Great idea Bill, you and I, of the same generation, missed out on knowing them, and the only way we can learn is from our “mentors”.  A good start might be to read my father’s (Wayne) and my Uncle Bob’s musings on the Morgan website.  I enjoyed them very much and was surprised at both of their literary talents.

 Daren L. Morgan, P.L.S.

Lol..that is great Chuck, seems like Uncle Bob Haggett must have always had the chicken duty, I think I recall Dad being in your position, but he let go.  Guess Uncle Bob didn’t like that at all..the chicken ran away.
 
Daren L. Morgan, P.L.S.

Ahhh..the molasses cookies.  I dug out the recipe the other day…on my agenda for the weekend…want me to send some west? 
Daren L. Morgan, P.L.S.

This is great fun!  Thank you and keep it up - I am also in the dark as to what my grandparents were "all about", but I do know that my mother, Helen, also just loved to have her fine hair combed by us girls.  So Grandpa played with baby skunks - a true nature lover, or alittle nutty(in a good way).  So did the Morgan sense of humor come from Grandma, or Grandpa?

Love to all, Lois

Lol..peanut butter on molasses?  Why not.  I can remember sitting on the counter in Grandma Morgan (Ruby) kitchen eating her freshly made donuts with Grandpa Morgan (Clyde), it seems to me that he liked to put mustard on his donuts and got me eating them that way too.

Daren  (this is fun)

F:         He was . . . how would I say it . . . he was very kind, ah . . . good to us children . . . couldn't . . . or when I say good, he was kind to us.   Never had the money so he could bring home treats to us, you know, too much.  But . . . ah . . .

R:        I think of Clyde.  Clyde was so like him.

F:         He went to church occasionally.  Not a lot . . . but he went to church.   Mom would never miss church.  And when the two of them would go the family would fill one pew all the way across.

B:         He sang a lot, didn't he?  Wasn't he musical?

F:         Yeah . . . this is interesting, too, and I think it would be to you.  We lived out in Knapps [Station].  The McGee family [Burt and Grace Marsh McGee.  Grace was Alta Marsh Morgan's sister] , they lived, oh probably about a mile from us . . . it would be right across lots from us.  And we were real close.  Nights during the week, sometimes maybe one night, but on Sunday or Saturday . . . Sunday we'd all be together for dinner.   Aunt Grace and Mom would cook the dinner, fix it . . . it was a big family then with our big family.  And . . . ah . . . I remember this very well . . . with Dad and Uncle Bert (Uncle Bert was a good singer); they always got Helen [Helen Morgan Breakey, Fred's sister] to play the piano and they would sing.  Oh, one song they sang . . . they'd always sing it . . . was . . . ah . . . well, they sang "The Church in the Wildwood," too; but this was . . . there was hunting in there . . . what was the name of that thing?!   My mind is blank . . . but, it was a bass solo, and sometimes Dad would sing it and sometimes Uncle Bert would say, "Let me sing the solo this time!"   Helen would be playin'!  And also we had a little, a little orchestra.  I think Ray played the trombone, Clyde . . . now this is our own family!   'Course the McGee's, I don't remember what they played.  I remember Uncle Bert played the coronet.  Dad played bass.   I wasn't old enough to play anything . . . we just played around! [laughter]  Lets see . . . Clyde and Mildred [Mildred Morgan Orr, Fred's sister] both played violin.  Helen on the piano.  Ray on the trombone.   I don't think Alice played in it.  She wasn't old enough.  I think it started with Mildred on the violin.   Mildred and Clyde.  And we'd have a big time.  We'd have the orchestrations, you know, and . . . yup . . . a family orchestra, you know.   Nothing you could take out on tour or anything like that.  But we had fun.  We had fun.

B:         Aunt Alice said she thought she remembered, although she said she was a little too young to remember for sure, that my Mom [Ethel Morgan Matson] was born when you all lived out on the Knapp Station road.  But she thought she remembered my Mom being born over at Aunt Grace's house.

F:         That could very well be.  Because when the children were coming . . . if it were Aunt Grace, Mom would be over there.   If it were Mom, Aunt Grace would be over here!  Of course no hospitals at that time.  You didn't go to the hospital to have a baby.

R:        I think an interesting thing about Dad Morgan was his ability to go into the woods and pick all the herbs and plants that were healing qualities.   And he was so good at that.  He wishes now that he had learned . . .

F:         Oh, yes!  To my knowledge, Bill . . . your father [Almon D. "Bill" Matson] says I'm wrong . . . he says you've got to have root beer.  He had a big wooden barrel, and every fall that barrel was filled with root beer.   And he would go out and down into the woods and the swamp and get all these roots.  He knew what they were.  Now your father said that they had to buy something, too.   It all didn't come from roots.  And that might be.  I can't argue, I don't know, but . . . my thought right now is that he got all of it out of the woods . . . out of the swamp.   He'd come home with the darndest mess of stuff, you know, and he'd steep it . . . put it on and steep it . . . and, real good root beer. Real root beer!

B:         So he was quite the outdoors person, too.

F:         Yes.  Oh, yes.  Oh, woods!!   You couldn't lose him in the woods.  He had is mind on where he was all the time, you know.  He'd go up in the big woods.   He used to have a hunting camp . . . oh . . . way back.  They said about ten miles.  And they'd hike it back there.   Take their tent and all their meals.  They had to go across a river.  There was . . . ah . . . they lived in Knapp Station but their father lived up in . . . .ah   . . . I believe it was a hollywood area.  He would take them across the river.

B:         Now this is whose father?

F:         Huh?

B:         Who is this who would take them across the river?

F:         Kingsley.  Kingsley.   Eh ya, ya.   He would take them across in the boats.  Sometimes he'd have to make two or three trips.  Then when they'd come back, why they'd stop on the other side and keep yellin' 'til they got his attention.   And he'd come over and get 'em and bring 'em back.

B:         So did he [Edson Morgan]  hunt a lot too?

F:         Yes.  He loved hunting.  He loved hunting.   He would get a dear occasionally.  No a lot of them.  No a lot of them.  But . . . ah . . .

R:        Wood lot.  He loved to work with wood.

F:         Yeah.  On our wood lot up there, he'd go up there, you know, and he'd cut wood like nobody's business.   He liked it.  Well, when he got it home it was a different story.  He didn't like to get it up into stove wood.   Ah . . . at one time there in Norwood . . . well, I guess probably it's when we lived there with Grandpa Morgan [Quartus Morgan], it was told around that he [Edson Morgan] was a lazy, lazy man.  Lazy good for nothing.  He did change jobs.   He never held a job for very long.  Ah, he changed jobs a lot.  Ah . . .since his death we've often wondered if he wasn't a pretty sick man then.   Now he never was a fleshy man.  Always skin and bones.  Never . . . we always wondered maybe this . . . ah . . . sickness was with him at that time.

R:        He was busy.  He . . . you know . . . he didn't earn money like, you know, a steady job.

B:         But always had something on the go.

R:        Yup.

F:         He was good to his family.  I don't remember . . . I don't remember any time when he was . . . I enjoyed him, I enjoyed him a lot.   I'll never forget at his funeral . . . that was from the house up there on the hill [the farm just outside of Norwood, off of Route 56]..

 We used to have, when we were building the house up there, we used to have house parties.   Dances.  There was an old fella that would come in and fiddle, you know,  and maybe they'd be . . . well, in the front room there'd be room for two sets.   Then out in the dinning room, they'd just clear the table and everything right back and . . . no charges to anybody, you know.  The fiddler didn't charge us.   It was just for a good time.  And I don't know how often . . . maybe three or four times during the winter we'd have a party like that, you know.   And it was always fun.

B:         Would it be just for the neighbors, or family or church?

F:         No . . . family, neighbors, church people . . . but I don't know.  I don't know how thick they were with the church at that time.   I don't know.  Of course . . . it was kind of out of the way for Mom to get to church.  She had so many little ones that . . . when we moved over to Norwood with Grandpa they went to church and then she was a good church goer when we moved then up on the hill.

B:         So the dances that you talked about were when you lived in Knapps Station. 

The following is a transcript of a conversation with Alice (Morgan) Dunbar made in her home (37 Bishop Street, Massena, New York) on July 13, 1992.   Alice is my aunt and the sister of my mother [Ethel Morgan Matson].   My father [Almon D. "Bill" Matson] is also a part of this conversation .

