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First United
Methodist Church of Morgan
Recorded Texas Historical Landmark
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2007 |
History in
a Pecan Shell
Eight miles west
of the Brazos, settlers along Steele Creek had applied for
a Post Office by that name in September, 1879. Charles Whitney, President
of the Texas Central Railway, had a different idea. His railroad had
long planned a water stop and station at that location which he would
name for his father-in-law, Charles Morgan, the railroad's
previous owner who had died the year before (hence it is no coincidence
that Whitney and Morgan were consecutive
towns on the Texas Central.) A new application to the Post Office
under the Morgan name was submitted in January, 1880. The tracks
reached Morgan in April and continued west to Hico
and beyond. Sixteen months later, the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway
built northward through Morgan toward Cleburne,
making Morgan a two-railroad town. (This paragraph by Jim King. See
Namesake correction below.)
By the mid 1880s, Morgan had a thriving population of 600, which grew
to an estimated 850 by the end of the century. The 20th Century wasn't
as kind to Morgan as the 19th had been. From 830 people in 1910 it
declined to less than 700 by the mid 1920s and just over 500 by 1941.
The double-whammy of improved roads and available cars lured people
to Waco and Fort
Worth in search of well-paying jobs. By 1970 the population was
a mere 200 which has since increased to 490 in 2010. |
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First United
Methodist Church historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2007 |
Historical Marker
First United
Methodist Church of Morgan
Organized in 1889,
the Morgan Methodist Church first held worship services in the Baptist
church building. At an 1891 revival, the fellowship initiated plans
to construct this sanctuary. Originally a one-room structure, the
building was enlarged in later years as additional rooms were needed.
The Carpenter Gothic building exhibits some Greek Revival detailing
and features lancet windows and a 1901-02 belfry.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1983 |
What remains
of Union Hill School
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2007 |
Historical Marker
(Hwy 174 about 4.5 miles N of Morgan):
Union Hill School
Started before 1879, the Union Hill School was one of several rural
schools that served the early settlers of Bosque
County. A two-room 1888 schoolhouse, located across the road,
was used until 1914, when a two-story building was constructed at
this site. A nearby stable housed the student's horses during the
school day. Enlarged by the 1926 merger with the Auburn Hill District,
Union Hill became part of the Kopperl District in 1939. Former students,
which include many area business, professional, and agricultural leaders,
still meet for a biennial school reunion.
(1981) |
Morgan Depot?
Vintage
photo courtesy Dane Williams
More Texas Depots |
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Historical Marker:
Morgan, Texas
Forum
Subject: Namesake
Corrections
Your account of the naming of Morgan, TX ... is wrong. The town of
Morgan was named for Charles Morgan, the owner of both the Houston
& Texas Central Railway and a major steamship line operating in the
Gulf. Although Morgan died before the Texas Central had begun construction
north from Ross (where it had stopped years earlier), his son-in-law,
Charles Whitney, had already been named President of the Texas Central.
Hence, the first town founded north of Ross was "Whitney"; the second
town founded was "Morgan".
The Morgan name had nothing to do with any Santa Fe stockholder or
official. The Texas Central was advertising for grading contractors
"from Morgan, in Bosque, to the center of Eastland County" in the
Galveston Daily News of Feb. 15, 1880. This was 18 months before the
Santa Fe tracks had crossed the Texas Central at Morgan, before Santa
Fe had even committed to that route. The correct story is here: http://txrrhistory.com/towers/050/050.htm
- Regards, Jim King, webmaster, Texas Railroad History Website, Dallas,
September 13, 2022
Webmaster's note: The
first paragraph of History in a Pecan Shell was replaced with Jim
King's narrative submitted on October 6, 2022 |
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Bosque
County 1907 postal map showing
Morgan (NE of Meridian)
& Whitney on the Texas Central
RR
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
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Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
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