History of Wexford County, MI. Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 203 - 204

EDWARD MORGAN, M.D.

Dr. Edward Morgan has the distinction of being the only soldier who enlisted from Wexford county for service in the Civil war and he is one of the oldest physicians in years of connection with the profession in this part of the state. He now makes his home in Manton, where he has a large patronage that is indicative of his skill and comprehensive learning in connection with the science of medicine. The Doctor was born on a farm in Steuben county, New York, July 2, 1841. His father, Reuben Morgan, was a carpenter and farmer, following the two pursuits throughout his business career. He married Miss Clarissa Manhart, and they became the parents of eleven children, of whom the Doctor was the fourth in order of birth. The father died in Howard, Steuben county, New York, when about sixty-seven years of age, and his widow, surviving him for some time, died in Emmet county, Michigan, in her seventy-sixth year. In the county of his nativity Dr. Morgan was reared and was living there at the time of his first enlistment for service in the Civil war. In May, 1861, he joined Company G, Twenty-third New York Volunteer Infantry, with which he was connected for two years. He was then discharged with the regiment at the expiration of the term of enlistment in May, 1863. In June following the Doctor arrived in what is now Wexford county, and secured a homestead in Wexford township, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, on which he settled. To its development and improvement he devoted his energies until October, 1864, when, feeling that his first duty was to his country, still in the throes of civil strife, he rejoined the army, this time as a member of Company M., Tenth Michigan Cavalry, with which he served until May, 1865, when, the war having closed, he returned to his home with a most creditable military record. He was the only man who enlisted from Wexford county, which was then largely unsettled, and he was always found at his post of duty whether in the thickest of the fight or on the lonely picket line. At Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, his horse was shot from under him and on that occasion he was so injured that he was unable to again take up the active work of the farm and accordlingly he disposed of his homestead. The Doctor then entered upon the study of medicine in Steuben county, New York, and after pursuing a course of lectures in the Bellevue Hospital Medical College he began practice in Wexford and Kalkaska counties, Michigan, continuing his professional labors in this state until 1848 when he began practice in Florida and also became a student in the State University there. Upon his return to the north he settled in Manton, where he practiced successfully until 1889, when he went to the territory of Oklahoma and secured a homestead. In connection with the reclamation of the wild land for the purposes of civilization, he also practiced medicine in Guthrie and vicinity for two and a half years, and at the end of that time he sold his homestead and returned to Manton, where he has since remained, engaged in the practice of his profession and easily maintaining a foremost position in the ranks of the medical fraternity of this section of the state. He practiced in Kalkaska county for seven years and also in Cadillac for two years, but, with the exception of these periods and the time spent in Oklahoma, througout his professional career he has remained in Wexford county, where he located as the first physician within its borders. He belongs to the State Eclectic Medical Society and is a man of broad informatiim who studies and thinks deeply and who shows marked skill in coping with the intricate problems which continually confront the physician in his efforts to restore health prolong life. In Kalkaska, Michigan Dr. Morgan was united in I marriage to Mrs. Eliza (Overhiser) Shults, a daughter of William and Hannah (Collier) Overhiser. She was born in Steuben county, New York, August 14, 1849, and was brought to Michigan in pioneer times, her father being one of the oldest settlers of Cedar Creek township. He arrived in Wexford county about 1870 and took up his abode on a tract of land in the townshiip. and since that time he has been an interested and helpful witness of the progress and improvement which has been made in his locality. His wife died in Steuben county, New York, in November, 1861, when about thirty-five years of age, leaving two children, of whom Mrs. Morgan is the elder. Unto the Doctor and his wife have been born two children, Mildred M., the wife of Edward Carroll, antd William D. Dr. Morgan is a member of O. P. Morton Post No. 54, Grand Army of the Republic, and is serving as its commander. He also has membership relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his wife is president of the Woman's Relief Corps, the auxiliary of Morton Post. She is also an active and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have an attractive home in Manton and the Doctor also owns eighty-five acres of land, of which fifty acres is under cultivation. He has long taken an active interest in politics as a supporter of the Repubilican party and while residing in Kalkaska county he served as county physician for seven years. He is now physician for the four townships of Colfax, Cedar Creek, Liberty and Greenwood in Wexford county and in addition to this has a large private practice, which indicates the nature of his professional labors and the confidence and trust reposed in him by the public.