Key:   B= William J. Matson     D=Almon D. Matson    A=Alice Morgan Dunbar

B:   Both Grandma and Grandpa Morgan [Edson and Alta Marsh Morgan] were dead before I was born.  What's your greatest memory of them?   I've always heard that Grandpa Morgan was sort of on the quiet side; but Grandma Morgan was real outgoing and had a keen sense of humor.

A:        That's just it.  She would be the life of the party wherever she went.   She was . . . ah. . . a dry sense of humor, you know.  And she'd say things that everybody . . . just that dry sense of humor, she was really like that.

D:        Olive.  Olive is just like her.

A:        And Dad was very quiet.  I remember, like when I got old enough to be dating, when I was in college - I never did date when I was in High School - but when I was in college . . . got out of college . . . why guys that would come to see me, they always remarked about what a high esteem they held my father in because he was so easy going, you know, quiet, easy going.   So . . . and the greatest memory probably I have of my father is how much he loved the Adirondacks.  And berrying . . . we always went berrying.   We would take the tent, stay over night sometimes and do a little fishing.  And, ah, great times.  I remember one time . . . let's see . . . there was Clyde and Fred and myself . . . I think just the three of us.   We went berrying in the Adirondacks somewhere.  And Dad was a great hand.  He'd say, "Well now, I'm just going to go over the hill here and see if I can find any berries there.   So you kids can just pick here."  And we did.

          Well,  he didn't come and didn't come, you know, and we began to think we should . . . and we, I think, we tried to start back to the car and we got lost.   And we just didn't know where we were.  And we just always ended up back in the same place.  'Til finally Clyde noticed some white pieces of handkerchief tied on the bushes.   And Dad had tied that white handkerchief on the bushes; torn his handkerchief and kept tying them on the bushes so we would find our way.  That's the only experience of really being lost.   I remember that!

          But he did love the Adirondacks.  Every Sunday afternoon in the summertime, that's what we did, you know: pile into the car and we went riding.   And always on roads that we'd never been on before; and would begin wondering where we were.  And Mom would day, "Well, Edson, do you know where you are?"   And he'd say, "Well, I think this road will probably come out to such and such a place."  But sometimes it did and sometimes it didn't.   

       And, ah, one of the things I remember very well, in the summer he always had a job wrapping butter at the creamery.  And, ah, he'd get home from work and he'd say, "Okay, Mom," he'd say, "let's put up a supper and go on a picnic."   "A picnic!," she says, "I have nothing to put up for a picnic!"  He'd say, "Well what's all that fresh baked bread there that I see?"   So she'd slice up some of that bread and put butter on it and he'd go out and pull some radishes and we'd go off on our picnic with bread and butter and radishes.   And then once in a while, not very often, but once in a while he'd stop in Potsdam at the fruit market, The California Fruit Market right there on the corner . . . the end of Market Street . . . and get each one of us a pear or each one of us a peach or something.   And that was the biggest treat that we ever had!  I'll tell you, we didn't have much.  We had a lot, but . . . as far . . . we had all we needed to eat and everything.   But for a real treat  . . .

          And the most remarkable thing: we kids didn't know we were poor.  We didn't know we were poor.   And Mom would take some of our old clothes that we weren't wearing anymore, and take them down to the neighbors that lived at the foot of the hill, because she'd see them running barefoot in the wintertime and everything.   They'd still be running out without any shoes on; sometimes without any pants on . . . and all because they weren't taken care of.  Mom thought that because they didn't have things, she'd take things down there.

B:        This is when you were living up on the Farm?

A:        When we were up on the Farm [The house just outside of Norwood on Route 56] .

B:        Is that the house you have the greatest memory of?

A:        Oh yes, yes.

B:        Because you moved up on the farm when you were still a young girl?

A:        Yes, I was just going into the fifth grade.  I have faint recollections of going to the little old Hale School on Hale Road.   I think I can remember my first day of school because Ray took me to school.  But . . .

B:        When you first moved into the house, the house wasn't really finished.

A:        No.  It was in and around Thanksgiving time, I think it was, and there was one corner of the house that had not been closed in yet.   But . . . that first winter we'd wake up and there would be little snow drifts along the floor where the snow sifted in because there were no . . . windows were really not finished up yet.   They were in, but I mean they were not really . . . the casings and everything were not all finished.  There were no storm windows.   So, it was cold and, as I say, we had little snow drifts.  But . . . and once in a while . . . a couple of times . . .one special time I remember when Dad, it was early in the morning and Dad hollered for all of us to get out of bed when the house was on fire!   I was scared to death!  I was secure . . . I felt secure in my bed.  But we had to get out of bed because the house was on fire.   And I don't remember much about that fire or anything.  What burned or anything.  And I remember another time when, ah, the dog knocked the kerosene lamp over in the kitchen.   And of course the kerosene went all over the floor and that burned.  I remember that fire!

D:        I never heard Ethel mention this.  She must have been too young.

A:        Probably too young.  I would have been real young when we first moved there.

B:        Was it true that in the upstairs before Grandpa was able to put the walls in that Grandma used to hang quilts over the rafters?

A:        That's right!  And Billy . . . listen, I'm calling you Billy.   You're still Billy to me!!  That never did get walls all the way through.  The two rooms at the head of the stairs never were walled up.   They just had cardboard or something on them, over the rafters.  And of course she did put quilts over the rafters.   They just had cardboard and they never were finished.  Those two rooms were never finished.  The stairway, it was just a rough stairway, was never finished all the time we were living there until Mom sold it.   Um, when I got to teaching school . . . well, Helen first, started finishing off her room paying for it from piano teaching.  And she would buy materials and Dad worked when he could on her room.   Her room got all done except for the floor.  And, ah, when I started teaching, why I finished off my room.  And had flooring put in my room.  And Helen had to go to the hospital.  I don't know if that's when she had . . . I think that must have been when she had her goiter out.   And, so while she was in the hospital, why I bought flooring and told Dad to put flooring in Helen's room.  And I bought her linoleum.   So when she came home her room was all finished.  So Helen's and my room were the only two rooms really finished.

Yea it's in my blood, too.  Mom(Helen) always liked to take Sunday afternoon drives and usually convinced me to go with her.  We'd "get lost" and eventually she'd come to a cross-roads she'd recognize.  I know we used to drive to Knapps Station occasionally and she would talk to me about a house, and once we stopped and she talked to the people, but I don't know if I would recognize it.  Next time I'm in Norwood area.....

When I'm in northern Michigan and driving, I look down roads and "wonder what is down that road", just like my Mom!  I usually control my steering and don't find out.

Lois

ditto the thoughts on typing up the recipes, in fact I mentioned it to Alta already, and, I would volunteer to do that if Alta or Bob H. do not want to take it on.  Of course Aunt Olive would have to trust me with the cook book first of all.

 Daren L. Morgan, P.L.S.

For those that are interested and that can open a .pdf file, I have attached portions of the 1865 atlas maps for Towns of Potsdam, Norfolk, Stockhlom and Raquettville.  There are a few Morgan names scattered around on the maps which I have highlighted.

 Daren L. Morgan, P.L.S.

On the Stockholm map the “C Morgan” as best I can tell is on the Three Bridges road ( 99% Sure of that)  very close to the woodlot. I looked at the deeds to the woodlot and they didn’t show any Morgans with a C as a first name until dad owned it. But they dated back to 1864 when Orrin Morgan bought it from a Anna and James Washington… Their names aren’t any where on the map either. But the C Morgan might have been related to Orrin, possibly ??

Matt

Well I'll pass on a winter family reunion, but I sure loved your photos!

Lois

PS - So who is that in the last photo???  I hear Tom Orr gets alot of snow where he lives.

Ahhh..the old one finger typist…..good job.  Now if you want…I can give  you a lesson on how to look up deeds in the County Clerk;s Office and you can go track downthe title too.

 Daren L. Morgan, P.L.S.

Thanks for all the woodlot info. Hopefully better access can be had as I would really like to see it sometime.

 Now for the house:

 I drove out the Norfolk-Knapps station road this afternoon (after work of course- SOME of us are not retired yet LOL) and saw what I believe is the house Chuck was talking about. I think that is the one that Grandpa and Grandma once lived in because:

Back in the seventies there was a teenager named Steve McGee who shot and killed himself.  He was living with his Grandmother in a trailer (one of the ones right across the road from the house). I am positive that he was related to us. Uncle Fred mentioned in his interview with Bill Matson that the McGee’s lived right across the road from where the Morgan’s lived.

Possibly the McGee’s house burned down some time ago and a trailer was placed on the lot? Also, this house is fairly close to the old Kingsley farm and Uncle Fred mentioned the Kingsleys used to take Grandpa and others across the river to hunt in the Hollywood area. Burr Kingsley and his Father were well known hunting guides of the day and could have been neighbors also.

