Col. Hubbard Daniel Morgan

THE GROTON AVERY CLAN, Vol. II, by Elroy McKendree Avery and Catherine Hitchcock (Tilden) Avery, Cleveland, 1912. p. 1039

Hubbard Daniel Morgan was born in Groton, Conn., May 12, 1804. He remained at work with his father until be became about seventeen or eighteen years of age, when he was made lame by something resembling a fever-sore, and in consequence thereof he went to New London and learned the shoemaker's trade. His opportunities for early education were only those afforded by the common school at " North Lane," and it is surely worthy of credit that the spirit of diligence and perseverance which has characterized him through life should have been manifested in the independence that would give him, although a lame youth, a livelihood by his own exertions through his labors even in the trade of a shoemaker. After learning his trade, Mr. Morgan went to Springport, N. Y., where his sister Priscilla (Mrs. Jabez D. Haley) resided, and followed his trade for one year. He then returned to Connecticut, when his father ex changed his farm in Groton for one in East Haddam, for the purpose of retaining Hubbard with him. When the exchange was made Hubbard Daniel was about twenty-one. He remained with bis father, diligently applying himself to keep the family together, and by great toil, as he expresses it, "just making strap and buckle meet," and continued thus occupied for about twelve years, when a younger brother be came large enough to take his turn in charge of the farm. Mr. Morgan, feeling the necessity of more means than his circumstances had hitherto given him, left the farm without a dollar, and engaged in the wood and lumber business with Elias Loomis, his brother-in-law. They were prospered, and after one year's time in partnership Mr. Morgan purchased Mr. Loomis' interest, and continued the business in his own name for two years, drawing and causing to be drawn about five hundred cords of wood each year, besides sawing quite an amount of ship-timber. This introduced Mr. Morgan to the ship-timber trade, which he soon adopted as his sole business. Being in want of a vessel to carry timber to New York, he purchased one-half interest in the sloop "Morning Star," the other half being owned by the commander, Capt. Henry Sisson. On the return voyage of the first cargo of lumber to New York, and en route to Hartford with a cargo of coal and provisions, the sloop was lost on Saybrook bar in a gale of wind. Capt. Sisson was a young man, unused to business, and had signed a bill of lading in which damages by sea was not excepted. As a consequence Mr. Morgan not only lost the results of his three years' labor, but was involved in a lawsuit of several years' duration. By the kindness of friends, however, and particularly Governor Oliver Ellsworth, bis strong personal friend and legal adviser, the case was with drawn, at an expense to him of not ten dollars, Governor Ellsworth charging him nothing for his services. The opposing parties had costs of about seven hundred dollars.

When Mr. Morgan was about twenty-five years of age he enlisted in the first company, Second Regiment of Horse Artillery of the militia of Connecticut. He became much interested in the service, and, with bis usual directness and ambition to excel, attracted the attention of his superior officers, and he made many friends by his proficiency. He was rapidly promoted, held the various commissions of captain, major, and colonel, and was considered one of the ablest officers in that arm of the service. After the loss of the "Morning Star," Col. Morgan resigned his commission, but it was not accepted. The whole of his time was imperatively demanded by his business, and his reduced finances would not allow of any diversion from business, so at last, much to the regret of all his associates, his often-renewed resignation was accepted.

Col. Morgan continued shipping chestnut timber to New York for about four years, until the demand for that wood ceased. He then went to Long Island and got white oak and cedar for the same trade. While thus engaged his attention was called to the vast amount of oil in the menhaden fish and the efforts made to extract it. On returning to Groton, through his exertions, a company of seven others with himself was formed, the crude works of the first experimenter purchased, and an attempt made to extract the oil. This was about 1845. From the difficulties surrounding the initial steps, the other stockholders became dissatisfied and disgusted, and Col. Morgan, with far- seeing sagacity, purchased their interests, and took as a partner Mr. Franklin Gallup, under the firm-name of Morgan & Gallup. This was the origin and theirs the first successful manufacture of an article which has had large sales, and which has as a business attained large proportions in this section. This partnership continued for fifteen years, and the partners acquired from forty to fifty thousand dollars. Sanlbrd A. Morgan then purchased an interest of one-third, and the business continued for a year or two under the same name as before. Mr. Gallup and S. A. Morgan sold their interest to the Quinnipiac Company of New Haven. Col. Morgan, after get ting them well under way, sold his property to them and retired from the business. To his sagacity, perseverance, and business capacity is alone owing the success of this great enterprise, now employing so many men and so much capital.

Col. Morgan represented his town one term in the Legislature, being elected by the Republicans. He has been for many years a member of the Baptist Church, and is prompt in supporting all things tending to advance the interests of Groton. He married, Aug. 7, 1844, Lucy A., daughter of Park W. Avery, of Groton. She died Nov. 25, 1851. He married Maria J., daughter of George Slater, of Webster, Mass., Oct. 25, 1858. She is of the family so noted in connection with manufactures.

History of New London County, Connecticut, With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men, p. 464