Wichita eagle., 1889-10-25
MoRGAN,s MEMORIAL.
In Memory Of the Man Who Skinned an
Indian.

MORGANTowN, w. Va, Oct 10, 'S9.
Colonel NJ n. Murdock editor Wichita Eagle
Dear Sir:-Knowing this to be your
birthplace. and that your ancestors on
one side were Morgans and your mother
Pierpoint, and as your cousin, Gov
ernor Frank Pierpoint, was orator of the
day, Isend you an account given by the
Post-printed by Morgans-of an inter
esting ceremony which may interest
some other West Virginians on the sun
flower plains of Kansas.
Yours respectfully, etc.
Some time since the Morgan family, Of
Marion county, West Virginia, conceived
the idea of doing something tangible to
perpetuate the memory of their ances-
tors famous encounter with the Inhians,
and concluded to erect monument on
the now historic battle ground which
lies near mile north Of Catawba.
In order to carry out the plan they
procured the service of Hanes Jones, a
very excellent workman in stone, and
quarried from native rock-which by
the way is very ighu IN color and solid
and durable in character-a monument
which will endure for ages to come. 1t
rests on foundation stones deeply and
securely bedded, in bottom course 5 1-2
feet square. and Is inches high. The
second course Is four feet square, and
two and one-half feet high. The third
course is cube three feet every way.
On this stands the column or prism,
which is 8 feet high, 2S inches at base
and 13 inches at top, making the entire
monument, including foundation ex-
posed, 16 feet above the surface.
On the south side on second course is
inscribed:
Erected in memory of David Morgan"
The monument is erected directly upon
the ground of his famous encounter
with two Indians in March, 1774. The
date is proposed to be changed to 1873.
On the column in front is gun, toma-
hawk, scalping knife and powder horn,
in a sort of monogram style, and on the
reverse side is plain panel.
The design is good, and makes it look
neat, and the workmanship as well as
quality of material is most excellent.
Saturday, October 10, was fixed as the
day for dedication services, but although
notice was published in the Fairmont
papers and Post, it did not become fully
known; still very fair crowd assem-
bled, and after enjoying themselves IN
sort of picnic fashion for while, the
regulation ceremonies began.
Ex-Governor F. H. Peirpoint, lineal
descendant of the hero of the battle,
opened with genealogy of the Morgan
notwithstanding them from Morgan
Morgan, of the Sixteenth century, to the
present day, when portion became
Peirpoint. He was followed by Stephen
Morgan, of Upshur county, a nephew of
the boy Stephen now gone down to his
tory, who related some "reminiscences as
he had heard his uncle relate them.
Next in order came paper read by
Prof. Joseph May, late of Benwood, Civ
ing the traditional description of the
fight as remembered by those who par
ticipated therein. AS account differs
from DeHass, Withers and
others, it will be offered for publication
as soon as arranged.
After the narrative was concluded,
William Z. Watson was called for and
was giving a very good talk, when an
Indian appeared upon the scene. with
lassooes, etc., and the ceremonies were
The day was favorable and the occa-
sion will long be remembered. Quite a
were prevented from coming
from Upshur county on account of insult
ficiency of the notice. Still the prOjec-
tors ShOuld he Droud of their SUCCESS