Well, that’s my idea…

 Rick

I’d be happy to give tours of the woodlot. Anyone interested let me know, though I should warn you …. You’ll need to bring your chainsaw…. I figure I’ll need 20 cord for next winter and the help would be appreciated.
Matt

I think we should have an old fashioned wood cutting party…. You know, like an Amish barn raising or something!

Rick

Yeah--keep them coming, Tom!!

Chuck

Let's start one on who survived the worst trauma as a child.  It will be like our own little Morgan Trauma - Life in the ER (or not) (TLC). Then, we could rank them in severity and give out "survival" awards next summer.This would be pretty exciting reading, don't you think?  Aunt Joan!  Rat poison!  That doesn't even compare to your arm getting stuck in the laundry machine, does it? 

I was sliding down the hill on a saucer sled on Cottage St. and hit a metal clothesline pole at the Relyea's.  I hit so hard that I was knocked out and someone had to carry me to the Purvis house where my Grandma was babysitting me.  She was doing a great job. We never told our parents.  I can't think straight still. or write.

Cheryl

 Alta, I saw the album you put together for Cheryl's children, and are so thankful you are part of their families.  Love you -

 Cousin Lorraine

 Laundry Machine?  Does she mean the old wringer washing machine, Joan?  If so, how come your arm isn't flat?

Lorraine

Lorraine .. without yours and Lois's help in sending me "stories" when the three of you were growing up on Prospect Street, I would not have been able to "fill in the blanks" ... it was a good way for me to get closure and I enjoyed every minute putting it all together .. I learned alot about Cheryl that I had not known ...

The continual exchange from cousin to cousin is binding in many ways ... I am happy that the reunion this past summer has sparked all this ... keep it comin'   ....A.

Her arm is flat!  She's "Flat MJ" - in more ways than one, and so am I - is that a Morgan thing? And, YES!  That is it - I couldn't remember what you call those things - a wringer washer....Thanks, I told you that metal pole was a doosie!

Cheryl

I just remembered, I think, who Santa was.  I think it may have been Ralph Johnson, who probably most of you know is the man who bought the house at 4 New Street after Grandma died.  The next time one of you goes to church, why don't you ask Sherry, his daughter?  I was talking to her after church after the reunion, and was surprised to learn that her mother is still alive and living in the house, and Sherry is with her.  I remember seeing Lou Kern as Santa, also, but that would have been when we were older.

Lorraine

Because we ran her back through the other way.  Don't laugh--it worked!

Chuck

At least, Cheryl, you have an excuse for not remembering!!  And, regarding those pictures you sent?  I think you're right.  That last one of the man DOES resemble your dad!  Sorry, Chuck.

Lorraine

Cheryl was so much younger than me that mostly I just remember that she was such a "Valentine" girl with her platinum hair and blue eyes and it always stuck in my mind (couldn't tell you when any other cousins were born) that she was born on Valentine's Day.  Am I right, Lorraine?

Joan

Cheryl, you crack me up.  Thank God you didn't have your fart machine with you.  Love (Next I suppose my brothers will tell about me locking them in my playhouse or me lowering the iron rake on Chuck's head (No wonder he believes Santa was still living in the 40s and 50s). 

Joan

How do you know my arm isn't flat?  - and Cheryl's head is an inverted pole shape

Joan

Didn't I say Chuck was never quite right again?

Joan

What do you mean was still living?  Did he die???  How come nobody told me????????!!!!!!!!!!!

LOVE AND HUGS,
HAPPY HEART: PAT

Pat, you have our sympathy, though maybe it's true that ignorance is bliss?  If so, I'll try hitting a pole with my head.  Love

Joan

I thought great-aunt Olive was Edson's sister?  Olive is a MORGAN name, isn't it?

Joan

Yes, you are right, Joan.  Olive was a Morgan... sister to Edson and my father Frank.  She and her husband Earnest Drew were the only family on my father's side that I grew up knowing.  Aunt Olive was a sweet lady and, for some unknown reason, took a liking to me.  When she died she left me her portable Singer sewing machine.  I still have it... it dates back to somewhere around the turn of the century according to Singer.

LOVE AND HUGS,
HAPPY HEART: PAT

My mother (Aunt Irene) never would give up her wringer washer and usually hung her clothes on the clothesline, although we did get a dryer for her that she would use when necessary (which wasn't too often in So. Calif.  When she was in her 80's she was running sheets thru the wringer and got her right hand caught in them and it went into the wringer.  The release was on the opposite side so she couldn't get to it quickly with her left hand.  The result was that it popped the skin on the top of her right hand and she had a nasty wound for a long time.  Luckily, she had taught herself to use her left hand for many things and could even write with it.

Pat

I'm with Cheryl... If I had been back there I would have been her biggest rival for marrying cousin Tom!

LOVE AND HUGS,
HAPPY HEART: COUSIN PAT

can you imagine a wringer washer for a family of Haggetts who lived on a farm? .. I still can see, smell and hear that ole machine my mother used .. she had a bench which held a galvanized tub for rinse water ... she washed all the whites first which included the sheets and towels ... the colored clothes followed, and finally all the barn clothes ... she would reach into the wash water with a wooden dowl and feed the clothes through the ringer into the rinse water ... she made several trips to the clothesline which dad put up from the turkey tree to the edge of the house .. from there it went to the corner of the old woodshed and eventually to the eave of the chicken coop ... from summer through the winter she filled that line ... in the winter, the clothes would freeze and I never understood why she hung them out only to bring them in to stand them over the register to dry ... I'm sure everyones mom who used a ringer washer can remember those days ...Alta

can you imagine a wringer washer for a family of Haggetts who lived on a farm? .. I still can see, smell and hear that ole machine my mother used .. she had a bench which held a galvanized tub for rinse water ... she washed all the whites first which included the sheets and towels ... the colored clothes followed, and finally all the barn clothes ... she would reach into the wash water with a wooden dowl and feed the clothes through the ringer into the rinse water ... she made several trips to the clothesline which dad put up from the turkey tree to the edge of the house .. from there it went to the corner of the old woodshed and eventually to the eave of the chicken coop ... from summer through the winter she filled that line ... in the winter, the clothes would freeze and I never understood why she hung them out only to bring them in to stand them over the register to dry ... I'm sure everyones mom who used a ringer washer can remember those days ...

Alta 

Yes, yes - I remember those days, too - I even was trusted to run one eventually.  The sequence in which the clothes were washed reminds me of the list of old sayings sent to me not too long ago, by someone (maybe my grandson, Collin).  Anyway, last of all into the filthy water, went the baby, from whence comes the saying because he couldn't be seen:  "don't throw the baby out with the bath water!"  Love to all

Joan

I remember going up to the farm and seeing all those clothes hanging out on the clothesline!  And I remember our own wringer washer contraption set-up on Prospect St every Monday morning.  I bet Aunt Olive had to wash more than once a week with your big family!  And by the way, didn't those frozen clothes smell just grand?  I still have a clothesline at our cottage and still love the smell from  cold, wind-blown sheets!  (but frozen sheets is out of the question - I resort to the dryer when it comes to fr fr fr freezing temps)

Lois

I have to comment that, being a generation removed from most of you, I am really enjoying all the old stories.  Many of the names and faces are only a blur as I was only 8 when we moved out of norwood in 1958.  It was great to see some of you at the reunion and it is great to be included in this chain.
 
Daren

Forest Morgan

To

Lloyd C. Yale

John Yale &

Benjamin Glines Jr.

Deed

St. Lawrence County

Clerk’s Office S/B

Recorded in this office on

The 29^th day of April

1850 at 8 am in Book

#12 of deeds pages

611 & 612

J.R. Tupper

DepClerk

This indenture, made the twentieth fourth day of April in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty between Forest Morgan Jr Cynthia Morgan his wife of Potsdam St. Law County State of New York of the first part and Lloyd C. Yale, John Yale and Benjamin Glines Jr. of the second part, witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, in consideration of the sum of One hundred & fifty dollars, lawful money of the United States of America, paid to them by the said party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold, released and confirmed, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, release and confirm, to the said party of the second part their heirs and assigns, all that part of mile square lot No 14 lying in the town of Stockholm in the aforesaid county & state beginning in the middle of the highway of the South East corner of Benjamin Streeters farm and running thence south along the middle of said highway nine chains and twenty links, thence south 63 degrees W. 17 chains to a cedar post thence south 27 degrees E. twelve chains and fifty links to a cedar post thence south 63 degrees W. 6 chains and 90 links to a cedar post thence North 28

Degrees W. 11 chains to a cedar post thence S. 63 degrees W 27 chains and 50 links to a cedar post in the line between mile square Lots No 14 and 15 Thence N. 27 degrees W along said mile line 10 chains and 50 links to a cedar post thence N 63 degrees E. 54 chains 74 links to the place of Beginning containing 56 61/100 acres of land be the same more or less as surveyed Dec. 2^nd 1848 by Zehiel Stephens.

