Edmund James Morgan

MR. EDMUND JAMES MORGAN, of “Oakleigh,” Kaimata road, Inglewood, a well known colonist, is a native of Gillingham, Dorsetshire, England, where he was born in the year 1841, and brought up to farm life. He came to New Zealand in the barque “Ashmore,” 512 tons, in 1856, and landed at Auckland. Thence Mr. Morgan proceeded to New Plymouth, and thence again to Wanganui, where he remained till 1860. In company with his brother, John, he visited the Otago diggings, but was not very successful. After a year's experience on the fields he returned to Wanganui, and was engaged at various occupations till the war broke out, when he joined the Wanganui Cavalry, and was present at the engagement at Wereroa pa and many other skirmishes. He received the New Zealand war medal and a grant of land for his services as volunteer. His farm in Patea, which he bought from military settlers, was a good one, and he lived on it till 1866, when he removed to Rahotu, and farmed land in that district for the next seven years. He then acquired his present property, which contains 350 acres of good pasture land, on which he conducts dairying operations. The homestead is surrounded by a beautifully laid out garden and orchard. Mr. Morgan was for several years on the Patea County Council, was chairman of the Patea West Road Beard for a number of years, and has been a member of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. He married Miss Wright, of Brunswick, Wanganui, and has three sons and four daughters. His second son, William, was one of the contingent sent to represent the colony at Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in London, on the 22nd of June, 1897.

Source: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts