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Joseph Morgan was born November 22, 1843 to William A. and Mary Prosser Morgan. The Morgan family was one of the earliest families to settle in the Yampa Valley coming in 1873. They were a large family with seven sons and three daughters. The family prospered and played a very important role in the settlement of this area. (see Tom Morgan) Joseph ran an Indian trading post with brothers Tom, Dave and Charles some miles west of Morgan Creek where Elkhead Creek enters the Yampa River. An old-timer reported: the trading post was "built of logs with dirt for a roof. It had no door but one good size window. He didn't have no counter in the store - just bags of coffee, sugar, flour, tobacco, powder, and bullets". Prior to this, in 1873, Joseph had the government contract to transport supplies to the White River Indian Agency from the rail head at Rawlins. Joseph was a large and active man, a champion in all games where physical strength was required. He frequently raced with the Indians and had wrestling matches with them. One spring a sick Indian was left at the trading post for Joseph to care for. He kindly ministered to the wants and needs of the sick man but he eventually died and Joseph buried him near the trading post. Joseph Morgan was appointed the first Sheriff of Routt County in 1877 when the county was formed. He was required to post a $10,000 bond which he did on May 28, 1877. In August he was required, by the Commissioners, to post an additional $5,000 bond which he failed to comply with so on August 12, 1877 his appointment was revoked.
In 1879 Joseph Morgan moved to the Little Snake River area and remained there the rest of his life ranching. He died at Savery on September 9, 1922 and is buried in the Reader Cemetery in Carbon County, Wyoming.
Resource:
Obit, Routt County Republican, September 15, 1922
Reader Cemetery, Carbon County, Wyoming (S.L. Field)
History of Hayden & West Routt County, Vol. II
Bern F. Giannini
Obit, Dave Morgan, Steamboat Pilot, December 1926
Steamboat Pilot, October 5, 1934
Obit, Thomas Morgan, Steamboat Pilot, May 13, 1943
Where the Old West Stayed Young, John Rolfe Burroughs
Official Bond, Joseph Morgan, Sheriff
Commissioner minutes, May & August 1877
© 2004-2008 Joyce Cusick nacpinc@hotmail.com
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