Sealed and delivered

In presence of

(signed) Arba Robinson

(Signed) Forest Morgan Jr.

2007/11/13--As best as possible the above is the wording of a deed of land sold by Forest Morgan: (Note: anything not legible or questionable is underlined). Degrees is underlined because in the deed it looked like a little circle for “degree” and then underlined, with what looked like a “dot” underneath the line? I don’t know how I came by this deed, but at one time I know Aunt Lillian Powell gave me a few historical items while she was still alive, and I was up there fixing her tv. I don’t know where mile square lot 14 lies, but the woodlot is within mile square lot 30. I will also try and do the same for another deed I have of Forest Morgan to Washington Adams, dated May 12, 1849, if people are interested. That is also within mile square lot 14. Also if someone desires a copy of these, I will try and get copies made--however the deeds are front and back on a sheet of paper 15” X 19”, so not sure about getting copies made, and the cost. Chuck

Hmmm..based on other attendants and date, I would have been 23 days old, wonder if I was there?

 

Hi Sis,

It’s unbelievable, isn’t it? After work everyday, it takes me most of the evening to catch up on the emails, or try to put together the puzzle pieces.  Feel like I’m getting to know everyone that I only had ‘names’ for.
Love you!

Linda

Alta & all –

Alta asked about a song, other than Sam Sam The Lavatory Man, that my dad used to sing.  Well Walter Orr was a man of many songs, many of them made up on the spur of the moment I now realize, but I think the song you remember Alta that we had so much fun with that summer, and many, many summers, reunions, Christmas parties, and jam sessions, was Minnie the Mermaid (which actually IS a song!).  Do you remember it going something like….

            Oh what a night I had with Minnie the Mermaid

            Down at the bottom of the sea.

            Down among the coral,

            I forgot my ‘troubles’

            Gee but she was awfully good to me.

                        …etc…

(Dad changed some of the words to Protect The Innocent…or made some up to keep us giggling – not sure which!)

That was one of his famous songs & to this day, even my children remember it.  (I copied the chorus off the internet below)  There is even a children’s book that was published as a result of that song.  It’s one of my favorite ukelele moments of dad’s J

Linda (Orr) Reuther

Chorus:

Oh what a time I had with Min -nie the Mer -maid,

Down at the bot -tom of the sea;

I for -got my trou -bles, There a -mong the bub -bles,

Gee but she was aw -fly good to me.

And ev' -ry night when the star fish came out,

I'd hug and kiss her so.

Oh what a time I had with Min -nie the mer -maid,

Down in her sea -weed bun -ga -low

I just mentioned Harley in my last email.  For those of you who never saw it, or maybe even never knew Harley (Tom's brother), I think you will be interested in this --

 

Webster Builder Harley E. Orr Dies

(June 27, 1935-April 13, 2001)

Harley E. Orr spent 47 years at Pike Construction Co., building everything from hotels to museum additions.

He also spent some time working on his house in Webster, expanding it to more than 4,000 square feet for one reason: children.

Mr. Orr and his wife of 47 years, Ina, had five children. They adopted four others, including two infants from Vietnam in the mid-1970's.

They also invited numerous foster children in Monroe County to stay with them. And they even welcomed a refugee family living in squalor to stay with them for more than a year. That family included a small child.

"The more kids that came, the more he built," said his son, Ted.

Mr. Orr--builder of structures, of families, of lives--died April 13, of prostate cancer. He was 65.

Mr. Orr was born on June 27, 1935, and spent his youth in Henrietta. He graduated from Rush-Henrietta High School and had an interest in all kinds of activities, from sports to music.

"With whatever he did, he was always in the center of activity," said his brother, Tom.

It was at a high school singing competition that Mr. Orr met Ina. The relationship blossomed while they worked together at the Hickok Belt Co. in Rochester. They married in 1953 and soon moved to their Webster home.

Meanwhile, Mr. Orr went into the building trade as a carpenter's apprentice. He joined Pike early on, eventually becoming a vice president. Steve Shuckra, president at Pike, said Mr. Orr had a solid reputation for being thorough and honest.

"He was a man of honor," said Shuckra, who worked with Mr. Orr for more than 17 years.

Shuckra said Mr. Orr oversaw construction projects at the Lodge at Woodcliff and at the George Eastman House.

 

 

(Harley E. Orr, page two)

But family and friends point to the work Mr. Orr did to build the Ronald McDonald House on Westmoreland Drive in Rochester. The facility, which opened in 1990, is a home away from home for children dealing with life-threatening medical problems and for their families.

The project was the perfect marriage of Mr. Orr's vocation and his love of children, said Bonnie Vahey, executive director of the Ronald McDonald House.

"He was delightful," Vahey said. "His personality jelled with the volunteers who worked at the house."

Friends and family say he was a giant of a man with unruly gray hair and a hearty laugh. He was fun-loving and warm. He played guitar and sang with zest.

"While he had a lot of responsibility, he had a lot of child in him," said Jack Heister, a good friend.

And while Mr. Orr never lost the child inside, he often reached out to help children in the community.

"My father always made room for one more," said his oldest daughter, Melanie Steenhoff.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Orr is survived by his mother, Mildred Orr of
Rochester; two brothers--Don of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Tom of Long Prairie, Minn.; five sisters--Jean Sparks of Conesus, Livingston County, Roberta Maxwell of South Carolina, Shirley Etheridge of Lynchburg, Va., Elaine Jacobs of Dansville, Livingston County, and Linda Reuther of Livonia, Livingston County; and nine children--Melanie Steenhoff of Webster, Michelle Spencer of Mansfield, Pa., Ted Orr of Webster, W. Tony Orr of Atlanta, Jason Orr of Webster, Tirzah Orr of Washington, D.C., Emily Kelly of Syracuse, Robert Key of Sodus, Wayne County, and Pauli Orr of Irondequoit.

Memorials may be directed to Ronald McDonald House, 333 Westmoreland Drive, Rochester, NY 14620. (Michael Caputo)

(Taken from the Saturday, April 21, 2001 edition of the Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, N.Y.)

(Note: Harley E. Orr was the son of Mildred Morgan Orr and Walter Orr. Mildred was born in Norwood, the daughter of Edson and Alta Morgan).

All Morgans look a like.  When my brother Jeff’s daughter got married in Connecticutt, not far from Springfield, one of the ushers was a Dan Morgan from that area.  A spittin’ image of David Morgan I thought.  So maybe some of Mile’s blood line that stayed in that area.

 Daren

Sorry if this is a repeat – I had all kinds of trouble with my computer this morning & don’t know if this was sent – kept saying undeliverable to you all…so trying again.

Alta & all –

Alta asked about a song, other than Sam Sam The Lavatory Man, that my dad used to sing.  Well Walter Orr was a man of many songs, many of them made up on the spur of the moment I now realize, but I think the song you remember Alta that we had so much fun with that summer, and many, many summers, reunions, Christmas parties, and jam sessions, was Minnie the Mermaid (which actually IS a song!).  Do you remember it going something like….

            Oh what a night I had with Minnie the Mermaid

            Down at the bottom of the sea.

            Down among the coral,

            I forgot my ‘troubles’

            Gee but she was awfully good to me.

                        …etc…

(Dad changed some of the words to Protect The Innocent…or made some up to keep us giggling – not sure which!)

That was one of his famous songs & to this day, even my children remember it.  (I copied the chorus off the internet below)  There is even a children’s book that was published as a result of that song.  It’s one of my favorite ukelele moments of dad’s J

Linda (Orr) Reuther

Chorus:

Oh what a time I had with Min -nie the Mer -maid,

Down at the bot -tom of the sea;

I for -got my trou -bles, There a -mong the bub -bles,

Gee but she was aw -fly good to me.

And ev' -ry night when the star fish came out,

I'd hug and kiss her so.

