HON. HIRAM D. MORGAN. – This gentleman, whose portrait appears in this history, and who is so well known up and down the Sound, has had a varied pioneer life since 1853. He is a native of Ohio, having been born at Mount Ayre in 1822. During his boyhood, his parents moved to Marion and other portions of the state; and in the course of his development he learned the carpenter’s trade, which has ever been a great reliance to him.
In 1846 he came out to Oskaloosa, Iowa, and in 1853 became one of the Davis party to cross the plains to Oregon. At Salmon Falls he left the train and came on to Fort Boise, and with all his possessions on his shoulders walked down to The Dalles, and at the Cascades was employed by Bush & Baker in building a large bateau and ferry-boat. In October he left for Olympia, and in 1854 built there a schooner, the Emlie Parker, on a speculation, which he sold to advantage. When the war broke out in 1855 he was engaged by Michael T. Simmons, Indian agent, to act as his secretary. Mr. Morgan was soon selected by the Indians to act as agent. He built seven houses under contract on the Squakson agency, and twelve house for the Indians on the Puyallup agency, and in 1861 was appointed by the government as agent of the Tulalip Reservation.
In 1858 he took a tour home to Iowa via San Francisco, Panama and New York. although attempting to live after this on the prairies of Kansas, he recrossed the continent with his family. He reached Olympia late in the autumn, and gained a livelihood by plying his trade, but, with an eye to the future, secured a homestead four miles west of the town. In 1875 he endeavored once more to leave the territory and to live in California, but returned after a three months’ absence, and engaged in the grocery business until 1876. In that year he selected a new home and business at Snohomish, Washington Territory, engaging with his sons in a sawmill and sash and door factory. He has there a remunerative occupation, and enjoys all the comforts that attend a well-spent life. In a public capacity, he has filled the office of probate judge, justice of the peace and county commissioner. He was married in Ohio in 1844 to Miss Maria Van Arsdell, of New York, who died in 1846, leaving one child. His present wife, Mary J. Trout, is a native of Ohio. Of their seven children, four are living, – L.G., the wife of E.C. Ferguson, John D., Benjamin H. and Alonzo W.
