Gilman C. Morgan, a farmer of Hopkinton, Merrimack County, N.H., was born September 10, 1830, in Hartford, Vt., being a son of Nathaniel and Mehitable (Colby) Morgan. His paternal grandfather, Nathan H. Morgan, was born October 27, 1765, in Pembroke, N.H. Four years later his father and mother, who were English, came to Hopkinton, and settled in the unbroken forest in the south-west part of the town. At that time there were no roads, but only foot-paths, indicated by spotted trees for a guide. Nathan H. Morgan remained on the old homestead from the time of coming here with his parents until his demise, October 31, 1850. His wife, Mary Emerson Morgan, was born March 30, 1770, and died December 5, 1833. They had twelve children, namely: Timothy, who was born March 12, 1790, and died in 1871; Nathaniel, the first, born October 2, 1791, died May 18, 1792; Nathaniel, the second, born April 5, 1793, died May 4, 1872; Abigail, born April 13, 1795; Nathan, born March 21, 1797, died October 6, 1828; Smith, born March 18, 1799; Betsey, born December 25, 1800; Mary, born February 4, 1803, died in June, 1885, the wife of John Currier; Rachel, born January 12, 1805; Jeremiah, born December 20, 1805; Mahala, born March 29, 1809; and James, born September 4, 1811. Of these Mahala, the wife of Peabody Webber, of Manchester, N.H., is the only survivor.
Nathan H. Morgan was an energetic, tireless worker in his day, doing much of the pioneer labor of clearing the land, and for many years was one of the most influential men of the neighborhood. Many were the pleasant hours whiled away by his grand-children, listening to his stories of the pleasures and dangers of pioneer life in his time, and of all the circumstances connected with his early life and the progress of the town. The old homestead remained in the family for three generations, the successive owners being Nathan H. Morgan, Timothy Morgan, and Richard F. Morgan.
Richard F. Morgan was one of the most prominent and enterprising citizens of the town. He held many positions of trust in the town, and served acceptably to all as Selectman and School Committee for many terms, and was one of the foremost members of the Baptist church.
Nathaniel Morgan, son of Nathan H., born in Hopkinton, April 5, 1793, married Mehitable Colby, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Gilman) Colby, of Henniker, September 7, 1822. Three years afterward he went to Vermont, where he lived until 1832. Returning then to Merrimack County, he settled first in Henniker, where he lived for twenty years, and then came back to Hopkinton, where he remained until his death, May 4, 1872. His wife outlived him a score of years, passing away January 11, 1893, being ninety-six years of age. She was a pensioner of the War of 1812. They were the parents of four children, as follows: Mary Ann, Edwin, Julia A., and Gilman C.
Gilman C. Morgan came to Hopkinton with his parents in 1853. He married September 12, 1855, Miss Eva L. Merrill, daughter of Charles and Emily E. (Emerson) Merrill, of Hopkinton, where Mrs. Morgan was born. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have but two children living; namely, Charles N. and Willis E. They have lost four children: Oliver A., who died at the age of four years; Edwin H., at the age of twenty-three years; Arthur W., at Irwin A., at the age of sixteen years.
In politics Mr. Morgan is a gold bug and a Republican, although he was reared in the Democratic faith, his father having been a steadfast adherent of that party. Even in boyhood he would never acknowledge when away from home that he was a Democrat. Notwithstanding the presence of many good men in that party, there seemed to be an element in its organism that was exceedingly distasteful to him; and discerning, as he thought at that time, a greater degree of intelligence and refinement in the masses elsewhere, he consequently found more congenial associates outside its ranks. In later years he has found the principles of the Republican party to be more in accord with his own mature convictions.
Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are of a social nature. They are members of Union Grange, he having served as Master for three terms. In religion he is liberal in his views. He attends the Congregational church, of which Mrs. Morgan is a member.