Oh what a time I had with Min -nie the mer -maid,

Down in her sea -weed bun -ga -low

Lois,

Funny thing about that famous raspberry cordial. I remember the raspberry patch being mom & dad’s joy.  She made the very best raspberry pie, raspberry jam, and was free to share that raspberry cordial with anyone and everyone that happened by the Middle Road house – INCLUDING the various ministers that visited regularly over the years.  I think she forgot that into that stone barrel went not only raspberries & sugar but also gallons of vodka J  She was so famous for it, the minister and members of her church choir reminisced about it at her memorial service. 

Linda

Oh, yes, the fun we had on that hammock at the Breakeys. Was Uncle Fred's swing similar to what Aunt Ethel made for her lovely Rag Dolls. Living in Hong Kong for so many years, I missed out on family times but I remember getting together with my girls for at least 2 or 3 reunions, and I also managed to get to about 4 high school reunions and 3 or 4 college reunions which seemed to come just at the time I was home for the summer or for the year. God is good.

-God Bless---Marge

That is exactly the story on I think Little House on the Praire and Anne of Green Gables where the little old ladies made the cordial and gave it to the minister and how everyone always came back for it.
 Looks like I am back to a new 24 hour quota and send reply all again. I appreciated so much the article about Harley. I don't remember him at all except I did know he had adopted oriental children.I'm sure he must have been at that big party we had for his parents , I think a wedding anniversary that I attended. Because we spent our summers ast Lake Ozonia, we didn't travel much to visit relatives except to Norwood and Oswego where my Dad's mother lived until she moved to Massena. I remember visiting the Orrs more when I was older, like when we went to HOughton and also Paul and I visited them with the girls once. What I wrote to Tom is that I think we should make a cd of some of the old songs we knew as kids. Who wants to sing them and record them. Houghton College has an excellent new recording studio.

Lorraine
I thought no one but me remembered my first attempt at cooking a rooster. Mom was in Norwood and I was supposed to cook for dad. That old bird sure was tough as you said. I'd never cooked one before but had seen mom put chickens in water and boil them and make some delicious chicken and biscuits so I thought it would be a piece of cake.  Of course no one told me how long you had to cook one. That particular rooster was a nasty mean one that chased us every time we were anywhere near him and he had attacked my legs so I told dad if he would kill him or have Tom, I would cook him for supper. That's how that came about. Apparently I didn't cook it long enough because he was so tough you couldn't even cut the meat. (He was probably old too) Anyway I remember putting the food on the table and then the phone rang and I went to answer it and when I came back dad was looking around saying "Now what the heck happened to that fork." Then he looked up and it was stuck in the ceiling tile. He just said, "Oh I guess the meat is a little rubbery"  I've since gotten better at cooking chicken and can even make chicken and biscuits now.   

 Shirley 

my special uncle had so many songs ... I remember the mermaid song but I am still thinking about another and it just won't come to me ... it was similar to Sam Sam and oh how I laughed when he sang it ... those times are forever etched in my warm bank of memories ... Linda, remember when the news came out that I was pregnant for Leslie?  do you remember what we did? .. you dressed up as if you were pregnant also, we went to dinner then to the carnival ... we rode the teacup ride and the guy who was in charge of that ride decided to go get a soda and have a cigarette ... he left the ride unattended and we went round and round and round ... eww just thinking about it!!!  I started to feel sick so we shouted for him to shut the ride down so I could get off ... eventually he came back and I dashed behind something nearby and let 'er rip .. I was so sick!!! ...

Alta,

    That is a definite for the next reunion.  We will practice the Uncle Walt shuffle before hand.  I already remember well the Preacher and the Bear and will bring my Uke.  We will bring his memory to the stage.  Jean, Shirley and Linda....your with me right?  Start practicing.

   Tom


“The Preacher and the Bear” attached for those that are interested.  I will have to play this tonight to see if it rings any bells.
Daren

Lois and all,

    What you didn't know is that in later years when Mom was in her 80's and still singing in the Methodist Church choir in Henrietta, they had a Christmas "pot luck" for the choir each year.  Mom took to bringing a bottle of her "recipe" which became a traditional highlight for the choir.  I assume they had their choir practice first and then the pot luck.  And this by my Mother, who I thought never smelled the cork of a bottle of "potion".  Dad sure did have an influence over her in later years.

    But the real treat from Mom's raspberry patch was her pies.  Oh my, what joy they brought for so many.  Even the preacher that did her funeral service had remarks about her famous raspberry pies.  Of course, that was standard for all the Morgan "girls" as I remember.

Tommy

Pat, we sure do have alot to do when we get together .. and what fun we are going to have!!!!!!  I think we need to get real serious and start talking about when and where ... the 4th of July is reunion time for the Orr's ... there is a wedding in the Haggett family on the 5th of July in 2008 ... I am sure others have family things also so let's start making plans by deciding what year first of all then narrow it down to the month ...

 

a reunion in the south, or in Rochester or somewhere in the Adirondacks are all excellent ideas .. my thoughts? ... I know for sure that my mom would not travel simply b/c she just can't anymore ... I doubt Aunt Rena or Aunt Ruby would be able to either .. not sure about Aunt Betty ... I think it would be respectful that we consider their needs in our decision making .. what do you all think?

All,

    I will weigh in with my thoughts... but only as suggestions.

As to the year 2008 or 2009, I have no preference.  We are certainly charged up and ready to go.

    I think we should seriously think about not taking the reunion out of the North Country as that is home and where we all want to return for memories etc.  I think we will see some of the Aunts and Uncle Bob if we stay local but will loose that segment and many others if we travel very far.  It seemed the last location was so ideal...why not take that or the Haggett farm as a site?

    I agree we need to decide on the year and the site soon so everyone can plan. 

Tommy (the crazy one)

Hi Shirley - yes, I remember the fork in the ceiling too.  I remember Elaine trying to catch that bird.  That sure was a fun dinner!

 

Lorraine

I think a two-day reunion mght be necessary, perhaps day one at the park(that was nice but too short), and day 2 at the farm if Aunt Olive and Uncle Bob can handle it, with everyone bringing their leftovers from the previous day, or a sack lunch.  It should definitely be the latter part of July so more can attend(there are several southerners who could not come to the last one due to school starting in August).  I just don't see how you can squeeze all this fun into one day!    Lois

I agree that the reunion should be left in our home area.  I like the Haggett house, but that is a lot of work - getting tables, chairs etc.  The place we were at last summer had everything except warm weather.  How about scheduling towards end of July so those who have children who start school early can attend?

 

Lorraine

I read quickly most of these emails going back and forth and then delete them (not saying that I don't enjoy them, because I do), but when Tom emailed that he had an envelope showing Mr. and Mrs. Quartus Morgan, 72 No. Main, I looked up that address in an old 1958 phone book, and that is where James Calnon Sr. lived, and where Alta or someone else said was the Morgan house. (Maureen Calnon Donovan lived there  for a while).  So who lived in the house across the road from the Rood farm, which was 92 Main St.--that ties in to the Morgan genealogy I believe, but now I'm not sure how?  Or am I nuts?

Chuck

Alta,

 

I agree, we should consider those family members who cannot travel well.  Somewhere close to Norwood or in the Adirondacks would probably be the best.  The farm would be wonderful but I am concerned about the work involved in having it at someone's house.  It sounds like the place where it was held last year would be great and I vote for sometime near the Orr family reunion so they could just extend their time a little on either end.  Who is getting married in the Haggett family.  Whatever is done we must remember to not stay in our own little family groups.  Getting re-acquainted with those we have not seen (or even known) is the whole purpose of family reunions, hope we all will make a special effort in that direction.

Love, Carol

Cheryl,   Here is a receipe for the book---it is my favorite

 

                                                     Receipe for one

                                      

                                          1-telephone

                                          1-telephone book

                                          1-dial a phone #

                                          1-place an order

                                          simmer for 20 to 30 mins.

                                          1-answer the doorbell

                                          1-pay and tip the deliveryperson

                                          1-open the pizza (large)

                                          1-open a beer(or maybe 2)

                                          1-sit and enjoy

                                          Lastly---take a "big nap"

 

ps--I do cook--my Mother Ruby taught me how to survive--maybe i can find some of her receipes.  Betty Crocker helps me now.   Wayne

 

Hi Everyone,

As I am reading through all of these e-mails I have come to a couple of conclusions, as I am sure that you have also.

1.  Many of us regret not talking to more of our family at this past reunion.  If one of the elder Morgan's took it upon themselves to be the MC and introduced everyone, using a microphone, and told a little tidbit about them I think that would be a great help.  I nominate shy Alta to do this.  It will be good for her to break out of her shell.

