Rev. Stephen Morgan , 1776-1859

[Sallie]

I started doing family research on the Morgan Family about 13 years ago. Stephen Morgan was my grandmother Lillian Morgan Hare's great grandfather.

Since I did not live in Western North Carolina, I depended greatly on an ancestry software program. Later, while visiting my cousin Sally Warren, I found that her husband Bennett was a Morgan descendant. She and Bennett drove us out to visit Perminter Morgan's grave site. I found that I was descended from Stephen Morgan a Pioneer Preacher. My husband and I visited Stephen's grave site on one of our trips to Western North Carolina. There is a great deal of information about Stephen Morgan Sr. on the internet, and I found quite a bit of information in Norma Morgan's book, "FLAT CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH 1833-1931 MINUTES". There were many other publications concerning my ancestor Stephen Morgan. Norma Dillingham Morgan's husband ,Harry Conrad Morgan 1927-1999, was my 3rd Cousin, once removed. He was also a descendant of Stephen Morgan.

Some of the following information came from Boyce Morgan, who did extensive research on the Morgan family. He sent me some of his genealogical information on my branch of the family before he passed away.

"Stephen Morgan, the first child of Perminter and Gracie Morgan was born March 4, 1776 in Rutherford County, N.C. and died Dec 14, 1859 in Buncombe County. He is buried at Flat Creek Baptist Church, which he organized in Buncombe County.
Stephen was married to Mary “Polly” Stanley on March 29, 1798. Stephen and “Polly” are the parents of four children. When and where “Polly” was born and buried is not known by this writer but she died March 18, 1818.

Stephen married the second time to Dorcas Elkins on Dec 3, 1818, and they had no children. Dorcas death date and place of buriel are not known.

Stephen married thirdly Elizabeth Byrd and they also had no children. Nothing more is known of Elizabeth.
Stephen, like his illustrious father Permenter, was also a most prominent and revered
Baptist Minister in Western North Carolina. His labors covered a wide territory which was sparsely settled. For forty years, through heat and cold, through wet and dry he rode monthly on horseback to Grassy Creek Baptist Church in Madison County,N.C. to minister to his little flock and never missed an appointment, He organized Flat Creek Baptist Church in Buncombe County in the fall of 1811, giving the land for the church and cemetery. He was pastor of that church for forty five years, He was also instrumental in organizing churches at Little Ivy, French Broad, Locust Old Field, Newfound and Cane Creek.
Stephen’s life was a hard one but he was peculiarly suited to fill it. He was much in demand for Evangelistic work and in building up weak churches. He made annual trips to Knoxville, Tennessee or Greenville, S.C. to get the Associational Minutes printed. He was moderator of the French Broad Baptist Association for more than twenty years. He was a Bible scholar and met all issues with the sword of the spirit and never did his colors trail.
It is hard to imagine what the present conditions would be in this area of North Carolina had there been no Morgan to blaze the way. He was a great and good man and the Morgan spirit still hovers over the French Broad and Buncombe Associations to this day.
On one of his trips to Knoxville, Tennessee, he was asked by the people of one of the remote mountain villages to stop on his way back and hold services for them. Stephen agreed but on his way back, he was confronted by two ruffians who told him they were satisfied with their way of living, with their women and corn liquor and did not want or need his holding services. If he insisted on holding service, he would have to whip them first. Whereupon Stephen asked, “Both of you at once?” One of the men said, “No we will be fair, only one at a time.” Stephen then got down off of his horse and proceeded to beat the stuffing out of them both and went on into the village and held the service!
Stephen was laid to rest in Flat Creek Baptist Cemetery in Weaverville, NC"

[Sallie]

I really appreciate your book, and I was amazed at your information on our Morgan family. I need to read it once more. Thank you

[Rob Neufeld]

That's it.  I hope I helped illustrate the story involving your ancestors.  It's such a big part of our history that you're connected to.  Thanks for keeping us all up to date on your research.

[Sallie]

I have this book...

A Popular History of Western North Carolina: Mountains, Heroes & Hootnoggers 

[Sallie]

Rob, I would like to see your story about the early settlers of South Hominy in People's History of WNC. How do I access this information? Thank you , Sallie

[Rob Neufeld]

Sallie, thanks for this!  Have you seen my story about the early settlers of South Hominy in People's History of WNC?  It includes Morgans.

[Sallie]

Carroll, My Dad who was from Swain County, and Jackson County, always had information about his ancestry,,or so it seems. He was always looking up his Keener, and Miller, and Rogers ancestry. He even had us joining DAR for awhile.
My mother was a grand daughter of a early 20th century, late 19th century preacher named Stanley Jones Morgan. She kept saying, 'why doesn't someone do my genealogy? 'When I got my first computer , I searched for Stanley Jones Morgan (1840-1920) . My search led me to Norma Morgan who then lived in Barnardsville. She told me that I was a descendant of Stephen and his father Perminter Morgan. There was much stuff on the internet about him, and I did purchase one of Norma Morgan's books called, "Flat Creek Baptist Church 1833 Minutes 1931" I also contacted a gentleman named Boyce Morgan who had spent some time with Norma Morgan copying Morgan genealogy. He gave me much information. Both he and Norma have passed. Norma's husband Harry Conrad Morgan was a direct descendant of the fiery Southern Preacher too..Harry was my third cousin once removed. One of Stephen's descendants include Dr. Grady Morgan, who was the Asheville Coroner, and another Morgan Cousin who was a well known Doctor in the Asheville area, but I can not remember his name. My cousin from my father's side (who has done extensive genealogy) told me that all of the Morgan's in WNC were related, but as she put it, "They do not know who they are."

[Carroll Jones]

Sallie - I loved reading your post about a pre-Civil War era preacher in the mountains of western North Carolina. Sorry it took me so long to find it. The information that you give is plenty rich and full of vivid detail. Is there a extant diary that you are citing from? If there is I would be interested in anything that your ancestor might have recorded regarding Haywood County or the Old Locust Field Church. I am from Canton and am interested in the history of that area.

Regards,
Carroll Jones

[Sallie]

Hi Tipper, Thanks for the heads up on Rev. Stephen Morgan, My mom always wanted her genealogy traced. Her momma was a Morgan, and her Uncle (Stephen Jones) Morgan and her grandpa Stanley Jones Morgan were Baptist Preachers up around Weaverville/Barnardsville. One day when I was over in Asheville at a cousins house I noticed she had quite a bit of information about Stephen Morgan and I found out my momma was a direct descendant!...So that one was for you Momma!

[Tipper]

Sallie-I just loved reading about your ggg grandfather! I'd say all the churches in Western NC owe him a debt of gratitude. Very interesting history-loved the last bit about fighting to preach the word-now that showed his true dedication and determination.