Maynard D. "M.D." MORGAN

MORGAN, MOAN, MICHAEL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/11/2015 at 13:57:35

M. D. Morgan, editor and lessee of the Harrisburg Bulletin, published at Harrisburg, Linn county, was born in Dubuque, Iowa, May 16, 1876, a son of John and Bertha (Moan) Morgan, the former a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, while the latter was born in Norway. The father accompanied his parents on their removal to Platteville, Wisconsin, and there followed the wheelwright's trade. He was an honored veteran of the Civil war, enlisting as a member of Company I, Tenth Wisconsin Infantry, with which he served for two years, when he was discharged on account of illness. On regaining his health he reenlisted, becoming a member of Company I, Twenty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry, and served with that command until the close of the war. He received a number of wounds and several times was taken prisoner but succeeded in making his escape. At the close of hostilities he returned to his Wisconsin home, but after a short time went to Dubuque, Iowa, where his marriage occurred. In 1877 he went to Dows, Iowa, and opened a wagon shop, continuing its conduct until ill health compelled him to retire. Coming to the west in search of a brother, he reached the state of Oregon, and finding the mild climate here to his liking, he took up his abode in Salem in 1904, there residing until 1909, when he removed to Harrisburg, in which city he spent his remaining days. He passed away April 30, 1915, and the mohter survived him but a year, her death occurring May 31, 1916.

M. D. Morgan was reared and educated in Dows, Iowa, and there learned the printer's trade, which he followed in different parts of the country. Subsequently he took up the study of telegraphy and for two years worked at that occupation, but not finding it to his liking, he resumed his former trade of printer and on the 1st of January, 1899, purchased the Renwick (la.) Times, which he operated for two years and then sold. Purchasing the Butler County Tribune, published at Allison, Iowa, he continued to conduct that paper for a period of six years and, then decided to seek other fields of operation and came to Oregon, becoming connected with the Statesman, issued at Salem, where he remained until July, 1908. His next venture was in connection with the Harrisburg (Ore.) Bulletin, which he operated until December 1, 1917, and then sold, purchasing a farm near Harrisburg, in Linn county, but this investment did not prove a profitable one. He carried on his farming operations entirely by tractor, but owing to continued drought his crops proved a failure and he was obliged to abandon the project. He then went to Vancouver, Washington, where he once more took up his former trade, becoming connected with The Columbian, having charge of the job department and doing editorial work. In June, 1919, he returned to Harrisburg and leased his old paper, the Bulletin, which he has since conducted. He is thoroughly at home in this line of work, owing to his long connection with newspaper interests, and he is making the Bulletin a very readable and attractive journal, devoted to the interests of the community which it serves and to the dissemination of home news. He has introduced the most progressive methods in management and publication and has added to the substantial reputation which the Bulletin has always enjoyed. Mr. Morgan is still the owner of his farm near Harrisburg. It comprises one hundred and fourteen acres and from its rental he derives a substantial addition to his income.

On the 20th of February, 1901, occurred the marriage of M. D. Morgan and Miss Lola Irene Michael, and they have become the parents of eight children: Leland, who assists his father in the publication of the Bulletin; Wayne, who is also connected with the work of the paper; Genevieve, who is the second in order of birth; and Joseph, Carroll, Donald, Irene and Edith.

Mr. Morgan gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has taken an active interest in public affairs of his community, serving as a member of the various town councils in the communities in which he has resided. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order. He stands at all times for improvement in everything relating to the development and upbuilding of the county along intellectual, political, material and moral lines, and in his editorial capacity he is producing a newspaper of much interest and value to the community in which he lives.

Source: History of Oregon - Illustrated - Volume II, Chicago-Portland, The Pioneer Historical Publishing Company, 1922, pages 39-40.