2.  I am really enjoying the pictures and it is helping to put people together by seeing their faces and remembering a story that they are telling (via e-mail).  If more of us could send a few pictures, I would really enjoy looking at them.

3.  My Grandfather, Fred, used to always sing or chant something about beans in the pot to us.  Some like them hot, some like them cold, some like them in the pot, .....days old.  Wouldn't it be neat to have some of these songs and poems scattered throughout our cookbook? 

Thanks for listening!

Cheryl

Chuck's daughter - can you believe he lit a stream on fire?  No wonder he never took us to Rochester to meet our relatives!  He was afraid more stories, the excellent, juicy ones, would emerge and all hell would break out on Cottage Street when we got home.

Alta,

I’ll never forget it.  We went to dinner, just as bold as if we owned the world, at the airport restaurant – very exclusive place of the times with pillows under our shirts, and some kind of fake rings on our fingers.  And then on to the Rush Carnival.  Thought we’d never get off that ride, and I remember holding your hair away from your face, yes.  Weren’t we riding around in the Volkswagen Bug in those days?  Or my Fiat.  Can’t remember.  Goodness it’s amazing how things that seem inconsequential at the time can become such warm memories.

 

I wouldn’t know where to start with memories of Norwood and the Haggett farm in the summer when I got to spend a week.  I remember hot, hot days and endless baling of hay; and the smell of Aunt Olive fixing her hamburger / bread / potato meal with homemade bread, and warning the boys to ‘leave some for everyone else’ as it got passed around the table – a new concept to this girl that grew up pretty much alone; I remember sleeping on mattresses out in the front yard watching the stars and picking names for our children (were we about 13 / 14 then??); I especially remember the lucky one night each summer that Aunt Olive let you and me and Bobby and Carl walk to Norfolk in the evening with enough money to buy 1 Chef Boyardee box pizza.  We’d proudly bring it home, make it, and while playing cards until we were threatened with switches to go to bed, we’d each get about a 2’x2” piece of pizza….and it was the BEST thing in the world J  I remember climbing into the back of the pick up truck in the days when you could ride in the back of trucks to get an ice cream cone, and to pick berries when Uncle Bob drove us.  I could go on forever, but I’ll save some for later.  They are wonderful memories!!

Linda

Lorraine and Lois,

 

One recipe that I remember of your Mom's (and it was only at family gatherings/dinners at your house that I remember eating this) is a dark brown bread.  Graham bread?  I remember it being round.  Did she bake it in a used coffee can?  I have such a distinct memory of this.  Did I dream it, or did she really make this wonderful dark brown bread?

 

-- Bill

Bill - she made a wonderful dark brown bread called graham bread(made with graham flour).  I can submit the recipe - give me 10 minutes.....Lois

Daren and Chuck,

    I agree Daren...we better be careful.  I suggest we have someone at the plug to the sound system ready to pull the plug when appropriate.    Shy little Alta....anyone that believes that, needs to come to the reunion....it's obvious you never met Cousin Alta.

    And we love you all the more for it Alta!!   Now make your head go up and down because we know you will make the best MC ever.    Chuck and I are way too shy so let's eliminate that option.  Besides, we will be off riding the amphibian somewhere or looking for a good creek to set ablaze.

    One more thing; do you really feel comfortable having the reunion at the farm?  If you do and are sure it will not be a burden on your parents or you and the Hogget's, then I say we go with the farm for the site.  I agree with many that the river site last year was great, but there are so many memories for most of us up there on the hill at the farm.  Maybe Brian can even have some hay ready to bale for all of us to join in again.  Won't be like the days with the old loose hay of course.  Oh, was it hot in that hay mow.  (No Chuck, I wasn't up there with the Breakey girls).

Tom

One of Aunt Mildred's recipes that the Matson kids LOVED was her ground beef barbeque.  I remember that on one of our Morgan family blueberry picking adventures up around Hams Inn, Aunt Mildred brought one huge pot of that barbeque.  To heat it up, Uncle Walt left their car running, lifted the hood and put the pot of barbeque right on top of the engine block.  That was great beef barbeque.  That was one of the recipes that made it into the Matson family cookbook (which is titled, "Who Will Bake the Bread?").

 

Like our Grandmother Morgan and all of our Mom's and Aunt's (and maybe even some of our Uncles), my Mom (Ethel Morgan Matson) was a prodigious baker and bread maker.

 

Quoting from the forward written in the Matson family cookbook:  "When she became ill and was close to the end of her life [our Mom] wondered out loud with Mary Lou, 'Who will bake the bread?'  When you stop and think about it, the depth and profundity of this question is hauntingly beautiful.  She knew her life would soon be over, yet her concern was for the nuture and well-being of her family.  Who will bake the bread?  Like her bread, her life and faith had been an important source of nourishment for her family and friends.  Her life and faith had been a bread of life for those who knew her.  So she asked the question, 'Who will bake the bread?'  And the answer is, of course, WE must bake the bread!"  [end of quote]

 

Our family cookbook includes photos of all the quilts my Mom had made over the years, including one she made when she was 16 years old.  (My sister Helen Sperry has this quilt.)  Along with favorite family recipes we shared stories/memories connected to many of the recipes.  One such recipe and memory I shared is as follows.

 

UPSIDE-DOWN (on the flour) STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

2 qts strawberries sliced and sweetend

2 cups flour

2 TBS sugar

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/3 cup butter

1 cup milk

 

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in bowl.  Cut in butter.  Stir in milk until blended.  Bake in greased pie pan at 450 for 12-15 minutes.

 

Split hot shortcake into two layers and spread with 1/2 berries.  Place 2nd layer on top and cover with remaining berries.

 

The best person to give testimony as to the taste and flavor of this dessert is [my sister] Helen.  At least on one occassion she was the ONLY member of the family to get a piece of shortcake before she dropped it upside-down on the floor!!  To this day she says it was an accident . . . and it probably was.  Stil . . .

 

The open field across the street from our home on 56 Prospect Street and the woods behind our house were loaded with alpine strawberries.  As children we would spend hours in the field and woods gathering these tiny berries.  They had an intoxicating fragrence that sweetened the air, and their taste was incomparable to any strawberry you could imagine.  We would carry our tasty treasures home in a jar or makeshift container and "hull" the berries (remove the green stems and caps).  Mom would make a shortcake for the family that evening.  You can't imagine how delicious a shortcake these wonderful tiny berries made.

[end of entry]

 

I think a Morgan family cookbook would be wonderful!!

 

Hugs to all,

Bill

Dad (Fred) and Mom and I (I was probably 8 - 10 years) also went to Wolcott to get cherries.  We stayed with Howard (and, I think, Marge) Marsh, visited Glendon (and I can almost say her name, but not quite - quite a large and friendly woman), and saw Kenyon Marsh (who later got Dad started in the TV business).  Glendon and Howard were, I believe, the children of one of Grandma (Alta) Morgan's brothers.  Kenyon was Glendon and ESTHER'S son.  It was my first time through Philadelphia and I was enchanted with the miniature mountain village there (on Main St.) beside the pond.  I also loved staying on Howard's farm overnight - they had a nice collie.  That may have been the first time I saw TV, a snowy Howdie Doodie, but I think that was a later trip.  Dad had an old pick-up with a wood rack on the back (which he covered for a camping trip that we took with the Dunbars at Fish Creek) and we slept in it.  Fun time, too.

Hi Joan and all - I remember stopping in Wolcott once on our way to Rochester.  I don't remember who we saw there, but they invited us to stay for lunch, and I think it was one of the most delicious meals I ever had - I can even remember - Hamburgers and warm raspberry pie!  I'm thinking that maybe Aunt Alice was with us also.

 

Lorraine

you guys are all fruitcakes!!    .... me? ... I am the most put together of all  ... and if you believe that!!! ... then I have a chunk of land out here that I want to sell ya!!! ... lol

 

anyway, it really makes no difference to me where we get together ... I suggested the farm for selfish reasons b/c it would be easier for my parents (that was my first reason) .. my second is this .. we have had so many there that it just feels right ... and thirdly, if those who are traveling will be in campers, there are tons of "lots" to pitch a tent or camper and just kick back without having to pay or be next to ppl you don't know ... mom and dad would not do any of the work .. Brain would be happy to get a tent put up and all neccessary tables and chairs ... plenty of space for horseshoes, volleyball, kick ball and if the guys need to set the river on fire, there are at least 4 quads filled with gas that would take them to the river ... if the older folks get tired, they can go inside and pass out on the couch or lay down in one of the many beds ...

