Frederic A. Morgan

Frederic A. Morgan
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Winnebago 3rd district
In office January 2, 1871 – January 1, 1872
Preceded by	James H. Foster
Succeeded by	Nelson F. Beckwith
Personal details
Born	(1846-05-15)May 15, 1846 Pewaukee, Wisconsin Territory, U.S.
Died	October 2, 1925(1925-10-02) (aged 79) Bon Homme County, South Dakota, U.S.
Resting place	Saint Leo Cemetery, Tyndall, South Dakota
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Catherine Griffin (died 1931)
Children	Ruth Morgan (b. 1895; died 1895)
Relatives	Charles Henry Morgan (brother)
Occupation	Farmer
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Volunteers Union Army
Years of service	1864
Rank	Private, USV
Unit	39th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Frederic Arthur Morgan (May 15, 1846 – October 2, 1925) was an American farmer and Republican politician. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Oshkosh in the 1871 session. He was one of the first members of the Wisconsin Legislature to have been born in the territory of Wisconsin.

Background

Morgan was born May 15, 1846, in the town of Pewaukee, in Waukesha County, Wisconsin Territory. He attended public school, including some time at the high school in Fond du Lac. He moved with his parents to Black Wolf, Winnebago County, in 1851. During the American Civil War, he served as a private in Company I of the 39th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. The 39th Wisconsin Infantry was a "100 day" regiment, with its members mustering into service in May 1864, and mustering out in September 1864.

Public office

Morgan was a member of the town board of supervisors, of which he was elected chairman in 1868 and re-elected in 1869. In 1870, he was elected to the 3rd Winnebago County Assembly district (the Towns of Black Wolf, Nekimi, Nepeuskin, Omro, Poygan, Rushford, and Utica) for the 24th Wisconsin Legislature as a Republican, with 1,142 votes, against 69 write-ins (Republican incumbent James H. Foster was running for the Wisconsin Senate, and there was no Democratic or third party nominee). Morgan was the youngest member of the Assembly during that session. He was assigned to the standing committees on the militia and on contingent expenditures. After the legislature was redistricted, most of the old 3rd Winnebago County district was assigned to a new 4th District, which would be represented in 1872 by Republican Alson Wood. Black Wolf and Omro remained in a drastically revised 3rd District, which would go to Democrat Nelson Beckwith. Morgan was not a candidate for either district.

Personal life and family

Frederic A. Morgan was the fourth of seven children born to Henry Culver Morgan and his wife Lurancy (née Swift). Henry C. Morgan came to Black Wolf, Wisconsin, with his brother, Charles, and had a successful lumber mill operating until the Panic of 1857. Charles Morgan served several years on the Winnebago County board and was twice an unsuccessful candidate for state legislature.

Frederic's eldest brother was Charles Henry Morgan, who served as an officer in the 21st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. After the war, Charles moved to Missouri and was subsequently elected to five terms in the United States House of Representatives.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1870)

Wisconsin Assembly, Winnebago 3rd District Election, 1870

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
General Election, November 8, 1870
	Republican	Frederic A. Morgan	1,142	94.30%
		Scattering	69	5.70%
Total votes			1,211	100.0%	-23.35%
	Republican hold