Grover's Books

Grover gave us this book many years ago . . .
Then, he borrowed it back, re-read it all again, but I think he added some post-it notes and highlighting.
Often while working in genealogy, I wonder. . . "but, what did he think . . what were her values. . . why did they do that?" With Grover's post-it notes and highlighting, we pretty well know his values and beliefs.

Appendicitis and Harry Smith's Family

My father-in-law Grover told me several stories about his uncle, Harry Smith, pictured above with his sister Ellice Smith Morgan and his wife "Pawdy" Smith in 1961. Harry's family moved around with the Morgans a lot so Grover knew them pretty well. Harry was not with the coal mines, though, but was a meat cutter.

Harry and Pawdy had four children: Robert, Thelma, Gladys and Ruth. Only two lived to adulthood---Robert and Thelma. Gladys died of appendicitis before she was 21 years old. Grover didn't have too many details about that but he did for Harry and Pawdy's appendicitis.

Around 1922-1923, Harry had appendicitis when they lived in Landville, WV. He was packed in ice and taken to the hospital the next day. Although it's not in my notes, I seem to recall it was in a bathtub. I'm amazed that was done since that is what is done today with spinal injuries and is considered a break through.

His wife Pawdy also had appendicitis in the late 1920's. Apparently, they were living in Kimball, West Virginia (or nearby---I know Morgans lived in Big Four) at the time because she was operated on by a black surgeon in a black hospital which was over a store. I googled it and found this about the Kimball Colored Hospital. I don't think the timing was right that Dr. Roscoe Harrison would have been her surgeon, but it did verify Grover's story that there was "colored" hospital in Kimball.
One of the reasons I'm doing this blog is because all of the stories from our parents are written down on whatever was handy. This was on the back of an envelope which is nice because it's dated 04 August 1999 :-)

Charlie Smith's Family

L-R Anna Brown Smith, Arnold Smith, Carrie Cornwall Smith, Glenn Smith, Eddie Smith (little), "Grandma" Cornwall, 1922

The family above is Charlie Smith's wife, sons, mother and mother-in-law. Charlie was Ellice Smith Morgan's oldest brother. Charlie, like many in West Virginia/Kentucky was a miner. In 1920, they were in Colorado. By the 1930 census, Charlie and his family were in Riverside, California where he is listed as a "decorator" (painter, wallpaper hanger). My father-in-law's family went West in 1929 to visit with this family and thought they might like to settle west, but they came back to West Virginia. Click here for more about that trip.

L-R: Glenn Smith, Paul Morgan, Grover Morgan, 1983

However, the Morgans maintained close ties with their California cousins, so Grover and his brother Paul often visited with their cousin Glenn Smith.
Glenn and his wife Lucy often traveled with my in-laws Grover and Eloise Morgan to Las Vegas and Arizona where Glenn's brother lived.

Double click on the postcard above to read what Lucy had to say.
This is a photo of Ellice Smith Morgan with her older brother Charles E. Smith. I'm guessing it was made in 1960's but we aren't sure where it was made since she was in Florida and he was in California.
Charlie might have even come east for his son Arnold's funeral---I found this letter to my in-laws.

Morgan Family Photos

One of the nice things about this blog is when people google a name, they find my blog. SOMETIMES, those people contact me and send me stories and photos which I wouldn't have otherwise had. The photo above is my husband's great-grandfather Harvey Morgan.

Tracie who is the great-great-grandchild of Felix Morgan (Harvey's son and Harry B. Morgan's brother) sent me these photos. She is not sure who the photo above is---because it's tin-type, no name was written on it. She thinks it may also be Harvey.

Letter from Ellice 25 Oct. 1954

Cincinnati, Ohio

Between the last set of letters (Oct. 1945) and this set of letters, the Grover D. Morgan Family moved from Louisiana to live in an apartment on the property of Ellice and Harry B. Morgan. They didn't write letters to each other living next door, but by 1954, the Harry B. Morgan's had moved to Miami and the Grover D. Morgan Family had moved to Cincinnati, Ohio.
Oh, the Grover D. Morgan Family had grown to three sons---Harry, Dave and Tom!

H.B. Morgan's Letter Oct. 29, 1945

This photo above of Dave was a whole year before the letter below was written by his grandfather on the same day.
This letter to his son Grover Morgan is mostly about the car that Grover is to drive when he gets home from the army.
Grover's brother, Paul, was able to get new tires and needed to get a new battery for the car.
This photo of Harry and Dave was July 1947, but notice Dave is still wearing the same hat that he wore 3 years earlier.