 

we could do like last year and everyone bring their own picnic with the option of a few grills for those who wanted to cook chicken, dogs or burgers ... and we also have the option of catering if ppl want to chip in the money .. my brother-in-law is in charge of one of the dining rooms at Clarkson .. I am sure arrangements could be made .. lots of options ... we just need to decide and do it!!! ..

 

I say lets choose from either the 28th of June weekend or the 12th of July weekend .. seems to me that more responses have been for either of those ... the 4th of July weekend is out for several other events so let's choose ... send in your votes!!!

 

lastly, the MC ... gosh, if you guys (i.e. Chuck, Tom and Daren) want to be wimps about this, then I will step to the plate and be the big mouth!!!  bring the mics and an amplifier and I'll let 'er rip!!! ... oooppps, I mean, I will be the announcer ...

 

I think we should consider a 2 days event for those who can't make one of them ... I suggest the farm for the picnic and Rogers Taj Mahal for the nightcap ... waiting on your votes!!

... Roger has a copy of both 1988 and 1989 reunions ... I believe the spoof on the Morgan Boys quartet was in 1989.  Aunt Betty, my mom, myself and my daughter Alta were the culprits who TRIED to sing "Oh the Bulldog on the Bank".... mom was hilarious (she looked so much like Uncle Ray)(she even took her fake front tooth out for the occassion) ... both mom and I strung a hoola hoop through the waist band of our britches so we could fill them out .. our band with Cheryl Breakey Robinson as conductor happened in 1988 ...
Alta

Hey, that's real proof that ALTA is the "shy" one, NOT. -God Bless---Marge Hi Alta - Yes, I'm sure that was the event.  I remember it being at your house, and I think, in the wintertime.  The gold old days!   Love, Lorraine Probably the best one can do is give everyone nametags again. Don't tell them in advance. If they don't want to wear it they won't. Those who want to socialize with others will. The family pictures would be good and then later can be shown on a computer or on a screen for very everyone to see. Second cousins who don't want to socialize, won't probably even come. I say that we need to have the reunions every year while Uncle Bob and Aunt Olive and Aunt Betty, Aunt Rena, Aunt Ruby are still with us. -God Bless---Marge

Jack and Tom, I have enjoyed looking at the pictures you submitted, Tom.  Had to go back to the geneology to find out who Authur Morgan was - couldn't remember.  But, there is one picture of a Marsh, and I don't know who he is. Rufus Marsh.  Probably a great grandparent but I'm embarassed I don't know.

 

Also noticed a Cora Morgan who was born in 1865.  It was been a long time since I've been to the Cemetary, but there is a small stone for a Cora and I don't know if it's a Marsh or Morgan.  I remember being there once with Uncle Ray and we asked who she was and all I remember is that they said she died by a swinging lamp.  Doesn't that sound like him?  He went on to explain that she died at age 16, I think he said, of a brain tumor, and they thought she might have gotten it from all the times she would be leaning over the table and hitting her head on the lamp.  I don't know if that plot where Grandma and Grandpa are buried is a Morgan plot, or Marsh plot.  Does anyone know anything about Cora?  Cora Morgan was the only Cora I saw.

 

Lorraine

The new pictures that have been added to the Website are wonderful.

 

Tom, you put on a pic of old Great-Grandpa Rufus Marsh!  I didn't know a photo of him existed.  Wonderful!  What a stinker he was, though.  Anyone else heard the stories about him?  As I understand it, he received a head injury during the Civil War and was never right after that.  I think he lived in a veterans home down around Rome, NY but occasionally returned to the North Country and made life a bit difficult for Great-Grandma Marsh and the family.  Anyone heard specifics about this?

 

AND, Tom (and all the other Orrs!) I'm astonished at your mother's handwriting.  It is EXACTLY the same as my mother's.  They must have had the same penmenship teachers.

 

-- Bill(y)

Well, Bill, you answered my question as to who Rufus was.  I never heard any stories about him. 

 

And, Tom, thanks for getting the picture of Laddie in with your pictures.  Looks the way I remembered, as well as I can tell, but looks like he was just a puppy when the picture was taken.

 

Lorraine

In addition to family reunions, I have LOTS of other memories of spending time on the Haggett Farm with my cousins.  On at least one occasion every winter we would gather at the farm and fill those old wash tubs up with freshly fallen snow.  Aunt Olive would boil down maple syrup from the sugar bush and it would be drizzled on top of the tubs of snow.  It was boiled down to the point that when it hit the cold snow it would become carmel/taffy-like.  With a fork we would pick up a drizzle and eat it.  YUM!!!  So sweet.  So good.  It was so sweet that you could only eat a few pieces in a row.  Then you'd grab a dill pickle from the table and eat it.  The dill pickle would cut the sweetness in your mouth, and you could then return to the tub of "Wax on Snow."  That's what we called it - Wax on Snow.  Am I remembering this right, cousins?

 

-- Bill(y)

Half of the fun is all the chit chat back and forth. and whose to say that wouldn't be historical in the future. I think Jack should leave it all in, easier too, otherwise their will be gaps in the conversations. And then no one will be "hurt", ha, because their conversation was left out. Whose to say, what's important and what isn't. So make your life easy Jack, if you have room on the site, put it all on until it is too much, then you can delete it except for the historical facts. I have a video of the 150th anniversary at the church. I think Tom said he had one too. David Dunbar had a big screen at the last reuniion set up to sing some hymns, but everyone left. So maybe he could bring it so we can see family pictures of other reunions, and pictures that will be taken on digital  cameras and hook it up to a computer and then to his big screen. You technical guys will know more about it.

-God Bless---Marge

Bill, that is a great memory. Sounds like fun. How's your little dog behaving? He is so cute. Glad you brought him with you  last summer.
I am sure we all bringing back to our memories the old memories is good for our memory. We need to keep these conversations going so we don't get alzheimers. I also heard that keeping in touch with old firends is very important as we  age. Maybe it is just so we can talk about old times. Wow, now we don't even have to get together to do it, thanks to internet and email. Bruce told me about Cheryl Breakey drinking kerosene and Joan eating rat poison. I don't remember reading that.
-God Bless---Marge

Good point Joan,

    Maybe just a good job of Jack using his discretion would do it.  I yield to the majority opinion.  And let's keep up this great exchange that let's us get to know each other better and have fun doing it.

Love you all,

Tom

Margie and all,

    I second the nametag thing...those that don't want to wear them don't have to.  It is a great way to be able to meet cousins we have never seen or not seen since the 80's.  I think last years had the Edson/Alta "child's" name (Helen/Mildred) to show the family linkage which helped and especially the 2nd cousins.   Back in an earlier reunion we even used color coded nametags to show family connection....didn't we Alta?

Tom

Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed it too, even though I mainly was taking photos then. It is just too bad that it didn't lead into something else instead of people leaving so quickly. In fact, Dave had set up something to continue to sing together but everyone left.

-God Bless---Marge

That's a great idea. Then we at least know their family connection and are more likely to converse with them.

-God Bless---Marge

Lorraine,

    Rufus Marsh was the Father of Alta Lora Marsh, (our grandma) and was married to Addie Graves who bore 9 children: Ray Marsh, Fred Marsh (Wolcott group), Cora Marsh (died as a baby in my notes), Grace Marsh McGee, Alta Marsh Morgan, Frank Marsh, Dora (Dorothy) Marsh Fields 2nd m. Carvelho, George.  Also shows a 1/2 brother named Carey with a note "illegitimate".  There was an entry as an offspring named Flora, but has been crossed off on my records.  Anyone have any information on Flora?

    I remember my Mom telling that Great Grandpa Rufus Marsh was not home a lot as he traveled around the state in connection with some military connection he had from service days.  Mom said "Grandpa only came home long enough to get Grandma pregnant and then was gone again".  She said he was "a bit of a woman's man" followed with a smile.   Not sure these are things to pass along, but they are memories none the less.

    Another note in my records says:  "Rufus Marsh born 1842  N. Stockholme, NY died 1924.  Rufus Marsh's folks came from Vermont in covered wagon and took up homesteads in Stockholme".

    I have no other info on Cora except that she was a Marsh and died early.  Most all the pictures of the Marsh family are on the website now....thanks Jack.

Tom

We still have our name tags.  Why doesn't everyone who kept them at least bring those back with them.  Bill went to a lot of pains, and expense, I expect, to have those made for us.

 

Lorraine

Bill,

    You are right...I too have always been amazed at our Mothers handwriting being almost indinguishable.  Aunt Olive's is also very much the same.

