Optional page text here. James Duke Morgan

James Duke Morgan

James Duke Morgan was born in 1825 in Virginia and came to Texas in 1856 and lived west of Denison, Grayson County, Texas until he died in 1891. At 38, he joined for duty and enrolled in Captain James D. Woods Company, 16th Regiment Texas Calvary on February 22, 1862 in Grayson County by James D. Woods. His muster-in date was March 10, 1862 in Collin County, Texas. He was a private. His horse was valued at $130 and his equipment at $40. The remarks on his paper are as follow: "This company became Company C, 16th Regiment Texas Calvary. 16th Regiment organized March 10, 1862. Dismounted by S.O. No. 94 Headquarters Army of the West 4-24-62; also known as Fitzhugh's Regiment Texas Calvary and as the 3rd Regiment Johnson's Brigade Texas Mounted Riflemen."
He left his wife and 3 kids at home when he went off to war, the oldest of which was my great grandfather born in 1858. Oral history says that they had good neighbors, or they could not have survived. After the war, carpetbaggers came to James Duke place and wanted to warm. James Duke got his gun and sat on the bed. His wife let them in. They sat by the fire and warmed. Grandmother gave them something to eat and they left without any trouble.
I also have another great great grandfather who served in the CSA. His name was Lafford Berry French. He served in the 19th Brigade, Texas Militia, CSA. Lafford was from Navarro County.
James Duke Morgan died September 28, 1891 in Grayson County, Texas, and is buried at Layne Cemetery in Denison, Texas.
Lafford Berry "Dick" French was the sheriff of Navarro County, Texas in 1865 and 1866. The "Sheriff of Navarro County" researched by W.P. Murchison says the following about Lafford Berry French: "Here was an old time who took on the job of sheriff at the end of the Civil War when conditions were as bad as they had ever been. He had served as a private in Hood's Brigade, had no trouble getting elected, as the Federal troops had not yet imposed voting restrictions, but he was ousted by Federals in early 1867 as being an obstacle to reconstruction. Familiarily he was called "Uncle Dick.: He was born November 20, 1827 in Tennessee and moved to Texas between 1850 anad 1852. He died March 2, 1917 and is buried in the Raleigh Cemetery in Navarro County, Texas."

Source:LuAnne Cowen

Texans in the Civil War
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