H.B. Morgan's Letter October 23, 1945

Grover Davis Morgan, Jr. above in November 1945. The letter below is to Grover D. Morgan's family living in Alexandria, Louisiana from his father H. B. Morgan in West Viriginia.
The page above tells about Fall coming and his son Mason's work on the garage.
His son Paul has also been helping out. Bread delivery drivers are on strike.
H.B. thinks it's funny seeing people carrying flour to make bread when they probably don't have any shortening.
Finally, he assures Grover that he and his family can live and work on the farm when he gets out of the army. He's afraid Eloise will start to like the milder climate in Louisiana. He also mentions that Mason's wife Libby is sick, but her mother Mrs. Porter is taking care of her and the family.

H.B. Morgan's Letter 16 Oct. 1945

Harry and Dave Morgan (Alexandria, Louisiana 10/9/45)

This letter was from H. B. Morgan to his son Grover Morgan who was stationed at Alexandria, Louisiana during World War II. In the letter he talks about the coal mine strikes in Kanawha district.

Then he talks about the tires that are needed on the spare car Grover wants to use when he gets back home. They can't get any tires because the "car is non essential."

H. B. wonders "if transferring the title would enable you to get tires".

Ellice Morgan's Letter 16 Oct. 1945

Ellice Smith Morgan wrote this letter to his son, Grover D. Morgan, and his family who were living in Alexandria, Louisiana where Grover was stationed during World War II.
She writes about the possibility of a coal strike. But she also mentions her son Mason helping build the garage and that Harry (her grandson) reminds her of Mason when he was small.
Above she writes about Lowell and his piano playing. Then she mentions that her husband (H.B.) was sowing rye.
Her son, Paul, who just returned from to the United States, earned "another stripe"---he got a promotion in the Army. She ends with "Tell Eloise & Boys I still miss them on Sundays and love to all."

Eloise and "Boys"---Davis and Harry. July 14, 1945 Alexandria, LA.

Letter from H.B. Morgan Oct. 8,1945

Above is Grover Davis Morgan, Jr. in Alexandria, Louisiana (Sept. 29, 1945) where his father was stationed in World War II. Doesn't this photo speak volumes about his life at that time?
The letter is from Harry Byron Morgan to his son Grover D. Morgan who was stationed at Esler Field, Louisiana. H. B. was a mine supervisor so he first talks about the mines and the possibility that the government (Govt) will be taking over the mines.
This B-24 Bomber didn't usually fly into Esler field, but had difficulties.
I think H. B. must be talking about the car which he said Grover could have when he gets out of the army.

Letter from Ellice Morgan Oct. 7, 1945

This letter from Ellice Smith Morgan was written to Grover Morgan stationed in Louisiana. She talks about her visitors which included Clifford Morgan pictured above. She also talks about her work on the farm. Double click on the letter to enlarge it.Her second page ends the same each time---she misses her grandsons.
Uh, Dave, did you notice Harry's elephant is bigger?

Aerial Harbor Photos, 1945

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 1945

Dave's dad was a Staff Sergeant in the U. S. Army at a desk job. Somehow, he acquired some aerial photos of western harbors which I have always thought were very interesting. They are stamped "restricted" on the back, but I suspect I can share them now. Double click to see them larger.
The photo above is Barksdale Field in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1945. Note the air field and all of the air planes above the air runways.
The photo above is Point Furman, California 1945.
Los Angeles Harbor, 1944---it looks a bit different now.
Santa Monica, California 1945---the white area is beach.

This one is my favorite---Huntington Beach, California in 1945---look at all of those oil derricks!

Ellice Smith Morgan's Letter October 6, 1945

Harry Morgan, Davis Morgan, Grover Morgan; Alexandria Louisiana, 10 July 1945

Ellice Smith Morgan wrote this letter to Grover D. Morgan and his family stationed in Alexandria, Louisiana. She expressed her hope that she will see them at Christmas this year.

Davis Morgan, Grover Morgan, Harry Morgan; Alexandria, LA; 7/19/45

The second page is about her chickens and her hope that Paul and Grover will be out of the army and "get back to normal living again."
Harry (3 yrs 11 mo) and Davis (2 1/2 yrs) Alexandria, LA 7/23/45

The last page expresses her concern that Garner will also have to go into the army.