    As to Rufus Marsh, yes that is what Mom told me as well about him.  She said something about the Civil War and injuries and that is why he was such a problem to Great Grandma Addie Graves Marsh.  My Mom never had a lot of endearing words to say for him. 

    Anyone else have any memories of Rufus from their folks?

Tom

Yes Bill,

    I too remember that.  I remembered it as "snow Jack" but that is probably because as a child "snow wax" sounded close to "snow Jack".   Loved those days along with the endless buckets of blueberries the family would go off picking near the farm.

Tom

Agree Margie,

    Leave in the chit chat.   Also let's try to get David to bring the screen again as I have two videos of past reunions which are now on disks that could be shared.

Tom

Good idea Lorraine,

    I think some of us left them in the box for Bill to retrieve.

Tom

Tom and all - from the picture of Rufus, I can't imaging him being a ladies' man.  Those women must have been hard up - Sorry, Grandpa Rufus!

 

Does anyone have the lineage of the Marsh Family?  I remember my Mother saying that Grandma Morgan thought there were some Morgans way back in her family, and I think it was Bill that also mentioned that.  I wonder how many generations back.

 

I'm getting more and more curious about the Cora who is buried in Grandma and Grandpa's plot.  If the snow melts before we get back up there for the reunion, why doesn't someone check that plot?  I know I'm going to get up there this time!!

 

Lorraine

I don't know anything about Rufus, but reading your email, Tom, reminded me that I could swear the handwriting on one of those pictures was my Mother's!!

 

Lorraine

Welcome Kathy and Bruce,

You've already missed a lot of great exchange, but thanks to Jack, you can catch up with us all on the Morgan website where he has recorded everything.  (Better have lots of time on your hands)

Love you

Tom

Lorraine and others,

    We should all bring something with our Mother's handwriting on it to the reunion and I bet we will see that all of the girls had very similar handwriting.  Genes?

Tom

Lorraine,

 

       I have my Mom's lineage of the Marsh family and when I have the time I'll pull it out and confirm exactly where the Morgans/Marshes were linked up prior to the reconnection with our Grandparents.

 

Tom,

Have you thought about comparing the handwriting of your mothers with the handwriting of your grandmother?  Quite often children learn (especially back then) penmanship from their mother.

Just my two cents worth... so you don't think I haven't been paying attention and reading my emails.  LOL

LOVE AND HUGS,
HAPPY HEART: PAT

Marsh and Morgan @ Riverside Cemetery

MARSH ADDIE M.  WIFE OF RUFUS , 1846 , 1924  G 17
MARSH CORA M  (DAUGHTER OF R.H. & A.M. MARSH) , 1871 , 1888  G 17
MARSH GEORGE H.  SON OF RH & AM MARSH , 1873 , 1875  G 17
MARSH RUFUS H.  (CO D 2ND REG VT VOLS; POST 167 GAR) , 1840 , 1924  G 17

MORGAN ALTA L. MARSH  (WIFE OF EDSON) , 1886 , 1948  G 17 
MORGAN EDSON H.   , 1882 , 1944  G 17 
MORGAN RICHARD  (SON OF RAY AND MARION MORGAN) , 1930 , 1930  G 17 
MORGAN PHILLIP SCOTT  SON OF WAYNE & ANN MORGAN"  December 27, 1964  H 20 
MORGAN DORSAN D. 78   December 20, 1907  B 26 
MORGAN ERNEST W.  (DIED AUG. 11,??//STONE NOT LEGIBLE)    B 26 
MORGAN MARY G. 87 WIFE OF DORSAN  April 9, 1888  B 26 
MORGAN SARAH 31   December 1, 1893  B 26 
MORGAN EDNA E  WIFE OF QUARTUS , 1849 , 1926  G 37 N
MORGAN PEARL  (NO INFO)    G 37 N
MORGAN QUARTUS M.   , 1848 , 1934  G 37 N
MORGAN WILLIE DOLLEY  ("INFANT"/NO OTHER INFO)    G 37 N
MORGAN BARBARA V.   , 1929   J 65 
MORGAN WAYNE A.  ("SON OF CLYDE AND RUBY") , 1933   J 65 
MORGAN CLYDE M. 83 NFD June 09, 1908 December 03, 1991 1991/12/03 J 66 
MORGAN RUBY Z. MATSON  CLYDE , 1915   J 66 
MORGAN MARION E. 89 RAY September 07, 1910 January 05, 2000 2000/01/05 J 69 S2
MORGAN REV. RAY L 85 ("WED APRIL 14, 1928") September 09, 1906 December 10, 1991  J 69 
MORGAN FRED B 80 RENA E         NFD July 26, 1913 March 18, 1994 1994/03/18 J 72 ?
MORGAN RENA E. BROWN  FRED January 18, 1914   J 72 
MORGAN M. ANNETTE DAWSON  DAVID MORGAN December 27, 1945 October 14, 1973  J 95 S

The above  is part of a database that I have on the Riverside Cemetery.  It consists or a stone census that I did several years ago, and also information that other people also provided--if someone sees errors, do me a favor and tell me what they are.  Marsh and Morgan names--some still living, since it comes from a stone census.  (The letter near the end is the section of the cemetery that they are buried in, and the number is the plot they are in).  Chuck

Bill, I had forgotten that I have copies of what your Mother had.  I'd forgotten all about it.  Will get it out and look at it, and write if I have any question.  Thank you.

 

I love hearing these antidotes of our ancesters.  Keep them coming.  I find it so interesting; we know almost next to nothing about our Father's life before he married into the Morgan Family.  I have been told, though, that he loved being part of a large family.

 

Lorraine

Thank you Chuck!  That answers the question of Cora.

 

Lorraine

Of course one of the dangers of oral history is that imbedded in the stories could be some things that aren't remembered correctly, hence very inacurrate (if not false).  Short of documentation, the more stories we can share with one another the more we might be able to sort out fact from fiction.

 

-- Bill

no matter how hard I try to write differently than that of my mother, as I age, my letters get smaller and more "hen-scratchy" .. I DO believe genetics plays a HUGE part in everything we are made of .... Alta

Thank you Pat.  That is very appropriate.

 

In the video I watched this afternoon of the reunion of 1988, there were several shots of your Mother.  Have you seen this?  I could make copy and mail to you, but someone earlier mentioned they have it on DVD.  That may be clearer.  Was that you, Alta, or Tom?  Could whoever has the DVD cut one for Pat,, or am I stepping out of turn?

 

Lorraine

wow!! .. all I ever heard about Rufus was he wasn't a nice person, he wasn't around long enough to help in the rearing of his children and usually left after Gramma Addie got pregnant ... I believe I heard mom say only one time, that he was "abusive" .. what that entailed, I have no idea ... war wounds or not, he wouldn't have my vote as being a favorite relative!!!
Alta

I have a copy (VHS) of the 1988 reunion ... let me see what I can do to get it transferred to DVD ... I am not a whiz at any of this so I will ask for help .... Alta

Here I am replying to my own email posting!  (Someone, PLEASE, tell me to get a life!!)

 

I wanted to say one more thing re: my previous post about sharing stories and confirming memories.  Even if you might not have anything you think is "worth adding" (but, mind you, we all do!  really!), it's helpful when folks are able to resond with a "Yes, I heard that, too."  Or, "That's how I remember it."  When dealing with oral histories, confirmation/corroboration of stories/memories is an important tool in sorting through memories/information.

 

-- Bill

yes Bill .. "Wax on Snow" and you were certain to scoop up white snow in the dish and not yellow!!!!  

I think the name tags (if you kept them) are a great idea .. bring them along!!! .. they were well put together and I thank Bill once again for his hard work and efforts ...

 

I need an extension on mine however .. with so many changes in last names, I ran out of room !!!!

Consider it done, Alta!  Just wait until you see your name tag for the next reunion!

 

-- Bill

Marge and all .. I think we learned by our last years mistakes ... many things "should" have happened but they didn't ... no big deal ...  I was sooooooooooo pleased to see that over 75 of us got together at a new place ... we brought lots of eat, we brought our memories and we got to reconnect with ppl we hadn't seen in ages ... it was cold that day which may have been part of the reason ppl packed up and left so early ... but, we are true Morgans .. we continued the partaaaaaaay the next evening which was a precious time of sharing!! ... perhaps we can focus on 2008, come prepared with a unique experience to share and make 2008 even more successful .....

I think I may be sorry that I asked for something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

yes I am shy Marge!! ... my mom MADE me sing in that quartet!!!