The Portland daily press., 1871-11-07
DEATH OF JONATHAN MoReAN.-The publ,


were not greatly startled yesterday at hearing
of the sudden but yet not wholly unexpected
death of the worthy and honorable Squire Nor
gan, as he was respectfully called by all eur
citizens. Mr.. Morgan occupied a room Ia the
old Advertiser building on Cross street by the
favor of Hon. #. o. j. Smith, who offered him
the place, and he was last seen alive on Satur-
day.
Mr.. G. III. Blake, whose workshop is near by,
not having seen the old man for several days
and noticing that his clothes which had been
returned by his washerwoman remained un-
disturbed, became suspicious and yesterday
morning one of his workmen looked into the
window and saw Mr.. Morgan lying in bed
Sometime afterwards he looked again and see.
iug he had not moved. he with Mr.. Blake went
in and found him dead.
Mr.. Morgan was in the habit of calling upon
his friends in the evening and staying out
somewhat late for one so aged. He is suppes-
ed to have returned to his lodgings at late
hour cold and weary, and without stopping to
make fire he retired to bed, and his vitality
being so low it is thought that be died from
exhaustion and without pain. Mr.. Morgan
was born in Brownfield, Mass, March 4th,
177o, and was consequently ninety-three years
and eight months of age. He graduated at
Union College, Schenectady, N. Y, in 1903.
lie came to Maine in 1872, removing to Alma,
Lincoln county, and from thence to this city
in 1920, and he has for half a century and moro
resided here. Though studying and praticing
the profession of the law, he has always de-
voted much time to literature and science, and
practical experiments in motive power aud
mechanical agencies in general. He always
claimed to have been the original inventor OF
the application of steam as motor, as in 1914
he built steamboat with stern paddle wheel
aud the next year improved it SO that it run to
Brunswick at a rate OF four miles an hour. In
1918 he commenced another boat, but his
scheme proved failure like most of his enter
prises-perhaps more from want of true Yam
kee pluck and sticktoitiueness, than from any
want of merit
In1931 he commenced the preparation of
glue but allowed himself to be driven out of
that business by rich manufacturer OF Massa-
chusetts. He then invented a coffee mill and
a cylindar stove, and both were abandoned
soon after as financial failures Perpetual mo-
ton was study for him in which he suak
some money. He had good understanding
of law and was successful in the collection of
debts, but his mind was always absorbed in
diversified projects.
Squire Morgan was good scholar, and his
translation of the New Testament, published
by Mr. S. HI. Coleswortby, some years ago, and
his English grammar were meIitorous works.
He wrote much on scientific subjects, but his
manuscripts were destroyed in the great fire of
1865. He considered the Newtonian system
OF philosophy unsound, and wrote large vol
| umc in exposition of the errors of that system,
| and at his advanced age lately applied for the
| use of Reception Hall for a lecture that he
| might point out the fallaeies of Newton.
Mr.. Morgan was an ancient Free Mason, and
| life long Universalst, and he was clerk of
the First Universalist Society for many years.
| After the great fire. to compensate him for his
| loss in part, the Relief Committee placed a
| sum in the bank to his credit upon the condi-
| ton that he should only draw certain amount
weekly, large enough for his support, but he
! Indignantly declined the money on that condi-
| ton, and we heard him make an argument full
| of manly independence refusing the award un-
| less it could be unconditional Tue commit.
| tee feared that the money would otherwise b
| souandered in unsuccessful experiments, and
| the money lays in bank undrawn.
His intellectual and physical powers were
| both preserved ia a remarkable manner to The
last. and he could be seen at a late hour OF the
Mo ht upon the streets, feeble and bent in body
but clear in mind Squire Morgan was al
honest honorable man, and his hearty devotion
to the principles of the Republican party were
refreshing and inspiring in one OF SO advanced
an age. Few forms could be missed moro thar
his, as his profile now preserved in so many
Places gave a striking illustration OF his stoop
ins form envelope1 in his long flowing CLOAK
80 familiar to all our citizens by whom he was
always respected.