James Dada Morgan was born on August 1, 1810, in Boston, Massachusetts, to James and Martha Morgan. He married Jane Strachan on October 28, 1832, and they had at least three children: James, who was born around 1833 and died around 1837; William, born around 1839; and James, born around 1841. The family moved to Quincy, Illinois, in 1834, and Morgan earned a living as a grocer.

 

Morgan served in the Illinois militia, and he took part in the state’s “Mormon War.” He served in the 1^st Illinois Infantry during the Mexican American War, and he earned a brevet promotion to major for gallantry in the Battle of Buena Vista.

 

He returned to Quincy after the war. His wife died in the 1850s, and he married Harriet Evans on June 14, 1859. By 1860, he was working as a pork merchant, and he owned $20,000 of real estate and $30,000 of personal property.

 

On April 29, 1861, he received a commission as lieutenant colonel in the 10^th Illinois Infantry. The regiment took part in the siege of Corinth, the Chattanooga campaign, the Atlanta campaign, the March to the Sea, and the Carolinas campaign. He was promoted to colonel on July 29, 1861, and then to brigadier general on July 17, 1862. He received a brevet promotion to major general on March 19, 1865, and he mustered out on August 24, 1865.

 

Morgan returned to Quincy and worked as a banker and businessman. He served as vice president of the town’s First National Bank and president of the Quincy Gas Company. He died in Quincy on September 12, 1896.

 

Image: James Dada Morgan (courtesy Wikicommons)

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