was 4 years of age when he emigrated to Coles Co,, Ill., in 1834; he lived with his parents until 19 years of age, when he managed the farm until the decease of his father, since which time he has continued to live upon the old homestead, where he has lived for a period of forty-five years; he owns upon his home farm 112 acres, and 8 acres of timber in Oakland Tp.; when Mr. Morgan came here, Indian camps were along the river, wolves and game were plenty, and Mr. Morgan remembers his first labor in his boyhood as watching and protecting the sheep from destruction by the wolves during the day, the sheep being driven in close pens for protection during the night; his trips to mill consumed from four to six days, either to Perryville, Eugene, or Terre Haute, the distance being sixty miles. His marriage with Clarissa J. West was celebrated Oct. 12, 1849; she was born in Vermilion Co., Ind., Oct. 6, 1831; they have five children by this union, viz.: Robert, born Oct. 9, 1850; Leonard C., June 22, 1853; William J., Feb. 21, 1855; Melvin, June 8, 1858, and David, Aug. 23, 1869.
